John Houser III sent this report from the Aug. 5 food-truck rallly in Fells Point.
I've just returned home from The Gathering part deux and I couldn't have been more wrong about how I thought it was going to be. In my head, hipsters in blocky glasses walked around in shorts with sock garters while shaping their ironic mustaches with their tattooed fingers a la Snidely Whiplash. This was not the case. In fact the Gathering, which sounds like what the gang meeting from The Warriors was called, turned out to be one of the most diverse and family friendly events I've been to in a long time.
Old, young, couples, singles, and parents all interacted and packed themselves into the parking lot across the street from Red Star to sample food from those elusive but ever present mobile chow chucker; the food trucks.
The food truck trend has hit Baltimore pretty hard within the last year and it seems like every week a new one pops up. The debate as to whether this is a good or a bad thing for local merchants has been covered pretty thoroughly so I won't get into that. However, I'm of the opinion that competition for the hearts and stomachs of Baltimoreans ultimately steps up everyone's game and give us, the consumer, better and more delicious options to choose from. The options at "The Gathering" varied from pizza to Ethiopian fare, lobster rolls to cupcakes.
Overall it seemed successful. The trucks were steadily busy and some vendors, such as Silver Platter's truck, had lines where the waits reached 45 minutes. It reminded me of the designated street food areas you see in other countries.
It was not without its fault. Some of the organization of the truck placement and dining areas could have been better, but that's not the point right now. The focus should be on the fact that people are enthusiastic and wiling to support a local event based solely around food. An event that people can bring their children to (as many did), have a beer, good food and interact with other food minded people. It made me happy to see such a good turnout with the hopes that this could become a more permanent and weekly affair.
And now for some side notes:
- Bring cash. Some of the trucks take a card, but I don’t think all of them do. Also, the ATM fee at The Gathering is $4.50. That’s highway (or parking lot) robbery, so just come prepared.
- Wear sensible footwear. The parking lot, assuming they have it there again, is not made for fancy shoes. I noticed many women slipping and sliding like giraffes on roller-skates. Nobody needs a twisted ankle in search of a mini pie.
- Go early. Some of the trucks were sold out of their more popular items to the dismay of hungry customers. You will have to wait, but you’ll get the food you really wanted.
This last note is to any