The Orlando International Airport now has 6 food trucks in their commercial parking lot and in the taxi area. The LA International Airport has one food truck but plans to erect a new structure to accommodate more food trucks. As a matter of fact, rumor is that the new building will look like a food truck! Tampa International in Florida also has become another major food truck lover since November 2012. The customers are coming in droves even among Tampa residents who are at the airport to pick up or send off friends and relatives. It’s incredible! The airport officials decided to extend the 30 day trial period up to middle of 2013 and every day, they bring in a new food truck or rotate the food trucks so anytime you’re in Tampa International, the food truck at the cell phone parking lot is probably going to be different. Part of their current list of food truck participants are Dude and His Food, Cheesesteak Truck, Graffeaties, and Nicos Arepas Grill.
The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport also had a pilot food truck program recently. Naturally, Texas food took center stage. The airport even provided a seating area with picnic tables in the cell phone parking area. The response was exciting and there is talk of continuing with the program on a more formal and permanent basis.
This is America’s newest food trend that people from around the world are copying and excited about. From Asia to Europe, food trucks are sprouting up so it really does make sense to showcase the best of the country’s food trucks at major ports of entry.
Food truck owners are super enthusiastic about the idea because it’s one way they can depart from the constant bickering between brick and mortar restaurants, the local government councils and their new food truck ordinances or rules, and the growing competition among food truck owners.
According to Tom Bradley of Cheeseteak Truck in Tampa, his once-a-week schedule is perfect because regular workers look forward to his food and talking about his menu and sandwiches with new arrivals is amazing. Furthermore, the business is a steady stream of customers unlike the roadside parking which is usually the lunch crowd only. Cheekily he says that, “My favorite are flight delays.”
Last January 2012, some food experts and critics came together in a talk show and made some wild predictions for 2012. Let’s look back at the year and see if what they said happened and what to expect for 2013.