Food truck fest running and ready to savour
After New Plymouth’s first food truck festival last year, so many customers were inspired that they started their own food truck to come to the second.
The New Zealand Food Truck Festival, running at East End Reserve until Sunday, was the brainchild of Brent Taylor.
‘‘We’ve added 15 more food trucks so there’s more options and hopefully less queuing. And the guys from last year have done it and have prepped more.
‘‘Last time there was at least 2000 people so hopefully we get the same and the weather is awesome this weekend.’’
Taylor said 15 of the trucks were from out of town but most were local.
‘‘I like to help the locals out.’’ Taylor said his pick of the new food trucks was The Jack Daniel’s low n slow BBQ trailer run by Craig Leathley.
‘‘He’s here from 3am cooking the ribs and brisket. And also the Dutch chips have been really popular.’’
Leathley had only set the catering business up this week but had been competing in the Jack Daniels barbecue competitions for years.
‘‘I pretty much did it to relax from my day to day job as a hospitality consultant, dealing with clients all day, and this here makes me relax.
‘‘I’d sit in front of a barbecue for eight hours and I’m the most chilled out person ever, ask my wife.’’
Cuisines on offer at the festival include Vietnamese, South African, Jamaican, Malaysian, American, and French. There will be music each day from the likes of local musicians Emily Riordan, Ryan Orchard, Sonic Delusion, and DJ Kritikl.
The New Zealand Food Truck Festival is on at East End Reserve today and tomorrow 12pm to 9pm.