Italian Dante Association hosted a food truck festival event on the on their association hall grounds on Oct.24. The festival was meant to help struggling small businesses and provide the community with an escape from their lockdowns.
The event serves as an opportunity for food trucks to be able to do business to a large crowd as well as provide publicity for the Italian Heritage Dante Association which uses the grounds to host weddings and other gatherings.
The Italian Heritage Dante Association is an organization that seeks to foster, promote, expand, maintain, and preserve the culture and history of Italy. They operate out of their event hall on Wilson Road.
The Bakersfield Californian reported that the Association president David Santarcangelo said, “A lot of people have the COVID blues right now and who doesn’t like a good food truck?”
The most popular food truck present was El Taco Rojo Birrieria. The truck had a moderate line throughout the night and the only place with authentic Mexican drinks like Aguas Frescas.
El Churro Loco was the designated desert truck, with food like churros, doughnuts, and funnel cake.
Lupe Osuna and Shaun Schloper said, “They are probably just getting some funnel cake at El Churro Loco because the Kern County Fair was cancelled this year.”
Also, in attendance was Brazil Hot Dogs with their loaded hot dogs topped with things like bacon, grilled onions, Thousand Island, barbecue sauce, sweet relish, cheese, potato sticks and jalapeños.
El Pollo Tapatio was serving up Mexican food at the event but was outshined by El Taco Rojo Birrieria.
The last food truck at the event was Sushinola with their Mexican sushi menu. The combination proved popular as they had a fairly large number of patrons.
Beer, wine, and mixed drinks were sold by the Dante Association.
The Dante Association also held a raffle to raise money for their organization.
Providing live entertainment, the band Blonde Faith performed intermittently throughout the night. Blonde Faith played a variety of music from classic rock to an acoustic cover of Lady Gaga.
There was a lack of diversity among the food trucks leaving patrons with little choice other than Mexican food, or Mexican food wrapped in rice and seaweed.
The Bakersfield Californian also reported that Santarcangelo said, “based on the response, organizers will offer more food truck gatherings in the future, possibly on a monthly basis after the holidays.