What do booze-addled bar patrons like even more than getting in or watching a fight?

Eating.

At least that’s what a study conducted by the Siouxland Drinkers Against Violence Coalition found. In a report released last month, the SDAVC stated that in the case of 99.9 percent of patrons polled, people would rather eat delicious food and/or have sex than watch or participate in an act of violence after a night on the town.

With concerns of heightened violence happening on downtown Historic Fourth Street, city officials have been trying to find a way to curb the violence.

The findings from the study were brought up at last week’s City Council meeting.

“Obviously, we’re not going to allow people to have sex in public,” noted Sioux City Mayor Bob Scott. “But adding more food truck licenses could have some merit.”

Currently, the hot dog stand Dog Eat Dog has been permitted two locations to sling its wieners – one in front of Teaser’s Gentlemen’s Club and the other parked by the Firehouse on Fifth Street. But as the study reported, two after-hours food stops may not be enough to stop people from starting fights.

“I remember one time I was really pissed at this guy at Fourth Street Sports Grill for looking super douchey but then I got in line to get a hot dog and I no longer wanted to beat the guy up,” frequent bar-hopper Tommy Lee reminisced in a phone interview. “Of course when the line was half-way around the block I went to the parking lot and slashed his tires but had I gotten that hot dog, I’m sure I wouldn’t have done it.”

In a statement released by the mayor’s press secretary yesterday, Scott said he’s looking into allowing food trucks to line the street come 1 a.m. on weekends.

“This seems like it could be the answer,” Scott said. “What can I say? No matter who you are, eating and going to Bandits games are things everyone loves to do.”

http://siouxcityjournal.com/weekender/community/more-food-trucks-equals-less-violence-study-finds/article_d886fca1-4aa5-5b9b-a7e0-bce64ef8f292.html

]]> http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2012/12/sioux-city-ia-more-food-trucks-equals-less-violence-study-finds/feed/ 0 http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2011/08/cedar-rapids-ia-award-winning-bbq-at-smoken%e2%80%99-on-the-cedar/ http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2011/08/cedar-rapids-ia-award-winning-bbq-at-smoken%e2%80%99-on-the-cedar/#comments Tue, 23 Aug 2011 23:19:12 +0000 MobileFoodNews.com http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/?p=20210 By Angie Holmes | SourceMedia Group News

Brett Richards cuts a slab of pork inside his barbeque stand, Smoken' on the Cedar, in Vinton on Friday night, Aug. 19, 2011. Angela Holmes/SourceMedia News

VINTON — Even before Brett Richards was crowned the barbecue king of Iowa, customers lined up at his Smoken’ on the Cedar stand on Friday nights.

Last Friday, Richards’ trophy for winning the 2011 Iowa Farm Bureau Cookout Contest was prominently displayed at the stand’s window, cementing his reputation in the area as a master griller.

Tom Garwood, of Vinton, knew about Richards’ victory earlier in the week, but that wasn’t why he showed up just before the stand opened at 5:00 p.m. Friday.

“I try to make it every week,” Garwood says. “It’s good barbecue.”

Richards, 47, beat out 36 other grillers in the Iowa Farm Bureau contest Aug. 16 at the Iowa State Fair with his “Poor Man’s Prime Rib,” which also placed first in the beef category.

He used the upper part of a cow’s front shoulder for his winning recipe.

“It is a tender, well-marbled cut that nobody knows about,” he says.

It averages $2.89 a pound, compared to $10 to $12 a pound for top loin, usually used in prime rib — hence the “poor man” description.

Brett Richards cuts a slab of pork inside his barbeque stand, Smoken' on the Cedar, in Vinton on Friday night, Aug. 19, 2011. Angela Holmes/SourceMedia News

Richards has placed three of the four years he has participated in the Farm Bureau contest. This year will be his last in the competition, as there is a standing rule that once you are crowned grand champion, you can’t go back.

But that won’t stop him from serving smoked favorites like ribs, pork loin, turkey and shredded pork and beef every Friday night to regular and new customers.

He and his wife, Dawnette, opened up Smoken’ on the Cedar four years ago. The camper frame which he transformed into a mobile kitchen sits in a parking lot west of the G&G Auto Parts store on Third Street in Vinton.

Brett smokes the meat, while Dawnette makes all the sides — macaroni salad, coleslaw and cheesy potatoes — as well as bread pudding and pies.

“We make the same amount each week,” Dawnette Richards says. “Sometimes we sell out by 6:30 p.m., sometimes we have a lot left over at 8:00 p.m.”

Although there is probably enough demand for the stand to be open more than one night a week, the couple have plenty on their plate.

He owns Richards Plumbing in Vinton and also works security. She works for Aramark Food Services in Cedar Rapids.

Smoken’ on the Cedar is open 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Fridays during mild weather, usually May through October.

“We close in the winter and hibernate,” he says. “It’s a hobby that got out of hand.”

http://thegazette.com/2011/08/22/richards-serves-award-winning-barbeque-at-smoken-on-the-cedar/