Food Truck Culture In Western Colorado
Originally published in the Summer 2020 issue of SPOKE+BLOSSOM
Western Colorado is known for many iconic vistas, outdoor adventures and experiences, and now, the emerging popularity of local food trucks. Just like in Los Angeles and Houston where some of the best food trucks exist, Western Colorado offers unique opportunities for enthusiastic restaurant owners to fill a growing food service market. Offering accessible and quality food in this region adds to the overall living experience.
Clusters of communities thrive in their closeness to one another. Yet, it is not out of the norm to drive half an hour to get to the next city or to try that perfect food truck taco. We value mobility as much as the food service industry values adaptability. By the very nature of the industry, a food truck, its cook staff and patrons must be adaptable to the changing times.
Ed Vaughn from Taco Bliss in Paonia describes the food truck experience as “good food that doesn’t break the bank.” It gives customers a chance to be outside and enjoy some fresh air, he adds, and it’s an opportunity to connect with friends and community.
“And most of all,” says Vaughn, “the comfort and satisfaction from filling your tummy with something delicious!”
“A food truck will always pique your curiosity,” explains Tara Steinbrunn from Palisade’s Underdog Cheese.
“What do they have? Tacos, pizza, cheese, the possibilities are endless,” says Steinbrunn. “If you find a grouping of food trucks you can travel the world in an afternoon.”
Food trucks make people feel like they are discovering a hidden gem that they can share with their friends and family. “You have to track them down and try to get there before they sell out,” adds Steinbrunn. “Eating at a food truck is more of an experience than a traditional restaurant and some days you just want to lie in the grass and eat cheese!”
Yet, cities and towns are spread out over the Western Slope. Although all connected, each feature individual place has its unique identity. How then does the humble food truck keep its presence in a widespread community like Western Colorado?
ONE EXCHANGE AT A TIME
Local breweries love to highlight the importance of working closely with local farmers and other businesses so that the best quality product can be made, served and consumed. Similarly, our food trucks and trailers strive to deliver the best possible product by working with locally-grown ingredients.
It has been true for a long time now that the resources we grow in our soil turn into the delicious food we then eat later. Our food reflects every home-grown part of our way of life.
“The food produced in this valley is part of a tradition hundreds of years old and is second nature to the people of the Western Slope,” shares Steinbrunn. “That means we all have a bond to agriculture here; you might live next to a corn field or love visiting our spectacular farmers’ markets, but the culture of growing real delicious food touches all our lives. The same food that makes our community so great also serves to represent us to the rest of the world. No matter where you live or what you believe we can all agree on the joy of a juicy peach in your fist.”
Food trucks and trailers can take pride in knowing that their dishes reflect the culinary identity of the region. In turn, local and visiting customers can take pride in supporting that same culinary identity. Here in Western Colorado, the customer is equally a part in sustaining exciting food ventures as the cook and the product supplier.
In the world of food trucks, the cooks and patrons are bound together in a near ritualistic way. The patron waits in line, scanning the menu drawn in chalk or marker by the small window where the cook leans out occasionally to hand out orders or to say hello. If a patron finds a good food truck, they feel connected to it.
The relationship between the truck’s staff and the customers is initially based on the food, but the experience expands from there — it becomes about the continuity and kinship that evolves from coming back again and again. Groups of families and friends stop by often; new menu items are tested out. Again, the culture is being built one interaction and one exchange at a time.
“Food is one of the few things in life we all need,” says Vaughn. “Seeking out favorable food can’t help but lead to connection, whether [it’s] with the grower, seller or cooker of the food. Connection is one of the true beauties of eating and sharing food.”
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, small businesses have struggled to maintain the necessary steam to continue operation. In Western Colorado, we’ve seen the community rally behind the smaller shops we took for granted only a few months ago. Residents are buying gift cards to their favorite local spots. They order curbside pickup. Both the owners and patrons are becoming increasingly creative and generous in their support. The local food truck and trailer industry benefits from these same strong connections built over time.
“Creating an atmosphere and culture is just as important for food trucks and trailers as it is for other restaurants,” Vaughn shares.
This past May, Taco Bliss was still selling a frozen meal delivery service to their supportive and loyal customers. Like so many businesses, Vaughn is just waiting for that day when he can fully reopen.
“During this crisis the support from the community has been more than we could have ever imagined,” shares Steinbrunn. “People are really rallying behind small businesses and making it a point to come out and buy what they can. Nobody wants to see people get hurt and we are grateful this community has come together to help the food service industry adjust to this new environment.”
Some food trucks have been giving back to the community, as well. Have Cooker Will Travel and The Buttered Biscuit have scheduled free food service for certain people in the community.
The industry’s natural mobility has provided a unique opportunity to serve Western Colorado with the same enthusiasm and genuine care that have always been there.