Food truck mania. (Photos by Robin Summerfield.)
There's nothing like a little friendly rivalry to push people to do great things.
Come September 5, food lovers will taste the fruits of that struggle during Manyfest's Food Truck Wars.
This is the second year for the dust-up, which drew thousands upon thousands of eaters to Winnipeg's Memorial Drive in 2013.
The three-day competition is the work of Downtown Winnipeg BIZ and is just one element in an all encompassing street festival.
Like last year, trucks will be parked on Memorial Drive, north of Broadway. If you've been keen to try some of the city's street eats but have had trouble tracking the trucks down, the 'war' brings them all together in one place.
This food-fight is a perfect opportunity to sample bites from a few trucks and then vote on your favourite. The top vote getter will win the People's Choice award.
Last year's fight was so popular vendors ran out of food and line-ups stretched back for up to 45 minutes. This year, abbreviated menus will help keep lines shorter and service faster.
Last year, I was thrilled to offer my stomach, senses and judging skill to the competition. Along with two other food-loving judges, we picked three winners.
Best presentation: Vilai's Spice Box for her Ninja Burger.
Best bang for your buck: Pimp My Rice's Adobo Chicken Wing
Most original dish: On a Roll Sandwich Truck's Morden Special.
This year, the competition looks fierce too. Seventeen trucks will vie for bragging rights and a nice trophy. We eaters get to enjoy the taste of competition.
Here's the roster of the 2014 food trucks:
- A Little Pizza Heaven
- Barbie & Gabi's Specialteez
- Burgers R' Us
- Falafel Queen
- Fired Up
- Grass Fed Grill
- Habanero Sombrero
- Healthy Eats
- Iggy's Family Doener
- Lovey's BBQ & Smokehouse
- The Poutine King
- The Red Ember
- Simba Safari Grill
- Up South BBQ
- Vilai's Spice Box
- Stuff It Foods
- Tot Wheels
Meanwhile, Winnipeg's food truck and trailer scene continues to grow in size and diversity. Over the past few years, Manitoba's capital city has seen a dramatic spike in the number of mobile kitchens. Not content to serve hot dogs and fries and other street-friendly food, local food truck owners have pushed the definition of street eats. Filipino food, wood-fired pizza, sushi, artisanal ice cream, Japanese sweets and Southern barbecue have all hit the streets.
For a list of 2014 Winnipeg Food Trucks check out Peg City Grub's guide here.
Peg City Grub is your ultimate source for everything foodie in Winnipeg. From the hottest chefs to the best new restaurants to the most delicious events, we’ve got you covered. Follow us on Twitter @pegcitygrub and visit www.tourismwinnipeg.com for more on the city’s fabulous dining options.
Peg City Grub is a Tourism Winnipeg culinary initiative.
