Kassie's Column: For the Love of Food Trucks

Let’s see.

There are a few things that make me giddy: impromptu gatherings with family and friends, being outside, traveling, concerts, hammocking aka mocking, puzzling, exercising, reading and last but certainly not least – eating! Yes, I eat. Contrary to what I’ve encountered all my life where people like to offer up their unsolicited thoughts of “You need to eat” – as if I could’ve survived this long in life not eating *insert multiple eye rolls* - I eat a lot. I have high metabolism. It’s been a constant companion since I was a child. And despite my pediatrician believing it would slow down in my 20s, the opposite has happened. It’s increased.

So, when I received a text from my friend, Kendra, a couple of weeks ago I knew someone had been at work on my behalf. The message from her was short but powerful – “Food Truck Thursdays are coming to Lexington!! KSL, Merry Christmas!”

Merry Christmas, indeed.

And Happy New Year! And Happy Birfdaaaaaaaaay, too!

If you didn’t know before, you will know by the end of this column. I loooooooooooves me a food truck!

I can’t pinpoint exactly when I became a fanatic but I call tell you that the first time I attended the Greensboro Food Truck Festival in April of 2017, it was like I stepped into a world created just for me. Food everywhere! Plus music, crafts and some of the best people watching this side of the Mississippi River.

The options were endless. And so was the crowd which quickly taught me three things – have a plan of purchase, eat a little something before I arrive and adapt swiftly. Now, that I’ve mastered maneuvering the event, the big stomach inside my petite body leaves with a smile on its face every time.

I’ve shimmed over to hundreds of food trucks over the years. Typically, I’ll beeline to trucks that serve cuisine that isn’t readily available in Ltown such as Jamaican (gimme all the plantains!), Italian (me likes a good meatball!) and Caribbean (so many options in this lane). I enjoy trying the uncommon combinations like mac n cheese over smoked turkey, pancakes and chicken and poke chops (yes, poke) with bbq sauce over bacon stir fry rice.

Can ya’ll tell I’m hongree?

That’s typical.

It’s rare that I’m not thinking about food.

And I’m already thinking about what food I’m going to get today at Lexington’s first Food Truck Thursdays at Breeden Amphitheater (333 S. Main St).

I’ve got my plan in place. I even know what time I’ll be arriving. But I’m not tell ya’ll because I don’t want ya’ll to get the truck that’s #1 on my list before I do. I’ve been waiting too long for this to become a reality.

There’s levels to this 😊.

However, if you haven’t been to a food truck festival, here’s some advice:

• Come early. Since trucks have limited storage, they often run out of food.

• Try something new! That’s one of the fun things about food trucks. They provide a wide range of offerings.

• Be patient. Most trucks cook made to order so there’s often a wait and 99.8% of the time it’s worth it.

• If you’re going to be at the festival for an extended period of time, bring a chair, umbrella, sunscreen and water. You can’t be out there passing out over your hot plate of fish.

• Give Tranise & Travis Brown, the masterminds behind this new weekly occurrence, with grace. They’ve been hosting this event in Salisbury almost a year. With anything new, there are bumps in the road. Let’s show them Lexington hospitality!

• Have fun and enjoy yourself!

And if you see me floating by with sweets in one hand, food in another and my Yeti bottle tucked under my arm, just smile and wave.

Because I’ve transported into another dimension.