The 5th Annual Dallas Food Truck Palooza™ & Music Festival was a huge success. On Sunday, October 30 more than 4,000 people attended this family friendly event. Crowds from all over the metroplex enjoyed amazing food from 16 North Texas premier food trucks. As bands played throughout the day, children played in the Kids Zone which came complete with bounce houses, inflatable slides and basketball, face painting, photo booth wagon and temporary tattoos. If that wasn’t enough, there was complimentary popcorn and cotton candy.
This year's Dallas Food Truck Palooza, in partnership with NorthPark Presbyterian Church, also featured a Reverse Food Truck onsite to fight hunger in our North Texas area. “Attendees donated food to support the Vickery Meadow Food Pantry, and the Jewish Family Service food pantry,” exclaimed Debra Levy-Fritts.
This family friendly day was also a great way to give back to the community. A portion of this year’s proceeds benefitted LIFT – Literacy Instruction for Texas™, an organization that enhances lives and strengthens communities by teaching adults to read; and Guns & Hoses Foundation of North Texas, a 1st Responders Foundation that helps the families of our Police and Firefighters who have paid the ultimate price for our safety.
“This was a great day for community and volunteerism,” explained Co-Chair Mark Fishkind. “I looked at our parking lot and over the past four years I have never seen it as full as it was this year. What a great feeling, not only for the event chairs but for all of our volunteers! The FTP is great fun and we love seeing the kids painted up, running around yelling and have fun. That is what makes this day special.”
“Besides the great music and atmosphere of the day, this was only enhanced by our wonderful Vendor Fair where one could sample pralines, cookies, olive oil, specialty salts and truffles. We had an author selling his works; jewelry vendors, artists, wood maker and specialty soaps, to name a few of the offerings on display. There was a little something for everyone.”
The winner of the Best Savory Dish was a newcomer to this year’s event, Southern Xposure; they prepared stuffed chicken wings that won over the hearts of our three judges: Chef Milton Aschner, Chef Jason Sandler and Chef Adam Aschner. Our judges also picked Sweets by Selina as having the Best Sweet Dish of the day. Second place for Best Savory went to Nammi Truck and to The Bomb Fried Pies for Best Sweet Dish.
Plans are already in the works for the 2017 Dallas Food Truck Palooza and Music Festival. “Each year the Festival gets bigger and better. We can’t wait for our next event,” exclaimed Moy Speckman, Co-Chair.