![]() Some have regular haunts others float among events, breweries and wineries throughout the county. ![]() Use this guide to find out where your favorite pop-ups and food trucks will be next and discover new ones to try. Ever-changing menus, driven by the seasons or the cook’s whims, keep the experience fresh. Many food trucks and pop-ups fill niches in our local food options with specialized offerings that weren’t available before, like vegetarian cubanos, Venezuelan arepas and Ukrainian comfort food. The dining experience at a pop-up or food truck - outdoors with little to no seating, no table service, often a changing menu - is quite different from a traditional dining experience, and these businesses seem to coexist in harmony.Ī vibrant dining scene makes living in Santa Cruz County more fun. Over the past decade since food trucks and pop-ups started emerging in Santa Cruz County, some have wondered whether they would pose direct competition to restaurants, but those fears haven’t really materialized. Why are they limited? We’ll get into those questions in Lookout this summer, but for now, enjoy what we have where we have it. ![]() ![]() Here, food trucks and pop-ups are limited in where and when they can serve, and you’ll often find them partnering with private businesses like wineries and breweries and at special events. Unlike places like Portland, Oregon, and Austin, Texas, Santa Cruz County doesn’t have designated food truck areas. Enjoyment of pop-ups and food trucks is enhanced by keeping an open mind. One could argue over a single definition over a cold beer and several plates of yakitori, but it’s best not to get too bogged down in the details. And cottage food businesses, by contrast, do not typically leave their homes or kitchens. One thing pop-ups do not have is their own brick-and-mortar space - that’s the key difference between them and restaurants. They could almost be considered restaurants, but if one were to visit them, you would understand that they are something else entirely. Others, like Full Steam Dumpling and Chubb’s Chicken Sandwiches, have regular hours in a space with walls. Some, like Happy Dog Hot Dogs, can be found week to week in the same spot. Most prepare their food ahead of time to serve at events or breweries. Veteran food trucks and pop-ups like Saucey’z, My Mom’s Mole and Ate3One have graced parking lots and drawn crowds since long before the pandemic, and prove that these kinds of businesses have staying power.īut wait - what’s a pop-up? Most people are familiar with food trucks, even if they’ve never eaten at one, but the edges of what constitutes a “pop-up” are fuzzy.įor this guide, a “pop-up” refers to a non-brick-and-mortar business that serves a curated menu of prepared food. They are just the latest surge in a wave that reaches back nearly a decade. Others, like Laurel Tisserand of LaurelBakes, used quarantine to hone cooking and baking skills that became side projects that turned into businesses. Bread Boy and Charlie Funk of Funk’s Franks, are restaurant industry veterans who decided to finally launch their passion projects after the service industry shut down in the spring of 2020. This summer seems to be the season of special plenty.Įntrepreneurs who recently launched their food businesses share some of the same motivations. Prior to 2020, there were a couple dozen pop-ups and food trucks regularly operating in the county in this guide, you’ll find more than 40. While COVID-19 steamrolled over traditional restaurants, many of which are still struggling to bounce back from operation restrictions, staff shortages and supply chain issues, small food businesses unencumbered by a brick-and-mortar space exploded. The pandemic might have been the best thing that’s ever happened to the food truck and pop-up scene in Santa Cruz County. Thanks to those of you who’ve already subscribed and offered your thoughts! And catch up on my recent work here. Heads up, foodies: I’m now sending alerts every time I publish a story. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |