Food Truck Court opens softly for holiday weekend
Dubbed 'North Eats' - food trucks operational from 11 a.m to 9 p.m.
Asbury Towers residents Gail Brisson, Sister Celest Farley, and Ginny Randolph [shown above] were among the first to line up Thursday morning for North Eats’ offering.
“This is exciting,” Brisson said. “I’ve been watching the development and I think it’s great.”
The food truck court’s soft opening kicked off at 11 a.m. with a mix of cuisines ranging from Peruvian to Asian fusion fares from owners traveling as far away as Harlem, N.Y.
“We are pleased to be opening our North Eats food truck park along the boardwalk at Seventh Avenue in time for the holiday weekend,” said Madison’s Director of Retail Carrie Turner.
On the full menu of food trucks are:
Johnny’s Pork Roll and Coffee Truck
The Pocketful (kosher sandwiches, salads)
Seoul Fusion Tapas (Asian)
Runa Peruvian Cuisine
Igloo (Ice Cream)
Neapolitan Express (Pizza)
Turner said the soft opening will include a selected few of the aforementioned offerings but all six food trucks will be operational by next week.
Patrons can enjoy the trucks’ fast-made cuisine at the wooden picnic benches accented by black string lights and a landscaped perimeter in perfect view of the oceanfront.
“She’s ready,” Johnny’s Pork Roll and Coffee Truck owner Johnny Yarusi of Monmouth Beach said as he unrolled the truck’s awning.
Across the courtyard, Millstone-based Josh Scala readied his Seoul Fusion truck as chef Andrew Mazza prepped the scratch-made products.
“Everything is homemade,” Mazza said. “We do our own butchering and create all the sauces and kimchi from scratch.”
Their taco offerings include a signature beef bulgogi with kim chi fries.
The food truck court was met initially with controversy from those concerned about quality of life issues and what environmental impacts it would bring to the city’s North End. Its municipal approval was given with a restriction on generators, limited hours of operation, signage and an assigned food truck access route in and out of the city.
Admittedly bias, Yarusi said he was excited when the approvals went through.
“I think its a great idea that it will be the same six trucks all season long,” Yarusi said. “It’s just a different food experience off a truck.”
For Scala and Mazza, this is their first food truck venture.
“We felt this was the perfect marriage of talent and vision,” Scala said. “We bring a good mixture of gourmet-style fusion.”
Turner said all health inspections were approved by Wednesday, the same day the hardwired electricity became operational for the trucks’ use.
The project was developed in partnership with master waterfront redeveloper iStar Financial’s temporary parking lot. The metered lot is bordered by Seventh and Ocean Avenues, Kingsley Street and the food truck court.
“Our partners at iStar Financial have created a beautifully landscaped oasis on the north end of the boardwalk and we invite everyone to come sample the new food offerings and enjoy the atmosphere,” Turner said.
The food trucks will have access to the site via the parking lot and must enter and exit within one hour of the 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. opening and closing times.
Turner said the food truck court will be monitored by Madison Marquette employees and litter control will be part of the current cycle they perform along the boardwalk.
While the Planning Board approved the temporary food truck court for a 6 year time frame, the boardwalk redeveloper must return to the City Council in two years for any extension.
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