Audio By Carbonatix
Food trucks started rolling into the Arsht Center at around 10:30 a.m. Sunday, lining up neatly in front of the center’s opera house. Most truck owners said they were on very little sleep and no food, but they were eager and ready to feed the droves of hungry people who would soon arrive at the Fall for the Arts Festival. The quantity of arts organizations present at the event was impressive, but it’s safe to say many people were there for the
food.
The sun was brutal and shade was scarce. Nobody seemed to care. Lines started getting long after noon, and many vendors — including Totally Bananas, Del’s Lemonade, Yellow Submarine, Sakaya Kitchen, Nacho Mama’s and Fireman Derek’s — sold out before the event came to a close.
While well-known trucks like Latin Burger & Taco, Gastropod
Miami, Jefe’s Original Taco & Burger and Yellow Submarine were there, the festival introduced Short Order and many festival-goers to a
few new kids on the block like Nacho Mama’s Grill (in its third week) and Wing Commander.
Sakaya Kitchen’s Dim Saam a Go Go had an impressive menu that
included a foie gras torchon on brioche buns and angus beef bulgogi croquetas. La
Camaronera served its perfectly fried fish sandwich at its brand new truck, as
well as a popcorn shrimp sandwich and fish sticks. Over at Feverish Ice Cream truck, a homemade mango sorbet was the right antidote to the
scorching sun. And the fish and shrimp ceviche from Bites on Wheels, a
small roach coach among a bunch of giant, spiffy trucks, was the perfect
dish for a hot day.
Other drool-worthy offerings included Michael’s Genuine’s pork belly
sandwich, the Rolling Stove’s “Ron’s Bites” – thick slices of baked
potato, fried and topped with two types of cheese – and Nacho Mama’s
loaded nachos.
At his booth, the Burger Beast (Sef Gonzalez), greeted fans – gosh,
the man has loads of them – and gave away t-shirts and buttons. Major
props to him and the Arsht Center for a well-orchestrated effort. The
only suggestion for next year: more water vendors.
Click here to view more photos of the street food at the Fall for the Arts festival.
