What the Truck?!

This week, we’re happy to introduce you to the second new member of our team, Caleng Cheng!

1. My day job is…

I am currently looking for some opportunities at the moment! In the meantime, I am helping with a new startup based in Waterloo called HomeFed.

2. Why did you decide to get involved in What the Truck?!

Simple, I love food! I love the concept of bringing together various food trucks around Edmonton to one central location for people to enjoy, especially if they don’t work or live near the areas the food trucks operate in. It’s a great way to support local businesses and showcase the talent of local chefs and cooks.

3. What is one of your favourite local food truck item?

Drift‘s pork belly sandwich! That or Bully‘s mac and cheese.

4. What is one type of food truck cuisine you’d like to see served curbside in Edmonton?

It would definitely have to be Asian street food. Ever since visiting Taiwan back in October, I’ve been craving the street food served at the night markets. My favourite was one particular item, literally called “sausage in a sausage”. From afar, it looks like a simple hotdog. In reality, the “bun” is actually sticky rice in a sausage casing that has been split open for the other sausage (beef or pork) to be put in. Some of the toppings include dried pork, pickled cabbage, onions, and radish. Definitely a must-have if anyone travels to Taiwan.

Hong Kong also had a variety of different street food. My favourites were definitely the fish siu mai, grilled squid tentacles, and cold noodles in little bags.

5. What about the food truck scene are you most looking forward to in 2014?

New trucks! It’s always fun to see what new cuisine a food truck has to offer. Or even new menu items from existing trucks. Hopefully our What the Truck?! events will be bigger and better than last year 🙂

As we mentioned, Mack and I are thrilled that we’ve recruited three wonderful individuals to join our organizing team. We’ve asked each of them to share a bit about themselves, and will be posting these profiles over the next few weeks.

First up – Melina Beeston!

1. My day job is…

I work as an Internet Marketing Manager for a group of car dealerships here in Edmonton. My day-to-day duties can include everything from making social media posts and coordinating the building or re-designing of dealership websites to booking sales training workshops for vehicle sales staff and organizing outdoor and radio advertising to be consistent with our online initiatives. I originally started working for this group as a part-time evening receptionist at age 16, and have enjoyed being able to grow with the organization.

2. Why did you decide to get involved with What the Truck?!

I’ve been an avid attendee of What the Truck?! in the past year and a half, and loved the idea of being able to try multiple food trucks all at the same time. Because of my passion for planning events of all sizes and styles and keen eye for fine details, and I truly admired the amount of attention and love that had been put into What the Truck?! thus far. I had the opportunity to try my hand at organizing a charity fundraiser food truck event this past year, and the attitude and excitement from the truck owners had me hooked well before the big day came. When the call-out to join What the Truck?! came at the end of the summer, I could all but contain my excitement and jump at the chance to be a part of such a fantastic team.

3. What is your favourite local food truck item?

Honourable mention goes to Local Omnivore‘s Bulgogi Chicken sandwich and Bully‘s Deep-Friend Mac & Cheese Bites, but my absolute last meal on earth would be Drift‘s Pork Belly Sandwich.

4. What is one type of food truck cuisine you’d like to see served curbside in Edmonton?

I’m hoping and praying for a dedicated Ukrainian truck to pull into town! Perogies, cabbage rolls, nalysnyky, deruny, kovbasa… I’m hungry just dreaming about it.

5. What about the food truck scene are you most looking forward to in 2014?

After the influx of trucks this past year, I’m really excited to see what new trucks hit the streets this year, and for us to see some fantastic new What the Truck?! event ideas come to fruition!

Though we’re still at least a few months away from seeing food trucks back on the streets, if you can believe it, the What the Truck?! team has already started thinking about our 2014 season. That said, we were remiss in not recapping the rest of our 2013 events, so bear with us!

What the Truck?! at Louise McKinney Park on August 24, 2013

Our hope, in hosting an event at Louise McKinney Park was to encourage exploration of Edmonton’s river valley. To this, I think we succeeded – we heard numerous comments that night from attendees that the occasion marked their first visit to that area.

Because it wasn’t our busiest event, those that came were able to enjoy the variety served by ten trucks with minimal wait times.

They were also able to take advantage of some of the most scenic outdoor seating options we’ve ever offered.

Thanks to those who came out to join us!

What the Truck?! at Churchill Square on September 20, 2013

How many trucks can we fit in Churchill Square? I think we may have reached our capacity with the current space at sixteen!

It was by far the busiest event we’ve ever organized, and though the lines required patience, it looked like most people were having a great time catching up with old friends and meeting new ones.

As we have been so many times in the past, we are indebted to DJ Thomas Scott and his friends, who always bring just the right party atmosphere to our events.

We would also like to acknowledge our wonderful volunteers who tirelessly helped keep the site tidy!

Finally, thanks to those who came to help us celebrate the end of our season!

What the Truck?! in 2014

As we mentioned, we’ve already started planning events for this year, and at this time, Mack and I are happy to share with you that we’ve expanded the What the Truck?! team.

It will be great to work with these passionate individuals who are bringing fresh ideas and energy to the table. Welcome, Caleng, Dave and Melina! We will be posting profiles about them over the next few weeks so you can learn more about our new team members.

Stay tuned!