Food truck season in CNY: Mall gatherings, downtown rodeos and a big battle - syracuse.com

2022-05-07 00:53:07 By : Mr. la yang

The Syracuse Food Truck Association is holding a "takeover" of space at Great Northern Mall in Clay each Wednesday from April 27 through mid-October. (Charles Wainwright photo)

Central New York food trucks are about to hit their high traffic season.

While individual trucks have been out and about since the warmer weather returned, the big gatherings of mobile food providers starts this week.

“It’s that time of year when things get rolling,” said Nick Sanford, president of the 40-plus member Syracuse Food Truck Association (and owner of Toss & Fire Pizza, which has both brick and mortar locations and mobile trucks).

Upcoming events include weekly food trucks gatherings at Great Northern Mall in Clay and outside the Everson Museum of Art in downtown Syracuse. There’s also a big “Food Truck Battle” set for the New York State Fairgrounds on Saturday May 14.

Here’s a closer look at each event:

· On Wednesday (April 27), the season’s first food truck “takeover” comes to the parking lot at Great Northern Mall in Clay. About 20 trucks will participate each Wednesday through mid-October, though the exact lineup will change each week depending on the availability of trucks.

Food is served from 4 to 8 p.m. each week. There is usually live music (it’s Just Joe from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. this week). The is the second season for the Great Northern events.

See the lineup for each week (and some menu information).

Note: In 2021, the food truck association also held similar events at Shoppingtown in DeWitt, but Sanford said the group hasn’t yet been able to nail that down for this year. They are hoping to put a schedule together for the summer.

· Starting on Friday, May 6, the Everson Museum of Art hosts a food truck “rodeo” featuring three to four (or more) vendors each week. These events are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Friday through mid-August at the Everson Community Plaza adjacent to the museum at 401 Harrison St. Live music is from 12:30to 1:30 p.m.

See the full lineup and menus for each week.

· More than 50 trucks from Central New York and beyond gather around Chevy Court at the State Fairgrounds for the Food Truck Battle from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 14.

It’s billed as the “the largest gathering of food trucks in CNY history,” with even more vendors than the similar event held last fall, which drew 32 trucks.

Each truck serves low cost ($3 to $5) sample items as well as selections from its regular menu. There is also a competition to name the top vendors. Live music takes place on the Chevy Court stage and in the Artisan Village.

Entry is $5 in advance or $10 the the week of the event, and VIP music tickets (including a VIP area near the stage) are $20 in advance and $25 the week of the event.

Tickets and information. Proceeds benefit Food Bank of CNY, Clear Path for Veterans and Helping Hounds Dog Rescue.

Meanwhile you’ll also find food trucks at events and locations around Central New York throughout the summer. Local breweries, such as Willow Rock, Middle Ages and Eastwood, are among the popular venues.

Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.

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