Second bite at life
A Palmerston North food event, canned despite its popularity, is trucking back to town.
More than 30,000 people attended the Thursday Night Street Feast in The Square, running from June 2016 to March this year.
But when its organisers moved on and the council showed little interest in reviving the venture, food-lovers feared the food truck sizzle had fizzled out.
But two Manawatu¯ men are determined ‘‘food truck Thursdays’’ will return.
Mike West and Dave Craig will head the event, which will take place every second Thursday, rather than monthly like last year.
West, who hosts More FM’S morning show, said he was organising it in a personal capacity out of his love for food.
The dates and vendors still needed to be confirmed but the pair hoped the first event would be in November, West said.
Entertainment would vary, from DJS and local musicians to movie screenings.
West wanted 12 food trucks to take part, with local vendors taking priority, he said.
Craig said the street feasts were important for the vibrancy of the city centre.
The previous food truck nights were great, Craig said, but he wanted to bring in more familyfriendly events that incorporated holidays such as Christmas.
The pair sought help from Palmerston North City Council, which would handle waste management, and provide chairs and bean bags.
Evil Stepson food truck owner Aaron Freeman said he was keen for another regular food truck event.
He said the rent at the previous street feast events was too expensive. When food truck Thursdays first started, the vendor fee was about $180, but by the end it crept up to $260 for about three hours of trading.
In contrast, some council-run events cost about $50 or sometimes there was no charge at all, Freeman said.
West said he and Craig were still negotiating the cost of rent for the new venture.
Kelly Melody, from The Crafted and Co, said she would definitely take part again, after having been at previous food truck Thursday events.
Nicole Canning, co-ordinator for the council-run events project Palmy Unleashed, said they supported events that gave the city vibrancy and allowed people to engage with each other in public spaces.
‘‘As this event is being held on a Thursday night, it allows people to carry out other activities in the city centre such as late-night shopping for those retailers open, visit the city library, attend a show, film, or other event being held in the city centre the same night.’’