You’d have to be living under a rock to not notice that food trucks have taken Nashville by storm over the last year or so. There are a few that I go back to time and time again, but there are still plenty out there that I haven’t yet had a chance to try. But next weekend it looks like I’ll definitely get that chance!
Featuring more than 20 of Nashville’s mobile vendors, the “Nashville Street Food Awards” will be taking place at Centennial Park on Saturday, September 1st (which also happens to be the season kickoff of Musicians Corner, 3-6pm). The contest will consist of several delicious categories:
Best Burger
Best BBQ
Best Dessert
Best Hot Nashville
Best Vegetarian
Best Taco
Best Deep Fried
Best Drink
Best Sandwich
Best of the Best (winner of most awards)
People’s Choice Awards
There will be several judges on hand throughout the day sampling blind entries, then choosing winners for all the categories, while food truck patrons will have the opportunity to name the People’s Choice Award. All winners will be named at the conclusion of the event at 6 p.m.
In addition to their regular menus, all of the trucks will also be selling small ‘tastes,’ so patrons can sample food from multiple trucks. There will be buckets at the Second Harvest Food Bank tent where attendees can donate money* to vote for their favorite overall trucks.
Nashville Street Food Awards
September 1, 2012
11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Centennial Park
FREE. public, all-ages event
*A portion of proceeds from the event will benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.
Inquiring minds want to know: what trucks will be there?
Here’s the list:
Beach Bums Juice Bar
Biscuit Love
Bistro Truck
Blue Monkey Shaved Ice
The Coffee Truck
Deg Thai
Delta Bound
Dixie Belles Cupcakes
Grilled Cheeserie
Hit Or Miss Ice Cream
Hoss’ Loaded Burgers
Just Like Nannie Fixed It
Jonbalaya Catering
Ken’s Hot Spot
The Latin Wagon
The Love Shack
Mere Bulles
Moovers & Shakers
Peanut Butter Paradise
Retro Sno
Riffs Fine Street Food
Smoke Et Al
Sum Yum Yum
Terra Delicious
The Waffle Boss
Wrapper’s Delight
Yayo’s OMG
I’ve been very fortunate the last couple of years to judge some pretty cool (and delicious) culinary events here in Nashville, and now I can add this one to the list!
What I’m really excited about though, is that for the first time ever, I can help one of my readers sit in the judges seat. That’s right. One of you will have the opportunity to be a judge alongside me for this event!
Our judging time is from 12:15 – 2 pm on 9/1, so make sure your calendar is clear for that time before you enter.
~Contest Closed~
the winner is #23 Samantha!
For the rest of you, be sure to check out Nashville Scene’s Bites Blog on Monday when they’ll be doing a giveaway for another judge’s seat!
Here’s what you need to do:
Mandatory
1. Leave a comment answering either of these things: What’s the best street food no one’s thought of? or What’s the best street food you’ve ever eaten?
For up to 2 additional entries, you can do either or both of the following. Note: You must leave a separate comment for each optional entry.
2. Follow me on Twitter (@betheats) and tweet “Want to be a judge for the Nashville Street Food Awards!? Enter @betheats’ contest! http://bit.ly/NVIKHp”, then leave a comment telling me you’ve done so.
3. Like Eat.Drink.Smile. on Facebook and come back and tell me you did so (or just tell me you already do if that’s the case!)
Contest ends on Saturday, August 25th at Noon Central. Once the winner is chosen, I’ll make contact via email and post it here on the blog. If they don’t respond within 48 hours, I’ll be forced to choose another, so be sure to check your email!
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Ginny S. — August 22, 2012 @ 9:28 am
Hi Beth! I would love to judge with you? We are hard pressed for good Chinese food in town. A Chinese Food Truck would be a great idea and much desired, I think!
Ginny S. — August 22, 2012 @ 9:29 am
And, I liked your Facebook page too. Can’t believe I have not already done so!
