The Food Truck Invasion comes to Hollywood every Monday from 5:30 to 10 p.m. at the ArtsPark at Young Circle. Hallandale Beach is launching a similar event this Friday outside City Hall, across from Gulfstream Park. (City of Hollywood, courtesy / January 3, 2013)

HALLANDALE BEACH—

Porkalicious. Purple People Eatery. 2 Jive Turkey.

The imaginative names pull you in, and the gourmet grub keeps food truck fans coming back for more.

On Friday, Hallandale Beach officially joins the local craze for mobile cuisine with its own monthly food truck rally.

More than 20 high-end food trucks from Broward andMiami-Dade counties will roll in from 5 to 10 p.m. at Hallandale Beach City Hall, 400 S. Federal Highway, across from Gulfstream Park.

The trucks will sell everything from burgers and pork to vegan dishes, cupcakes and gelato.

Dubbed “First Fridays on Federal,” the event will be held the first Friday of every month and is expected to draw an estimated 1,500 people, says organizer Sef Gonzalez.

Nearby in Hollywood, Gonzalez helped launch the city’s “Food Truck Invasion” in August 2011. The event, held every Monday from 5:30 to 10 p.m., has been drawing hundreds to the ArtsPark at Young Circle ever since.

“It’s become a staple event on Mondays,” said Jaime Hernandez, a spokesman for Hollywood. “It’s mainly locals who come, but the food trucks do have their own following. So they do have people coming in from other parts of the region.”

You can thank Cathie Schanz for bringing the rolling feast to Hallandale.

As the city’s director of Parks and Recreation, she scouted Hollywood’s food truck event and liked what she saw.

“We were interested in bringing that to Hallandale Beach,” she said.

There will be lots of variety to keep taste buds entertained, so don’t expect two pizza trucks at the same event.

Gonzalez says he also rotates food truck vendors in and out of different venues to keep things interesting.

“If you come back and see the same food trucks every time, you can get bored,” he said. “Some of your favorites will be there, but there may be some others so you can try more types of food.”

Gonzalez pulls from a group of about 130 food trucks from West Palm Beach to the Keys.

“Just like with restaurants, not all are surviving,” he said. “Some just disappear. Some go out of business. Some leave the state.”

But others have been showing up in their place, he said.

A food truck event and awards ceremony for the best rolling feast is coming to Fort Lauderdaleon Feb. 2, compliments of Gonzalez. The event is from 5 to 10 p.m. at Esplanade Park.

A food truck event and Cool Wheels Car Show is planned in Deerfield Beach on Jan. 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Quiet Waters Park.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/hallandale/fl-food-trucks-hallandale-20130103,0,1920084.story

Starting on Friday January 4th and every 1st Friday of the Month afterwards you can find 20 of your favorite Food Trucks setting up at Hallandale Beach City Hall (right across from Gulfstream Park). Pinchadiscos 305 will be on hand spinning the tunes so make sure to tell all your friends and family about First Fridays on Federal. Thanks to the City of Hallandale Beach Parks & Recreation for helping to make this happen.

Friday January 4th Line-Up:

90 Miles
AZ Canteen
The Big Ragu
BITE Gastrotruck
Crazydilla
Daddy’s Grill
Dog Eat Dog
Fireman Derek’s World Famous Pies
HipPOPs Handcrafted Gelato Bars
Los Chamos
Marlie’s Delights
Miami Press Truck
Mushaboom
Porkalicious
Purple People Eatery
Snow Caps
Sugar Yummy Mama
2 Jive Turkeys

The Details:

First Fridays on Federal in Hallandale Beach
Date: Every First Friday of the Month
Time: 5PM – 10PM
Location: 400 South Federal Highway Hallandale Beach, FL 33009

http://miamifoodtrucks.com/2012/12/