WEST ALLIS – The West Allis Food Truck Friday wrapped up at the Farmers Market on Friday, where an arrangement of different flavors of local and international eats were offered. The event also showcased an amazing atmosphere with live music and a great display of community.
From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., food lovers gathered at West Allis Farmers Market to taste an abundance of uniquely creative cuisines from 17 different food trucks.
The Food Truck Friday event is solely arranged by the festival’s organization coordinator, Chelsea Famularo and aided by market attendant, Jessica Sobojinski. It was created five years ago in 2019 and even operated through the pandemic in 2020.
“When people want some good food,” said Famularo. “They made a way to get it”.
The festival was said to have been created because of the new popularity of food trucks and the help of the West Allis Farmers Market.
“We have a beautiful facility that provides covered overhang permitted restrooms, electricity, all the main components you need,” said Famularo. “It was a great way to continue to use that farmers market space and pair it with an event that we thought fit the needs of where the trends of the community would want at that time.”
Some 1,000 to 3,000 people attend the festival every year, peaking during the heart of summer.
“Everybody is excited to get out of the house and the weather starts first warming up in Wisconsin, people get really excited go out to these events,” said Famularo. “The planning first starts out in January where they get their sponsors, musicians and their food trucks booked… Each week it’s an art and a science.”
Depending on mini market days, the set-up time is said to take up to two to three hours. Famularo and Sobojinski arranges all the things for the event and welcome all the food trucks.
“We would both be running around putting the trucks in place and making sure everyone is parked where they need to,” said Famularo. “By the time the event starts at 5 p.m., we’re usually good to go!”
Last week Friday’s event had a wide variety of foods, including the ethnic Dominican and Caribbean cuisines and a variety of American staples, including burgers and grilled cheeses. Some eye-catching food trucks included “Fatty Patty” who are known for their delicious burgers and did not disappoint with its juicy flavors that made a burger lover appreciate every bite.
Other great food trucks included El Sazón Dominicano and Frankie’s Restaurant.
El Sazón Dominicano featured an empanada filled with flavorful chicken and marinated in cheese. It came with a side of green sauce that magnified the flavors. By the end of the event, it had become one of my favorite foods of the night and I almost went back for another.
Frankie’s Restaurant, centered around Caribbean cuisine, included a jerk chicken egg roll and a side of plantains.
The jerk chicken egg roll was filled with tender well-seasoned jerk chicken and vegetables and a fried, crunchy shell. The plantains were very good, also. They were the right amount of sweet and savory and paired perfectly with the jerk chicken egg roll.
Isa’s Ice Cream featured Puerto Rican-inspired frozen treats. The most unique item on the menu was a corn-flavored ice cream that elicited flavors of a corn tortilla covered in sugar, with a smooth texture.
Beyond the food, there was also an amazing display of atmosphere. There was live music performed by Scott Kirby, who is what Famularo calls, “Wisconsin’s own Chris Stapleton.” His vivacious voice and guitar played around the entire festival, captivating many attendees. Some other activities included mini market shopping, balloon twisting, face painting and Operation Rec for the kids, guaranteeing that there was fun for everyone.
Local Breweries from West Allis, Perspective and Ope Brewing were also in attendance. The King’s Road Beer had a smooth taste to it and was even appealing to a very rare beer drinker. The Prickly Pear Margarita was delicious and showed why it was a crowd’s favorite. Its taste had a sparkling fruit juice feel and was extremely refreshing, which one could say, made it very dangerous.
With a great arrangement of food trucks, entertainment and community, the last Food Truck Friday event of the year had been one to remember.
“Anybody who wants to come eat is welcomed,” said Famularo. “Food is a unifier. We can all come together, listen to some music and eat some good food in the wonderful community of West Allis.”
If you are curious and would like to know more about the Food Truck Friday events, click here.
Beautiful! Well written article, showcasing an amazing event!