May 2015 Recap

May is really the kickoff to food truck season. May 1st marked my three year anniversary, and the start of my fourth season. After seeing so many trucks come and go in that short time, I feel lucky to still have a place in the game. Especially since I'm one the few trucks that works independently, and not with a group or alliance. Not that I'm knocking those that are part of a group of trucks, just to say that it can be more difficult working independently sometimes. 

So a few highlights of May:

May 1  First Friday Food Truck Fest @ Old National Centre

The first food truck fest is always a fun one because we as food truck owners get to network and visit with one another, and this was the first time I had seen many of the trucks since the end of last year. This was also the first event that Gypsy Moon Nosh Wagon and I got to do together for the season, which made it even more fun because she and I always have fun together! It was cool to be able to introduce her to everyone and show her the ropes. We had met the previous year over the phone, and had become fast friends, but since she was based down in Bloomington, we had not crossed paths yet in the food truck, or been booked for any events together. So this was the first of many events we did together in 2015.

May 16  Brickstreet Market @ Main St., Zionsville

This was the second event of the season that Gypsy Moon did with me, although they had our food trucks spread out, about a block apart....so we didn't get to visit much until the event was over. This is such a busy event that it's hard to visit anyway. So Brickstreet Market is an annual event in Zionsville that features hundreds of arts and crafts vendors, and local food vendors. Only a few food trucks are invited each year, so I'm lucky to be involved. It draws about 12,000 people each year, and even with the rain this year, I broke my previous years sales record. I was so busy I barely got to shop, but what booths I did get to see definitely had unique, interesting, and artsy crafts...not just your average church bazaar crafts, if you know what I mean. Zionsville definitely comes out in support of this event, and the Zionsville Chamber as well as the community is very supportive of Nacho Mama's Food Truck and my vegetarian/vegan fare. They love me, and I love them, so I have to admit... Zionsville is probably my favorite place to do events in Indy. (Sorry Speedway)

Speaking of Speedway, we can't recap May without talking about the Indy 500. Especially since that's my hood. I can see the track from my front porch, and my street is now the main thoroughfare around the track now that Georgetown is closed to traffic. Needless to say, it's crazy as shit during race weekend (pardon my potty mouth, but it is!) and so I keep my truck parked for the weekend. It's difficult getting in and out with the traffic, my commissary kitchen is smack dab in the madness, and busy....so that makes production difficult as well. People always think I would make a killing selling food over the weekend, but really I can make more money parking cars in my yard and its a lot less hassle. Even parking my truck and selling food on my own property requires a permit from the town of Speedway, which isn't cheap. There's also a lot of traffic, but not as much foot traffic....until late Saturday night when all the crazy drunks are out wandering the streets....and that's not what I want to be dealing with. So while I don't mind being a casual observer to the madness which occurs over race weekend, I don't much like being in the mix. I guess I'm just getting too old to deal. 

So that was the ending to my May highlights....