By Gerri Miller
Staff Writer
River Region food trucks are embracing creativity during the COVID-19 health crisis.
With less people out and about because of social distancing and events being cancelled, owners of several area food trucks have found new ways to drum up business by bringing their food directly to neighborhoods and areas where lots of people live.
Lamar Benson, who co-owns the food truck Fire Meets Wood with Josh Lord, has parked his truck in Deatsville’s Richfield twice now at the request of the Homeowners Association. Business has been booming both times. Lord is a neighborhood resident along with his wife Holly and their three boys.
“During this time, people are reluctant to go out, so we bring it to them,” Benson said. “We enjoy doing this and we plan to do it again. The company, based out of Montgomery, has been in business three years. They serve a delicious assortment of barbeque meats, tacos, nachos, and their specialty barbecue fried rice.
In terms of keeping that social distance, Benson and Lord have allowed people to order ahead of time so that people don’t have to wait alongside a crowd of other people.
“The food truck was a hit for us and a much-needed break from cooking for me,” said Candice Persky. “We look forward to next time they are in the neighborhood.”
“We absolutely loved the Pork Nachos and tacos, just enough to split the meals so we could both try each,” said Susan Smith. “We had to get the baked beans again for another night because they are addicting!”
Just down the road, Harvest Fields Community Church has partnered with neighborhood Summerfield to bring a variety of food trucks to the Deatsville Highway community. Southern Smokeshack Barbeque and Catering has brought its truck to the church parking lot while people are sheltering at home. The food truck has also traveled to Emerald Mountain Fire Station and Redland Fire Station #2 in Wetumpka. Waffle House also brought a truck to Harvest Fields for breakfast meals on Saturday mornings.
NYC Gyro rolled in this past Saturday on its second visit to the church. Area residents were busy trying out the Montgomery-based truck’s gyros, lamb or chicken and rice plates and its delicious baklava desserts. Employee Marecilino Lopez said the truck was also invited to the neighborhood and that business has been good.
The Wharf Casual Seafood has been parking its truck in Tallassee across from City Hall Mondays through Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Last week, the company served the teachers and faculty of the Tallassee School System a private lunch.
Many area residents are also driving to Clanton to experience the Fair Food Drive Through. You can get all the food you would find at a fair such as funnel cakes, polish sausages, deep-fried twinkies, caramel apples and much more. They have both drive through and walk up service. The food truck is located at 17606 U.S. Highway 31.
“I didn’t know what to expect when my wife told me she wanted to go to Clanton for fair food,” said Facebook reviewer Bill Elsesser. She had me at “fair food,” though! What a smart setup. I’m sure this company has suffered from many spring fair cancellations, but they figured out a way to get some of their people working and offer up something to the community at the same time.”
