Food Truck Nerd Podcast Episode 24

Lots of news, rumors, and adventures to talk about this week. On a tech note I experimented with a different microphone, courtesy of Dan Hugo. Can you tell the difference?

• AB 1678has been amended! The sponsors have heard our concerns and have made some changes to the bill in response. The highlights in summary:
  • The no-truck-zone has been reduced from 1,500 feet to 500
  • The ban now applies only to public schools, not all schools
  • Exceptions are allowed for:
  • Trucks on private property with the permission of the property owner
  • Trucks adjacent to construction sites, provided the customers are over 18 years old
  • Trucks serving film production sites
  • Trucks with a formal agreement with the school district
  • Most interestingly, the amended bill allows for cities and counties to pass their own laws prior to January 1, 2013, and my understanding is that the local law will take precedence over the state law, even if the local law is less restrictive:
    This section shall not be construed to limit or otherwise prohibit the enforcement of a local ordinance adopted prior to January 1, 2013, by a city, county, city and county, or district, including a school district, that regulates the location of operations by a mobile food facility, regardless of whether the local restriction is more or less restrictive than subdivision (a).
    It’s not clear to me how that will work. It’s possible I’m reading it wrong.
• The CFPA is holding meetings about the amended bill with the food truck community, including myself. I’m looking forward to the discussion and I’ll let you know how it goes.
• Get ready, South San Jose, for the soft launch of Moveable Feast: Southside on Monday, March 12, 2012 from 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM at the Blossom Hill VTA Station. I don’t know how they’re going to fit seven trucks into light rail cars.
• There’s a Food Truck Fundraiser for and at Piedmont Hills High School on Friday, March 16, 2012 from 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM featuring 13 trucks. It’s a Saint Patrick’s Day Eve event, so wear some green, spend some green (it’s for a good cause), and eat some greens. They’re good for your colon.
• Moveable Feast is throwing an Evergreen Jamboree with eight trucks to benefit youth sports at Chaboya Middle School. That’s happening Sunday, March 18, 2012 from 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM.
• Club Auto Sport is hosting an event called Open Door Series: Food Trucks of Today on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 from 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM at 521 Charcot Avenue, San Jose. Learn about starting a food truck business from Vince Guasch of No Way Jose and Louisiana Territory, Ryan Sebastian from Treatbot and Moveable Feast, and Adam Lee from Adam’s Grub Truck. Get your free ticket here.
• I got to try a couple new trucks this week. Baba Kabob serves Middle Eastern food with an appealing presentation and array of sides. I loved the Sharbat, a tart cherry-ade scented with rose water. Fairycakes serves itty bitty cupcakes, baked to moist perfection. Here’s the thing though: everyone knows you’re not supposed to eat or drink anything that fairies give you or you’ll be stuck in Fairyland forever, so exercise extreme caution. I happen to know the spell can be broken by bacon.
• Twisted Chill is back with an expanded menu that now includes ice cream and fresh baked cookies.
• Recording – This episode features an extended interview with Prashanthi and Rajesh Mehta on the occasion of the soft launch of Tikka Bytes Café, a brick-and-mortar expansion of their truck business. It was recorded in Milpitas on December 16, 2011.