Find out who has the taste for the space @ Eastridge Mall
by Alexander Quebec
On a warm and sunny spring day in California, The mall was packed with customers purchasing gifts for Mom (Mother’s Day was the next day) and a crowd of over a 1,000 were in attendance in a small section of the parking lot next to the movie theaters. Live music filled the air and activities abounded throughout the festival space. On the surface, this may have looked like an ordinary food festival, as malls and large shopping centers are usually a popular spot to host food truck events, they have the space and the traffic to make them a viable event for those participating. However, Taste for the Space at Eastridge Mall was no ordinary mobile food meet-up.
This was a contest to win a coveted prize for a mobile food business: a chance to win a free storefront for a year, plus other prizes. For a food truck or smaller business who wants to expand their presence, this is a prize worth the fight.
The competitors, many of them mobile food trucks or other smaller restaurants, pulled out all of the stops and showcased their best of the best for the festival goers approval. Voting was cast by the festival goers themselves. I had a chance to check out some of the food trucks and other businesses that were there to see if they had the taste for the space. In my opinion, these were the contenders to watch out for.
We’ve done some work with TeaLyfe in the past, so of course we had to give their savory Ham and Cheese waffles with a refreshingly spicy crema sauce a try.
Next was Trifecta Cooks, and their take on the Spicy Hamachi Taco. I had to give props to the crunchy wonton taco shell.
Continuing with the Seafood theme was Sauzon Peruana with their take on Peruvian ceviche. It was very cool and refreshing, perfect for the noonday heat.
Big Ed’s Buzzard BBQ would be a wonderful addition to the mall’s dining line up, I gave their smoked trip tip sliders a go, the creamy horseradish sauce made a great contrast against the au jus dip.
FK Frozen Custard was next, a warm spring afternoon like this called for a cool, refreshing treat, and this S’mores frozen custard bar was on point.
West Wing’s chicken wings were crispy and spicy, but not over the top. Topping it off was their signature wild west sauce.
Big E Cafe’s entry was with empanadas. Feeling a bit meat wasted, I gave their vegetarian option a try. I enjoyed the flaky crust with the creamy feta and fresh spinach filling.
Fairy Cakes are magic, as they make you forget all about that diet you said you would be following. I chose their decadent Lemon Cheesecake cupcake; along with shot of milk, this made for a wonderful way to end the festivities.
The festival itself was a hit in my opinion. The crowd was at a good size to allow everyone to get excited. The Mall did a very good job of planning and organizing it from the perspective of the festival goers and I would love to see more events like this in the future.
At this point, you’re probably wondering who won the contest?
As soon as we find out, we will let you know.
until next time readers….
UPDATE (6/27/17) AND WE HAVE A WINNER…
Congratulations to Trifecta Cooks for winning the top spot. Can’t wait to see what you guys have to bring to the table at your new spot!
Did you get a chance to go to Taste for the Space? Do you have a food festival you’d like for us to come check out? Do you know of any great food festivals for us to check out? Please reach out to us in the comments below.