Aerial view of Trailer Food Tuesdays at The Long Center (Credit: Trailer Food Tuesdays)
By occupation, The Long Center is no stranger to large indoor and outdoor events. Whether it’s a large-scale musical act or a summer treat like Sound & Cinema, Austin residents and visitors suffer no shortage of entertainment on these active grounds.
Now in its fifth year and going strong, Trailer Food Tuesdays is no exception. As a segment of The Long Center’s “All Summer Long” series, this free event features over fifteen food trailers, live music and other entertainment provided by local vendors.
Food Truck Aficionados Gather on City Terrace
Patrons line up for Burro Cheese Kitchen’s specialty grilled cheese sandwiches (Credit: Trailer Food Tuesdays)
Austin’s food truck craze began in the 1990’s, soaring in popularity due to the convenience factor and unassuming–but delicious–eats. Food trucks are now practically synonymous with Austin cuisine, exemplifying the culinary-forwardness and creativity found block to block within city limits. City officials estimate that over 2,000 trucks will be serving us by this fall.
To pay respect to the trend, Trailer Food Tuesdays originated as a collaboration between The Long Center and founding partners Eric Silverstein of The Peached Tortilla, Dan Stacy of The Seedling Truck and “Trailer Food Diaries Cookbook” author Tiffany Harelik. In 2013, Tony Yamanaka of Food Trailers Austin joined the crew and Food Trailer Productions LLC sprang to life as a partnership between Silverstein, Harelik and Yamanaka.
Five years later, this family-friendly outdoor event resides on top of Austin’s essential summer to-do list, with thousands of participants lining up to try local favorites.
Live Music, Lawn Chairs and Real Ale Brewing Libations
Bring plenty of lawn chairs, blankets and companions while you sample vendors (Credit: Trailer Food Tuesdays)
Live music will be jamming at all Trailer Food Tuesdays events, with the remaining lineup this summer including DJ Protege and two honky-tonk delights, Anthony Ray Wright Band and Doodlin’s Hogwallops.
Pets are prohibited on the terrace where trucks and booths are located, but they’re free to roam around the lawn. Keep in mind that there is limited seating on the terrace, so bring your lawn chair or a big blanket, just in case. Be sure to also bring your shades, water bottles, sunscreen, bug spray, and a cohort of family and friends. For the kids and kids at heart, pack a few games or balls to throw around.
For the 21+ up party, Real Ale Brewing products will be served at the terrace bar. I suggest fresh lemonade either way, but that’s just me.
Food Trucks to Test
Slab BBQ & Beer is a popular food truck option featured at Trailer Food Tuesdays (Credit: Trailer Food Tuesdays)
Boomerang Pies: All-natural, handheld Aussie pies present a taste of Australia’s cuisine with an American twist.
Yeti Frozen Custard: A variety of smooth, creamy and dense flavors await your tastebuds and are guaranteed to halt chances of heat stroke (do not quote me on this).
Lard Have Mercy: This is basically a mobile taste of the Texas State Fair, with deep-fried oreos, bacon-wrapped chicken, parmesan-crusted mac n’ cheese and more.
Heretic Handhelds: Flavorful burgers, chicken sandwiches, and fries are made with locally-sourced ingredients.
T-Loc’s Sonora Hot Dogs: Sonora-style hotdogs are a popular Mexican street food. While variations of the dog exist, T-Loc’s “con todo” is wrapped in bacon with onions, mustard, mayo, tomatoes and beans. They also serve veggie dogs.
Trailer Food Tuesdays Dates
The remaining Trailer Food Tuesdays dates for 2016 are July 19 and August 23 from 5-9 p.m (note: date was originally August 19, but was rescheduled due to rain). Sample several of the hundreds of food trucks in Austin. They represent a respectable portion of Austin’s culinary culture: bold, savory and no-frills.
For more information on the food truck lineup and other details, visit Trailer Food Tuesdays’ website and Facebook page.
@lainey_bird_ wants to know:
Which food truck in Austin would you like to see at Trailer Food Tuesdays?
