Mobile Food News » Lakeland

Lakeland, TN: Graze Food Truck – “Farm to Truck”

MFN Editor #1 — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 23:22:04 +0000

A year and a half ago, Amelia Timms moved to Memphis with her husband, and it was while this culinary school grad was looking for a job on Craigslist that she spotted a for-sale listing for an old Chevy step van painted a “hideous maroon.”

“I had to have it!,” Timms says.

She does have that van, and it’s now a pretty bright green and in operation as Graze, a “farm to truck”food truck, serving up fare with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients.

Timms’ partners in Graze are Georgia and Pat Smith, owners of Club Windward, a reception facility and catering firm in Lakeland.

Timms was working at Windward, investing her paychecks in the van to get it food-truck ready. She says that Georgia overheard her talking about the truck and said, “I want in on it.”

Graze hit the streets in September of last year, working events at St. Francis and Germantown Performing Arts Centre. Their next gig is at the Irish Festival at the Brass Door on March 16th, noon-10 p.m.

Graze does catering as well and has booked a few outdoor weddings in the spring.

Timms says she’s struck a deal through Shelby Farms to get produce through their gardens and she’s using the winter downtime to establish relationships with area farmers.

Graze has served everything from a turkey-artichoke panini to burgers and hot dogs, but there is no set menu.

“It varies constantly,” Timms says. The menu will be dictated as much by what’s in season as by Timms’ whims (example: she created dishes inspired by La Boheme for an Opera Memphis gig).

Everything will be made from scratch. And though she resisted it, Timms has been convinced that all Memphis food trucks must have a fryer. (Her vision for the fryer includes funnel cake fries!)

“The options,” says Timms, “are unlimited.”

http://www.memphisflyer.com/HungryMemphis/archives/2013/02/20/graze-food-truck-farm-to-truck

Lakeland, FL: Lakeland a Great Place to Eat

MFN Editor #1 — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 21:00:40 +0000

By Michael Antolak | TheLedger.com

I just have to express my pleasure after the first Downtown Food Truck Rally that took place recently in Lakeland. I’m a middle-aged guy who moved from a premier food town up north 10 years ago. The changes in the food scene since I came here are so exciting.

In addition to the food truck rally, we have lots of exciting new places to visit. There’s La Porta Rossa, that not only has imaginative food but has cooking classes that are much fun. Publix has started classes, too.

There’s the Lakeland Farmer’s Market that has so improved over the years, and stars the Poor Porker that serves the best gourmet beignets this side of New Orleans along with many other terrific vendors.

Both these operations are endeavoring to highlight Lakeland on the national stage. These are only two examples of places that offer new and awesome experiences in the area.

Lakeland is becoming a great place to eat.

http://www.theledger.com/article/20121118/EDIT02/121119387?tc=ar

Lakeland, FL: Food Truck Rally Likely to Return; Big Crowd Gathered at Munn Park for First Event

MFN Editor #1 — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 23:00:53 +0000

By Eric Pera | TheLedger.com

Chris Bass samples a Mac & Pork sandwich from the The Big Cheese food truck during the Food Truck Rally at Munn Park in Lakeland Fl. Thursday November 8, 2012.

LAKELAND | Caught in a moment of rapture, Chris Bass’ face said volumes, and it spoke to the city’s long-term goals for drawing more of his kind downtown — college students and twentysomethings.

Looking for cheap eats, Bass, 22, a Polk State College sophomore, joined hundreds of people of all ages Thursday night at Lakeland’s first monthly food truck rally at Munn Park.

The 6-9 p.m. event, sponsored in part by the Downtown Lakeland Partnership, will be repeated the second Thursday of each month for the foreseeable future, officials said.

“Dandy,” said Bass, munching eagerly on a grilled cheese sandwich taken to gluttonous heights with pulled pork, grilled onions and, for an extra $1.50, bacon.

“I like it — it’s good food,” he said between bites. “There’s not that many places like this around Lakeland that I know of … and I’m tired of McDonald’s.”

Fourteen food trucks lined the east and west sides of downtown’s Munn Park, stirring the chilled air with noisy generators. The occasional train rumbling through added to the cacophony.

No one seemed to mind, especially Dana Kelly, who teaches a gifted program at Highlands Grove Elementary School and was reveling in a gourmet taco laden with duck confit.

“Excellent, A-plus!” she said. “I think this will really catch on. What a wonderful thing on a cold night. There’s moms and kids, and I ran into some of my students.”

Thursday night’s turnout exceeded the expectations of Tiffany Logan, executive director of the downtown partnership, a nonprofit agency that advocates for merchants and organizes special events to build foot traffic.

“I think it’s safe to say we can do a monthly event,” she said. “One of our main goals was to get foot traffic downtown, and college students and young professionals, and show them there is cool stuff downtown.”

http://www.theledger.com/article/20121109/ENT/121109217?Title=Food-Truck-Rally-Likely-to-Return-Big-Crowd-Gathered-at-Munn-Park-for-First-Event&tc=ar