“Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.”
-Yogi Berra
In the days leading up to this weekend’s Awesometown food truck festival, I had a sense that the crowds were going to be massive. A lot of my friends are the type to seek out the better trucks in LA and/or stand in a snaking, hour-long line when one of these trucks makes it into our city. Of course we would go — it’s that second and third layer of friends, family and acquaintances that had me worried.
On paper, this looked to be the coolest thing to happen in Santa Clarita in a very long time. To a food-nerd like myself, this wasn’t to be missed. I arrived 30 minutes early, parked steps away from the trucks and made fast conversation with friends I spotted. There were some twenty trucks, but many of us had come to the independent conclusion that the crucial trucks would be Ludo and Border Grill, in that order. So there I stood, about fifth in line for Ludo.
What’s Ludo? I think you mean “Who’s Ludo?” Ludo is Ludovic Lefebvre, one of the most forward-looking chefs working in America, and certainly one of the top five chefs in all of Southern California. A few years ago, he hit reset on his stratospheric-trending career and same up with new ways to present his food. The most notable being LudoBites, soon in its 6th iteration (I could go on and on, but it’s a very big deal, and so is he).
Recently, Ludo joined the food truck game, but from an unlikely direction: fried chicken. He offers three different types of fried chicken and a few sides. The chicken, the slaw and the fries are all delicious and accessible. Easy to eat and easy to share.
Please, enjoy this picture. I remarked to my friend who took this picture, “these fries, and that béarnaise, it’s like being transported to Paris… nothing this good has ever been made in Santa Clarita.”
Ludo, making fried chicken, in Valencia. That just about says it all: one of the very best chefs in the game, using expert preparation and great ingredients to serve humble street food, right on our door step. That’s the attraction. Los Angeles might be, as the great food critic proclaimed, “…the best place in the world to eat now.” The truck scene, as we know it, began in Los Angeles and is both a reflection and an addition to its culinary landscape. But they don’t need these trucks like we do. I agree with Jeff: let’s do this again. A thousand times over.
A good friend of mine spends much of his time traveling the world, eating things both delicious and unspeakable. Arriving at 6PM, he left just as quickly. The lines were insanely long and he had his kids. I get that. (note: I’ve learned the hard way that kids do not pair well with food trucks) It wasn’t for everyone, but it was great for enough of us to declare it a success. Just about every truck either sold out of served continuously through the event, without interruption.
And that, I suppose, is my retort to the complainers. It was a complete success. If you planned ahead and arrived early – or had some patience and stayed late – you likely had a chance to eat as much as you could handle. I had to leave at about six, but not before scoring from two trucks, all while having great conversation and running into about half the people I know.
I know a lot of you love Santa Clarita for its Yacht Rock tribute bands in the park. And I’m happy for you. But on Saturday, the rest of us had our chance, and we had a blast. Just as I suspected, it was coolest thing to happen in Santa Clarita in a very long time. I’ve found that those who came and stuck around had a great time. The naysayers seem to be those who missed out. (For next time, check out Lady Ducayne’s pro tips for food truck festival enjoyment)
It’s worth noting that this was really an event for the purpose of selling the remaining group of homes in Valencia. I’d go into why and how, but that’s another post. The City, by all appearances, had nothing to do with it. (For one, they wouldn’t have hired an company named “Cluster Truck” to make it happen). Much respect is due to team Awesometown. They did a great thing for this community. But soon enough, these homes will be sold and their incentive to throw such a bash will be gone.
I hope this event made truck operators give our town another look. I’m aware of a well-repected truck that was blown away by the turnout, and is seriously considering a return trip. I also hope that this event inspires others in the valley to facilitate festivals like this. Already, Brave New World Comics in Newhall hosts trucks regularly.
Final bit: this picture speaks a thousand words. I can scarcely think of two people I know whose views differ more than the guy on the left and the guy in the center. Look at those smiles! It was that kind of night. All I can say is the guy on the right is a helluva diplomat.
Loading ...
I couldn’t have said it better! What a great report!
Hell yes. You should write liner notes for classic album re-issues.
Side note: Did Petz leave his helmet on as a precaution? Strange bedfellows indeed…..
I always thought of food trucks as were you went to grab a quick lunch when you were to busy to go to a restaurant. But you guys are making me think I made a big mistake missing this event.
Thanks Mike it was good seeing you Saturday.
This article and LD’s should be required reading for anyone attending any future SCV food truck events. A 1-2 knockout punch of attitude-adjusting information.
Well done!
Petz was smart enough to foresee the parking problems and rode his bike from Saugus to avoid the hassle and cement his conservative/conservationist values with those whom he met.
Used the bus to return home since it was dark and he wanted to avoid the altitude gain between Valencia Marketplace and the corner of Haskell/Bouquet.
Petz enjoys the face to face time with those who hold opposite political views-especially when his wave is coming in and they are being flushed out.
Now you see how we all eat over in Newhall.
That photo looks very familiar…. I happy to see the three of them play nice for once.
No. 1…Im filing a lawsuit for using my photo without my express permission. No. 2., great article, although we love family themed events in SCV, this event was not meant for the kids. Alot of waiting in line etc….
I loved my donut flavored ice cream! Had a wonderful time hanging out with some friends
I LOVED the food truck festival! Anyone who came and didn’t expect to wait in line was out of touch with the food truck scene. We were able to get Sprinkles cupcakes, a cup of some really good pumpkin spice coffee from Newhall Coffee and Hubby got me and daughter that Donut ice cream…YUM!
I hope we get to have another Food Truck Festival, not many of the trucks make their way to our valley, this was a real treat and I want to try more!!!
