Mobile munchies galore at our very first Food Truck Festival in Yonkers.
The food truck craze is as wide-spread as it is delicious. From food festivals to weddings or just your regular, neighborhood park, these mobile muncheries offer delectable eats in a fun, outdoor setting.
So, in typical Westchester Magazine fashion, we’re taking the best our county has to offer and bringing it right to you. This Friday, head to our very first Food Truck Festival, part of Wine & Food Festival 2019, where the tastiest, most savory food truck fare will satisfy every last taste bud.
Read on below for a sneak peek into what food and faces you can expect to see at the Food Truck Festival at the Cross County Shopping Center in Yonkers this Friday.
What will you be bringing to our inaugural Food Truck Fest? Are you preparing any new/exclusive items?
Alana Pace, Walter’s Hotdogs: We’re bringing snack-sized Walter’s Hot Dog slathered with our Walter’s Mustard and funnel cake sticks topped with powdered sugar.
Photo courtesy of Sloppie Joe’s
Joe DeFeis, Sloppie Joe’s: We will be offering our two “go-to sandwiches.” First is our most simple, called “The Average Joe,” and second will be our fan favorite “The Slop, Drop, & Roll” (pictured above).
Kathryn Spata, Nancy’s Artisanal Creamery: We are bringing blueberry slab pie with brown sugar oatmeal streusel and lemon lavender ice cream, or ice cream cake (chocolate cake with stout ice cream, Baileys whipped cream and whiskey caramel sauce).
Galo Grijalva, Empanada Mania: We will be serving a twist to our award-winning bestseller Angus Beef Empanada: We are taking out the sauteed onions and peppers in our beef empanadas and adding cheddar cheese and chopped bacon.
Tim Bucolo, Crafty Cue: We will be bringing our house-smoked meat creations. That day we will be serving North Carolina Pulled Pork slider topped with our house coleslaw and dill pickle.
What was the hardest part of turning your kitchen into a mobile operation?
Walter’s Hotdogs: We stressed the importance of our lay-out to allow our flow to be efficient and smooth to ultimately focus on our speed of service.
Sloppie Joe’s: The hardest part of starting the mobile operation was actually creativity. I’ve been in kitchens my whole life so knowing what I wanted inside wasn’t the problem, operationally. I was determined to be put in a category within itself, standing out from anything anyone has ever done. That’s where Sloppie Joe’s came in. I started discussing with my girlfriend as a joke, which was totally her idea for the name and I just took it and put it into motion!
Empanada Mania: Being Bergen County, NJ based, the food truck ordinances do not allow for much mobile vending as you see in NYC.
Crafty Cue: The hardest part about turning mobile for us was the build out. We build our truck ourselves and the time and planning and layout needs to be thought about well before you put that first screw in the wall.
What are you most excited about, participating in our first-ever Food Truck Festival?
Photo courtesy of Walter’s Hot Dogs
Walter’s Hotdogs: We’re most excited to see how the food truck community has grown and to serve alongside this incredible lineup of local food trucks!
Sloppie Joe’s: I am very excited to be part of something first-ever for the simple fact over the years I have seen so much growth in the industry and have always been a close watcher of Westchester Magazine. The fact that I am even part of something fresh and exciting is a blessing.
Nancy’s Artisanal Creamery: The public’s response. In our Woodstock shop our customers are in love with our products and love trying any new specials. We have a very loyal following!
Empanada Mania: Cross County Mall has become one of our favorite places to collaborate with. We have been able to establish a great following and look forward to spreading Empanada Mania to more people.
Crafty Cue: I think anytime we go out to vend, we look forward to feeding people the most. That’s why we do what we do. We want to make people happy with our food. That’s the most important thing for us and that’s what we get excited about!
What¹s your favorite regular haunt to park your truck?
Walter’s Hotdogs: Our truck can be found every Wednesday at the White Plains Farmers Market. We post all of our public events weekly on social media.
Sloppie Joe’s: Believe it or not I can’t say I have a favorite. I enjoy being all places whether business is slow or maybe it’s not. I feel every time I pull up to a destination it’s new faces and familiar faces as well that I am putting the brand in front of. If I can change one person’s opinion of a Sloppy Joe, or just serve something delicious each time I am out to serve then I feel like I succeeded for the day. We have big plans for 2019 and can surely say you will be seeing Sloppie Joe’s around the town much more frequently.
Nancy’s Artisanal Creamery: This is a new adventure for us. Stay tuned!
Empanada Mania: We specialize in corporate events, catering, private parties, fairs and festivals. Our favorite events are food and music festivals; while they are fast paced, it’s amazing to see the long lines that form just to try our award-winning empanadas!
Crafty Cue: We love the Westchester County events, like the Winter Wonderland and the July 4th firework show at the Kensico Dam. We get to see people enjoying their time off from work and enjoying food from all the trucks.
