Food Trucks Roar Into Traverse City's Culinary Scene

TRAVERSE CITY – Long known for its scenic beauty and recreational bounty, this Lake Michigan resort community has also been attracting attention as one of America's most unique culinary destinations, thanks to fans like celebrity chef Maro Batali, and was named one of the country's Top Five Foodie Towns by Bon Appetit.

But for all its restaurants, wine bars and brewpubs, the town has lacked one key ingredient of a vibrant urban food scene: good, cheap street food.

Until now.

After months of heated debate, local officials agreed this spring to make it easier and less expensive for mobile food vendors to operate in the city. Almost immediately, a half-dozen food truck operators announced that they were setting up shop in Traverse City's shady downtown district -- and a pair of transplanted New York restaurateurs has even opened a bar whose parking lot serves as a base for the trucks and their customers.

The community's first food truck, Roaming Harvest, is operated by Simon Joesph, a passionate advocate for locally-grown cuisine and street food. Like a farm-to-table restaurant, its menu changes daily and features local breads, meats, dairy, fruits, vegetables and jams. Bouyed by the city's new acceptance of what he calls "mobile restaurants," Simon has bought a second vehicle, named Little Yella, that will offer lighter items -- simple sandwiches, salads and curries -- than its older brother.

Other pioneer food trucks include King Wubbz Pita Dubz, the brainchild of local foodie Brian Welburn and Curbie, a 1946 Ford drafted into service in 2012 by Sam Porter, organizer of the Traverse City Microbrew & Music Festival and several other food-themed events. (The brightly painted truck is operated by a staff of student interns, serving locally made sodas, ice cream and dishes from whitefish tacos to paella, at special events and downtown festivals.)

Food trucks outside the State StreEt post office.

Those early arrivals operated in uncertain waters, never sure if they were about to be regulated or taxed out of business, until city officials hammered out an agreement this spring that gave them more permanent status. The new regulations established regular hours of operation, delineated zones where the trucks can operate, and reduced permit fees from $100 a day to as little as $725 annually.

The new policy wasn't embraced by everyone in the city's culinary establishment. Owners of some downtown restaurants complained that the mobile eateries had an unfair competitive advantage, since they were exempt from high property taxes and could simply shut down when cold weather thins out the pool of customers.

But even before the policy was hammered out, Gary and Allison Jonas – who created the popular Brooklyn eateries Sycamore and The Farm on Adderly before moving to Traverse City, announced that they were turning a former party store into The Little Fleet, a full-service bar whose food service is being largely provided by the food trucks they've invited to open up shop in their parking lot.

The Jonas's customers will be able to buy meals outside – from trucks or from nearby restaurants – and either bring them indoors to the bar or enjoy them in an outdoor patio. With heat lamps and other amenities, the couple is even hoping to keep the street food scene chugging along through Traverse City's sometimes harsh winter months.

"We think it's going to bring a lot of spirit to our city," they said.

Anchor Station, outside the Little Fleet on Front Street

Almost all the new food trucks involved the venture are owned or operated by existing Traverse City restaurateurs. They include:

Anchor Station from Michael Peterson, owner of Siren Hall and Lulu's Bistro, which has already made a few festival appearances. The new truck will pair some festival favorites with dishes including blackened fish, burgers, falafel and french fries tossed with smoked pork belly, Asiago cheese, scallions and herbs.)

The Dragon Wagon, an Asian-flavored entry from Dan Marsh, owner of Red Ginger, with dishes like duck confit quesadillas, sushi, bao buns and gourmet "sliders" featuring crab cakes and seared tuna.

EZ Cheesy, a Jonas-owned truck operated by Kim Ryan, formerly of The Cooks' House and the Om Café that will specialize in upscale grilled cheese sandwiches (featuring locally sourced cheeses and breads) as well as unique sides and rotating specials.

Pigs Eatin' Ribs, from chef Adam Kline, who pioneered the street food scene in neighboring Charlevoix. Kline intends to present a revolving menu centered around favorites like St. Louis spare ribs, pulled pork, brisket and probably a chicken item of some kind.

To learn more about other summer events, festivals and activities in Traverse City, contact the Traverse City Convention & Visitors Bureau at www.traversecity.com. For more information about The Little Fleet and Traverse City's food truck scene, go to www.thelittlefleet.com.

*Sponsored content from the Traverse City Convention and Visitors Bureau.