Courtesy of Liz Beson
The Food Truck Rodeo, a series of events lasting from April to October at the Rochester Public Market, brings all of the food trucks in the city together for one cuisine extravaganza.
It features over 25 vendors weekly, including Le Petit Poutine, Cheesed & Confused, The Sammich Guy, Effortlessly Healthy, Bento Box, Lettuce B. Frank, and Wraps on Wheels, just to name just a few.
The event is always accompanied by live music to brighten the mood and provide entertainment to all attendees.
“I had such an amazing experience at the Food Truck Rodeo,” junior Eudora Erickson said, who had attended the Rodeo on Wednesday, Sept. 24. “[There were] more [food trucks] than I have ever seen with great prices! [Treats] were also small enough so you were able to experience eating from multiple trucks rather than getting just one big meal.”
The 2017 and 2015 Class Councils organized a constant stream of buses to and from the event, running all evening form 5pm to 9pm. This encouraged students who didn’t have access to cars to get off campus and support local Rochester business without the hassle of worrying about bus scheduling.
The Rodeo was constantly bustling and filled with chatter, laughs, and music. Erickson described how the market is open to any and all community members, serving as a great opportunity to interact with the greater Rochester community.
In the future, Erickson hopes that the Food Truck Rodeo will introduce a greater presence of ethnic foods such as Asian and Indian. According to some online reviews, however, there have been some other, more serious issues.
Many have complained about the lack of seating, a limited selection of beverages, hectic parking, and long lines. Additionally, vendors only accept cash payment. However, there are ATMs set up around the venue. To make the most of your experience, simply pack a lawn chair, a cooler, and some spare change. Areas around the edge of the Rodeo are available for setting up chairs and relaxing with your assortment of goods.
In spite of any minor inconveniences, this new Rochester event series is a great way to gather the community together; to enjoy delicious food, live music, and good company. It will surely become a Rochester tradition, and there are hopes that it will attract tourists and visitors from neighboring towns and cities.
In the future, Food Truck Rodeo aspires to become comparable to the more well-known food truck rallies, such as Smorgasburg in Brooklyn, which features nearly 100 vendors and operates every Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine. Eventually, it could even evolve into something as extensive as the food cart pods of Portland, Oregon, which line the city streets everyday, year round.
Because of the inexpensive nature of the grub, food truck cuisine is easily accessible to college students on budgets. At the Food Truck Rodeo, the free music performances and lively atmosphere brighten the evenings, offering UR students an escape from the stresses of day-to-day academics.
The last Food Truck Rodeo this year will be on Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 9pm. The classic rock band Dog House will be playing.
Everhart is a member of the class of 2016.
