NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – The Charleston Meals Truck Competition returned this weekend to have a good time native delicacies, neighborhood, and tradition.
As Charleston’s authentic meals truck pageant, this marks the twelfth yr because it first started serving up its vibrant culinary expertise.
Meals has a novel manner of bringing folks collectively, and the pageant took foodies on a flavorful journey, savoring numerous tastes and experiencing cultures from close to and much, multi functional location.
Catherine Bukelic was a bartender at one of many pageant cubicles this yr. She mentioned she was born and raised as a Lowcountry girl, and that is her first yr working on the pageant.
“Meals brings folks collectively, and there’s a number of completely different choices right here,” Bukelic mentioned.
She mentioned she’s served folks from all around the Charleston space, in addition to guests from Greenville and North Carolina who got here particularly for the pageant.
“I believe everybody was actually excited, if something they have been like, ‘There’s so many various choices’ it’s exhausting to inform what they needed to get, however that’s a great factor, proper? There’s simply so many various issues to do and see and take a look at,” she mentioned.
Bukelic mentioned this weekend was the proper one to have a good time the meals truck neighborhood and native distributors.
With greater than 40 completely different vehicles to select from, Bukelic mentioned the occasion is like ‘Epcot for meals vehicles.’
From first chew to final, the turnout clearly confirmed meals has a manner of bringing folks collectively.
For meals truck and restaurant proprietor Mike Bastin, it’s a option to acquire publicity for his enterprise.
“It’s a good time. I like popping out and seeing all the meals truckers, it’s like an enormous household; it’s great things,” he mentioned.
Bastin owns Smokin’ Gringo’s BBQ and mentioned he has an abundance of expertise in the case of meals truck festivals and catering.
He mentioned he’s witnessed firsthand how occasions like this have performed a vital function within the progress of his enterprise. Whereas Smokin’ Gringo’s BBQ continues to thrive, one factor that by no means modifications is the crowd-pleasing, fan-favorite dish that retains friends coming again yr after yr.
“Each time we come to a pageant, we at all times have that pageant dish. Our three-pound tacos, and our six-pound taco, the El Jefe, appear to be an enormous vendor this weekend,” Bastin mentioned
Apart from the abundance of cell cooks, the pageant additionally had carnival rides and video games, native craft distributors and artists, and music.
Proceeds from bar gross sales will likely be donated to the pageant’s accomplice and non-profit group, The Livity Basis.
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