Ft. Worth's 'The Import Store' To Host Food Trucks in January

A local business in Ft. Worth is stepping up to play host for many of Cowtown's favorite food trucks. The banner is hard to see, but for the month of January, the following Food Trucks will make lunch appearances from 11-2 at The Import Store:
1/2 Sassy Hot Dogs
1/3 The Wiener Man
1/4 Good Karma Kitchen
1/5 Crazy Sisters
1/6 The Bacon Wagon
1/7 Zombie's Food Truck
1/9 So-Cal Tacos
1/10 The Wiener Man
1/11 Good Karma Kitchen
1/12 Crazy Sisters
1/13 The Bacon Wagon
1/14 Zombie's Food Truck

Stuff their Stockings with Something They'll Really Want: Food Truck Gift Cards!

Red Jett Sweets Holiday Cupcake

If you saw all the snow on the news blanketing the DFW suburbs this morning then you know that the holidays are fast approaching. This can only mean that it's that time of year again where you have to shell out some cash for the purpose of thanking all of your nearest and dearest for putting up with you for another day! This year, give your friends and family something they'll never expect with a Food Truck gift card. Many of Dallas and Fort Worth's tastiest rolling restaurants offer cards or certificates that will be sure to impress even the most dilettante of diners. Be sure to swing by one of the following trucks offering gift cards before your next White Elephant office party:

-The Bacon Wagon
-Red Jett Sweets
-Ruthie's Rolling Cafe
-Trailercakes
-Good Karma Kitchen
-Rockstar Bakeshop
-Sassy Hot Dogs
-Crazy Sisters
-SoCal Tacos
-The Butchers Son
-Tacoheads
-Gennarino's
-Nammi Truck
-I Scream 4 Cupcakes

Grand Opening: Ft. Worth Food Park

Congratulations Fort Worth! You are the lucky recipient of  North Texas' very first Food Truck Park slated to open Friday, December 2nd in the West 7th/Montgomery Ward Plaza district. Rather than rephrase everything from their official press release which you can read for yourself, I'll just give you the who and the what of where you need to be and when for the Grand Opening!
Who:
Good Karma Kitchen
YES! Taco
Red Jett Sweets
Lee's Grilled Cheese
Jake's Hamburgers
Nammi Truck
What:
Nosh on all the above trucks and hydrate with FREE beer from local Ft. Worth favorite Rahr & Sons Brewery and Live Music from UNT Alum Gary Kyle and the No Standards Band all to help benefit Rexanna's Foundation for Fighting Lung Cancer
When/Where:
2509 Weisenberger St.
Fort Worth, XZ 76107
6-10pm

Healthy Appetites can Enjoy Gluten-Free, Vegetarian Food Truck Alternatives

It can be frustrating trying to navigate the food truck scene with dietary restrictions when the cuisine du jour consists of tacos, hot dogs and fried bites. But for those seeking healthy, vegetarian or even vegan and gluten-free options, you're in luck. Dallas-based Greenhouse Truck offers local, seasonal choices based around lean proteins, fruits and veggies. Gluten-free options on the menu include soups like watermelon gazpacho or spiced pumpkin and leek. Popular rice bowls with brown rice, vegetables, Asian spices and your choice of miso flank steak, chicken or portobellos also make the gluten-free menu. With so many Americans affected by Celiac disease, a common gluten allergy, we are fortunate to have the likes of Greenhouse Truck offering balanced alternatives. The sweetest part about it all, besides their gluten-free sorbets is that there is no evidence of blase health food. Expect bright, substantial dishes abundant in flavor and all at an affordable and guilt-free price. 


In the coming weeks, Greenhouse Truck will be joined by Good Karma Kitchen, a moveable feast of vegetarian and gluten-free gourmet; We'll keep Big D Food Truck fans posted on their happenings! 

Is the City of Dallas Pushing away Food Trucks?

Investigative journalism is not my prowess but I'm noticing a common theme among many food truck operators: Dallas is not an easy place to get a permit.  From the regulations to the specifications, the Big D is forcing many a new food truck to our neighboring cities.


The girls over at Good Karma Kitchen have laid it all out for me. The City of Dallas only permits mobile vending trucks that were originally built as catering vehicles. If you buy a converted vehicle, say an old UPS truck, and you bring it up to meet all specifications to a catering truck, you will still not be permitted. Several new operators are finding out the hard way that their used trucks will not pass inspection in Dallas, so they're moving on to the next place: Ft. Worth.


I don't know the ins and outs of city regulations, but it strikes me as odd that one health department's policies vary so greatly to those of neighboring cities like Ft. Worth, Austin & Houston.  Gina of Crazy Sisters has run into that exact problem; her vehicle is permitted in Tarrant County but Dallas is slamming her with two-bit modifications to her truck. When adding them all up, she doesn't think it's worth it to come to Dallas at this time. Scott of SoCal Tacos is facing the same situation-the used catering truck he bought in New Braunfels won't pass Dallas inspection, but he can take it to Ft. Worth with ease.


Yet another operator, Comfort Food on Wheels was advised by the California manufacturer of his truck not to even bother coming to Dallas because of restrictions. Now Comfy Foods is considering a move to Cowtown. 


Not only are the truck requirements exacting, take a look at the Operational Requirements as outlined by the City:
"An itinerary must be provided for each vehicle prior to the first business day of each month. 
The Health Department must be advised of any changes immediately. Schedules/Stops must 
be accurate to within 30 minutes.  The name, address and telephone number of the owner of 
the premises must be provided.  A description of the food to be sold or served at each premise 
must accompany the itinerary."

I say Dallas needs to come up to speed with the other metropolitan areas, otherwise they will discourage new business...a business that is experiencing a huge tidal wave across the country. Leave us a comment and let us know what you think!