Students gathered on Taylor Street to sample local cuisine from trucks Tuesday afternoon at the Food Truck Fiesta hosted by the Undergraduate Student Government Downtown.
The event provided students with a chance to grab lunch between classes. The choices presented to students was either Island Loco, Emerson Fry Bread or Old Dixie’s Southern Kitchen.
Local Affairs Director Michael Homan said he chose those three specific trucks because he decided they would be good for the event and thought they could really use the exposure.
Homan said he started the food truck event last year as a part of the “Buy Local, Be Local” campaign run by USGD to support local businesses.
He said this would be a recurring event throughout the year and hopes to have at least two or three more Food Truck Fiestas. Homan said he hoped to have the first even earlier in the semester, but this was the earliest he could organize it because he’s organizing it alone.
“We established a good partnership between USGD and the Phoenix Food Truck Coalition,” Homan said.
He said they try to get new trucks to come every time to increase the variety available to students. So far, there have been 12 different trucks at four different events.
Criminal justice and criminology senior Chaz Zorich said he enjoyed the Tuesday event and looks forward to the next one.
“I’ll definitely come back because there are still trucks I haven’t tried,” Zorich said.
Criminal justice and criminology senior Juan Hodgers said he liked the event because, “it is convenient, close to class, and it offers a variety.”
Hodgers said he usually walks around between classes looking for a place to eat because he gets tired of eating at the same restaurants every day and the food trucks offer a closer and easier way to eat quality food between classes.
Nutrition sophomore Victoria Morlan lived in Taylor Place last year and loved the four food truck events that occurred. She said the trucks are highly convenient and a great way to provide students with options other than what can be found in the dorms.
“I like that they make the street smell so good and that the event is supporting local businesses,” Morlan said.
Island Loco Chef Jeff Chang said the students are not the only people who benefit from such events. According to Chang, the current food truck craze is most popular with people between the ages of 18 and 35.
“These events improve our business,” Chang said. “We can cater to our primary demographic.”
Contact the reporter at alexandria.conrad@asu.edu