Susan in the Boonies — August 22, 2012 @ 10:48 am
I am sadly lacking in street food experience, but, I’d say the best street food I’ve ever eaten was when I was visiting NYC when I was 16, and I had my first warm pretzel. Golden memory. Thought I’d died and gone to heaven.
Not so sure I’d be as ‘wowed” now, but it was quite revelatory for me at age 16.
Susan in the Boonies — August 22, 2012 @ 10:50 am
I tweeted your tweet.
https://twitter.com/BoonieSooze/status/238301747251126272
Susan in the Boonies — August 22, 2012 @ 10:50 am
I like you on Facebook.
Laura @ Mrs in the Making — August 22, 2012 @ 10:56 am
I see some of these guys at Elmington Park all the time but have never actually stopped… I hear rave reviews about the Grilled Cheeserie… I can’t believe we are going to be out of town during this event! What a bummer…
Amy Williams — August 22, 2012 @ 11:04 am
What’s the best street food no one’s thought of?-Fair Food all the time! If i could get a funnel cake and a walkin taco other than at the fair-that would be awesome!
What’s the best street food you’ve ever eaten? grilled cheeserie is fantastic!
Amy Williams — August 22, 2012 @ 11:05 am
I like eat.drink.smile on facebook
Amy Williams — August 22, 2012 @ 11:05 am
I sent the tweet
val — August 22, 2012 @ 11:12 am
liked you on facebook!
val — August 22, 2012 @ 11:14 am
Also, best street food I’ve ever eaten was from either a hyper local BLT from Dai Due or a Funky Monkey from Gourdough’s. Both are in Austin, TX. I need to get out and try more Nashville trucks!
Renee V. — August 22, 2012 @ 11:44 am
honestly I haven’t eaten hardly any ‘street food’, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE me some Grilled Cheeserie (think man vs. food 5lb grilled cheese love), but Biscuit Love is swaying me slowly.
Renee V. — August 22, 2012 @ 11:45 am
already an avid FB follower
Sarah Goodin — August 22, 2012 @ 1:05 pm
My faves are Grilled Cheeserie and sweet potato cupcakes from the Cupcake Bus!
Sarah Goodin — August 22, 2012 @ 1:05 pm
I already follow on facebook!
Leah | So, How's It Taste? — August 22, 2012 @ 1:35 pm
The best street food I’ve eaten is from the Wafels and Dinges Truck in NYC. It was pork BBQ with a waffle, topped with BBQ sauce, coleslaw, and a pink pickle. Fantastic!
Leah | So, How's It Taste? — August 22, 2012 @ 1:35 pm
I tweeted!
Leah | So, How's It Taste? — August 22, 2012 @ 1:36 pm
I like you on Facebook!
Jessy — August 22, 2012 @ 1:42 pm
I’m way behind on my street food tasting. The fried avocados from Mas Tacos and the shrimp & grits from Riff’s are my two favorites, but I’d love the opportunity to sample more!
Jessy replied: — August 22nd, 2012 @ 1:44 pm
Fried avocado tacos, that is.
Jessy — August 22, 2012 @ 1:43 pm
Tweeted! (@jessyly)
Jessy — August 22, 2012 @ 1:43 pm
Already like you on Facebook, of course!
alexandra @ sweet betweens [blog] — August 22, 2012 @ 2:54 pm
Best street food I’ve had to date is anything and everything from Potato Champion in Portland. Namely the poutine. Hello crisp + hot Belgian fries + salty gravy + squeaky cheese curds. Comfort food heaven!
Samantha — August 22, 2012 @ 4:45 pm
Best street food I ever had was fresh corn slathered in spice, bought on the street in Chiang Mai, Thailand :)
Tanya Stone — August 22, 2012 @ 5:25 pm
Both sides of the spectrum here…would love either some cut up fruit or poutine. Best food ever eaten from a street vendor would probably have to be from my childhood..foot long corn dogs, grilled corn on the cob, and frozen chocolate bananas.
alexandra @ sweet betweens [blog] — August 22, 2012 @ 5:32 pm
sweet betweens likes eat.drink.smile on Facebook!
