Food trucks: Difference between revisions

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'''Food trucks''' are mobile vendors serving food throughout the [[Birmingham area]]. "Taco trucks" appeared on the scene in the mid-2000s, while [[SpoonFed Grill]] touched off a "gourmet" food truck flowering in [[2009]].
'''Food trucks''' are mobile vendors serving food throughout the [[Birmingham area]]. "Taco trucks" appeared on the scene in the mid-2000s, while [[SpoonFed Grill]] touched off a "gourmet" food truck flowering in [[2009]].


Food trucks are food service businesses licensed by the municipalities in which they operate, and permitted and inspected by the [[Jefferson County Department of Health]]. Some trucks operate as offshoots of established restaurants. In addition to serving street food on weekdays, many of the trucks are available for hire for private events, functioning as caterers.
Food trucks are food service businesses licensed by the municipalities in which they operate, and permitted and inspected by the [[Jefferson County Department of Health]], which requires them to operate in conjunction with a permitted brick-and-mortar food service establishment such as an affiliated restaurant or catering kitchen, or a multi-tenant "commissary kitchen," where foods are stored and wastes are discharged.


In January [[2013]] ''Deep South'' magazine included four of Birmingham's food trucks: [[Dreamcakes]], [[Los Dos Hermanos]], [[Shindigs]], and [[SpoonFed Grill]], in their listing of the "Best Food Trucks in the South."
In addition to serving street food or rotating lunch periods between businesses with large numbers of workers, many of the trucks are available for hire for private events, functioning as caterers.


By [[2012]] the [[Birmingham City Council]] began responding to private complaints by brick-and-mortar restaurateurs in the [[City Center]] by drafting a proposed [[Birmingham food truck ordinance|ordinance]] to restrict operating hours and locations. The proposal has been debated in Council committee hearings, but has not come up for a vote. Public hearings were renewed in November [[2013]].
By [[2012]] the [[Birmingham City Council]] began responding to private complaints by brick-and-mortar restaurateurs in the [[City Center]] by drafting a proposed [[Birmingham food truck ordinance|ordinance]] to restrict operating hours and locations. The proposal has been debated in Council committee hearings, but has not come up for a vote. Public hearings were renewed in November [[2013]].
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The Council passed its [[Birmingham food truck ordinance]] in December 2013, and amended it in July [[2014]] to remove some restrictions that applied to groups offering free food to the homeless.
The Council passed its [[Birmingham food truck ordinance]] in December 2013, and amended it in July [[2014]] to remove some restrictions that applied to groups offering free food to the homeless.
In January [[2013]] ''Deep South'' magazine included four of Birmingham's food trucks: [[Dreamcakes]], [[Los Dos Hermanos]], [[Shindigs]], and [[SpoonFed Grill]], in their listing of the "Best Food Trucks in the South." By [[2022]] the Jefferson County Health Department reported that nearly 150 food trucks had active licenses.


==List of food trucks==
==List of food trucks==
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* [[Birmingham Food Park]]
* [[Birmingham Food Park]]
* [[Red White and Brew]]
* [[Red White and Brew]]
* [[Third Avenue Food Court]]
* [[Trucks by the Tracks]]
* [[Trucks by the Tracks]]


Revision as of 10:34, 13 March 2023

SpoonFed Grill
Off The Hook
Taqueria Guzman

Food trucks are mobile vendors serving food throughout the Birmingham area. "Taco trucks" appeared on the scene in the mid-2000s, while SpoonFed Grill touched off a "gourmet" food truck flowering in 2009.

Food trucks are food service businesses licensed by the municipalities in which they operate, and permitted and inspected by the Jefferson County Department of Health, which requires them to operate in conjunction with a permitted brick-and-mortar food service establishment such as an affiliated restaurant or catering kitchen, or a multi-tenant "commissary kitchen," where foods are stored and wastes are discharged.

In addition to serving street food or rotating lunch periods between businesses with large numbers of workers, many of the trucks are available for hire for private events, functioning as caterers.

By 2012 the Birmingham City Council began responding to private complaints by brick-and-mortar restaurateurs in the City Center by drafting a proposed ordinance to restrict operating hours and locations. The proposal has been debated in Council committee hearings, but has not come up for a vote. Public hearings were renewed in November 2013.

In response to the threat of restrictive regulation, several truck and food cart vendors joined together as the Greater Birmingham Street Food Coalition in early 2013 and proposed an alternate, less restrictive ordinance for consideration. The coalition has also developed a "Food truck lot" at 211 Richard Arrington, Jr Boulevard North.

The Council passed its Birmingham food truck ordinance in December 2013, and amended it in July 2014 to remove some restrictions that applied to groups offering free food to the homeless.

In January 2013 Deep South magazine included four of Birmingham's food trucks: Dreamcakes, Los Dos Hermanos, Shindigs, and SpoonFed Grill, in their listing of the "Best Food Trucks in the South." By 2022 the Jefferson County Health Department reported that nearly 150 food trucks had active licenses.

List of food trucks

The following list includes typical locations, along with Twitter handles or semi-permanent locations:

dessert / beverage trucks

Food trailers

Other street vendors

Former street vendors

Food truck lots and events

References

  • McWhorter, Andy (August 5, 2011) "The Rise of the food truck". Birmingham Weekly
  • Horn, Jason (November 6, 2011) "Birmingham food truck directory". Magic City Post
  • Carlton, Bob (December 6, 2012) "Lawyer for food truck operators urges Birmingham City Council to reconsider mobile food ordinance." The Birmingham News
  • Carlton, Bob (January 18, 2013) "Food truck operators form Greater Birmingham Street Food Coalition to promote, protect industry." The Birmingham News
  • "Best Food Trucks in the South" (January 31, 2013) Deep South
  • Crawford, Cindy F. (September 27, 2013) "Riding the food truck trend." Birmingham Business Journal
  • Godwin, Brent (November 12, 2013) "Ordinance could shake up local food truck scene." Birmingham Business Journal
  • "Your Ultimate Guide to Birmingham’s Food Truck Scene" (July 6, 2016) StyleBlueprint
  • Velasco, Eric (October 4, 2017) "Let's Taco 'bout Taco Trucks: A guide to the city's thriving taco truck scene." The Birmingham News
  • Robertson, Terri (January 9, 2019) "3 new food trucks to check out in Birmingham, including Bayou Bros." Bham Now

External links

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