I think its great that you bitch about the complainer in SCV yet your actually writing and article bitching and bitching yourself. The event would have made more sense if it was a 2 day event and was spread out through the entire parking lot. Did you really think after all the tv food truck hype and you hyping the trucks on facebook for weeks that maybe 100 people would show up? SCV has only grown ridiculously in the last couple years. Again as said by many, even those that don’t bitch and don’t go to central park to watch cover bands, you should have planned better. Yay for you getting there early and getting all the food you wanted. Doesn’t mean everyone can be on your time schedule.
Someone with a positive attitude and someone with common sense would have apologized and said that the next event will be planned better because the turn out was bigger than anticipated. But instead its a pissing contest. Good job Mike!
Why should Mike apologize? He was a participant.
You know what? You should apologize for asking him to apologize because he was really positive and you thought he was really negative but trying to come across as positive.
Umm – who’s bitching? You’re the only one I see complaining here… It’s a festival, not a restaurant – if you can’t spend all night there, no big deal, but don’t worry about it. Not sure where the pissing contest is here, unless it’s just you complaining!
#readingcomprehensionfail
Knob alert… Santa Clarita narcissistic complainer. Read at your own risk.
Chris, it seems that you are suggesting that this was my event. You are correct. In fact, I own the Bridge-Port Marketplace and have many seagoing vessels moored in the lake across the boulevard.
I’ve spent a fortnight on this Face Book proclaiming the arrival of vehicles bearing provisions.
I am horrified to learn that you walked 200 feet instead of 100 feet. How ever could I reconcile with you? Please accept my most heartfelt apology for burdening you with the presence of these provisions. Next time, I will do unto another town and spare your fine city.
But, should these trucks request sanctuary in my marketplace again, I will contact your butler to determine the time that would hew most naturally with your weekend schedule.
Good day, and may you please accept my most humble apologies.
Excellent summary, Mike. I stopped by after 7:30 p.m. with my two kids knowing that it would be crowded and that we probably would not eat anything in light of the lines and because we just feasted at a baseball team picnic. However, I wanted to expose my children to the ambience, energy, atmosphere and general chaos. The Twitter chatter from Kung Fu, Lady D and others before I arrived rivaled the hype for the Superbowl. We lucked into a parking spot rather quickly in front of Red Mango. Once at the trucks it was shoulder-to-shoulder foot traffic just trying to be a voyeur. My teen daughter and I had previously done Kogi truck and she loved it. It was quite a spectacle. My kids got it. They saw friends, surveyed menus, and we have our priorities for next time.
I hyped it up. There was a lot to hype. Jason, you didn’t visit the fort. Maybe I should switch my name over here to Kungfu too as that was how I was introduced to one and all on Saturday.
They just posted that they estimated 13,000 people attended. Impressive.
I went to the event with my wife and a good friend of ours. Event had its pros and cons but overall was enjoyable. I wrote a blog about the experience if anyone wants to check it out. http://valleyguyobservations.blogspot.com/
I’ll be honest with you – I know several people who were there with their kids who bailed quickly because it was too challenging for them, but my wife and I had a blast even with our two kids – 7 and 3. The 7yo was a great help, bringing things to and from my wife who was holding down the fort at one of the obnoxious traffic-jam forming tables while I was waiting in one of the longer lines, and the 3yo was ecstatic about the spaghetti from Vesuvio, and loved the music from the DJ. We got food & drinks from 5 different vendors – samosas & a Slumdog wrap from the DosaTruck, several handrolls and some temari sushi from Fishlips, arancini rice balls, plus spaghetti & meatballs from Vesuvio (two stops there!), homemade Cake Monkey ding-dongs and something called the Lil Merri, which was two large/thin oatmeal cookies filled with a maple vanilla cream, and of course several stops for coffee at Mitch’s Newhall Coffee van.
This thing was a blast – it was exactly what I expected, and no less. Anybody who was disappointed probably didn’t know what to expect – food trucks are never the same experience as restaurants, and are not intended to be. This experience was amplified even further by being in a festival setting, rather than guerilla style on a street somewhere. If you don’t like the trucks, it’s no big deal – just head over to Lazy Dog or BJs and don’t sweat it!
Was that photo of food the gourmet food you’ve been talking about? What is it with peoples undying love of fried food. No wonder we’re dying at a record pace from heard disease and obesity. We have free agency to eat that stuff if we like, it’s not good choice for health if you ask me.
Sterling, you may wanna loosen up. It’s food. Think about it.
Sterling:
http://www.thisiswhyyourefat.com/
Dying at a record pace… Haha
I agree! I thought this was a great event and hopefully will be even better next time.
My husband and I went to the LA Street Food Festival the year before last. It was all food trucks (around 40? trucks maybe less) and you had to pay to get in. After you paid to get into the event you also had to pay for food at each truck. The lines were so long at this event our group had to split up, each person standing in a different truck line, just to get food. In the end it took over 2 hours for us to even have our first bite of food… then the event was almost over. It was poorly planned, but you know it was the first time they had the event.
This year they held the same event at the Rose Bowl. They charged a fee to get in and you paid nothing for the food once you were in. I heard it was completely sold out.
So next time they will plan better. Hopefully there is a next time. It was great to have such a fun event this close to home.
I’m plenty loosened
More douche than loose.
Mike your food posts are just great! You should post them here often.
I am really curious about that béarnaise sauce now…
Myself, I’m partial to a nice Paloise … but that’s just me. Carry on ..
Not a chance. Taragon FTW.
Mint? hm….I should try before saying anything but I know in general partial to taragon.
I meant I’m in general partial to tarragon
Pingback: The Patios is set to expand. Will you partake? | SCVTalk.com