Jeff — August 22, 2012 @ 5:44 pm
The best street food I’ve ever eaten is the pork sammy from Smoke Et Al here in Nashville.
Jeff — August 22, 2012 @ 5:44 pm
I tweeted.
Jeff — August 22, 2012 @ 5:45 pm
I like you on Facebook.
Samantha — August 22, 2012 @ 6:30 pm
Retweeted you
Samantha — August 22, 2012 @ 6:51 pm
And I already liked you on Facebook :)
Janice — August 22, 2012 @ 7:08 pm
Best street food is kao mun gai from deg thai
Janice — August 22, 2012 @ 7:08 pm
I already liked you on facebook
Jennifer — August 22, 2012 @ 9:02 pm
Can’t wait for this! Thanks for posting because I did not even know about it.
alexandra @ sweet betweens [blog] — August 23, 2012 @ 5:44 am
tweeted, too! [@sweetbetweens]
Candy Vaughn — August 23, 2012 @ 8:38 am
The best street food would be Hoss Burgers’ Herman Burger, Smoke Et Al’s Pork Belly Tacos from Thursday Night Food Fight & Riff’s Shrimp & Grits.
Candy Vaughn — August 23, 2012 @ 8:39 am
Tweeted!
Candy Vaughn — August 23, 2012 @ 8:39 am
Already like you on Facebook!
Blake Adams — August 24, 2012 @ 4:03 pm
My idea for a new food truck would be for a rockin “Paleo diet” food truck. Something cave man style!!
Blake Adams — August 24, 2012 @ 4:04 pm
I tweeted out via @tasteofnash and @blakea89 and I already like your Facebook page!
perry — August 24, 2012 @ 4:05 pm
i’d love to see a soup truck somewhere! i’m a soup freak and i’ll sip on it year round, would die to see a mobile soup vendor pop up!
perry — August 24, 2012 @ 4:06 pm
and i liked you on facebook too! :)
Lannae — August 24, 2012 @ 9:47 pm
Oh there are 2 best street foods. The 1st is when I was 13 in Paris, and every afternoon we would get a cassis sorbet in a little yellow cone from a street vendor. The ice-y treat was so dark ruby red, cool on a summer day, and so flavorful. The 2nd is in Cleveland, from Barrocco They are a Columbian street food place with a homemade arepa sandwich, homemade arepa fries, and a bunch of homemade sauces to top the sandwich and fries. Amazing!
Lannae — August 24, 2012 @ 9:47 pm
I already follow you on Twitter :)
Lannae — August 24, 2012 @ 9:48 pm
I already like you on facebook:) and in real life too!
Lannae — August 24, 2012 @ 9:53 pm
NOT an entry, after typing about the cassis sorbet, I want it now. I am going to hop off your website and get on Kayak and find a good price for a Paris trip.
Chris Futrell — August 25, 2012 @ 10:56 am
I’d love to see a food truck that did classical french dishes, mostly because I think it would be incredibly difficult to pull off done well. And I want some Boulliabaisse, dammit.
Chris Futrell — August 25, 2012 @ 10:56 am
Tweeted.
Chris Futrell — August 25, 2012 @ 10:57 am
Liked.
Guso de Obaldia — August 25, 2012 @ 11:14 am
What I would love to see is a Filipino food truck. I need me some Pancit! My favorite food truck/ street food was from Blizzcon in 2009 in Anaheim, CA. They have themed food of Blizzard games, that looked and tasted amazing.
Guso de Obaldia — August 25, 2012 @ 11:14 am
I’ve been following you on Twitter, and tweeted your tweet.
Guso de Obaldia — August 25, 2012 @ 11:14 am
And I’ve been liking you on Facebook forever.
randi — September 1, 2012 @ 5:35 pm
I was a little disappointed today bc none of the trucks had sample size items for sale like you stated so i only got to eat at 3 of the trucks! They were great just wish i could have tried more.
Beth replied: — September 1st, 2012 @ 6:27 pm
Hi Randi, I just reported the info I was given…so sorry to hear that you didn’t find any sample sizes at any of the trucks!