It’s no secret that mobile food vans are the hottest places to eat, socialize and bring your family at the moment. As a relatively young industry in Australia, food trucks in Perth are most definitely on the rise, and food truck locations are being sought out now, more than ever.
Despite the previous widespread opinion that food trucks are full of greasy, fatty, and unhealthy food, it is now common practice amongst the community to hunt down food truck locations in Perth on any day of the week. Gone are the days when we can only rely on a brick-and-mortar restaurant with table service and metal cutlery to be serving up the goods. As Perthians, we are well known around the globe for our casual nature, so it fits well with our personalities to be lazing about on the grass with a picnic blanket at sunset, eating dinner on our laps, with the kids running around doing cartwheels and the tunes of a local musician to serenade us.
But would it be such common practice if the food itself was inedible? It was only last week I was, once again, defending the sanitary practices, cooking capabilities and years of experience that the chefs who run the food trucks possess. So, let’s take a look at the facts.
Food trucks have to go through strict health checks and have the correct licenses and registrations to trade…just like “a real restaurant”. There are spot checks by health inspectors, event organizers double checking all the safety and sanitary equipment prior to each event and permits at risk with noncompliance.
There is actually a high percentage of food trucks that are run by qualified chefs, who wish to be more face to face with their customers, who love the idea of going to events or running their own catering show, or who simply want to run their own business and find this lifestyle appealing. It has NOTHING to do with their ability to be a chef or the quality of food they pump out.
To run a mobile food van is simply not as easy as just “rocking up, serving food and raking in the cash”, a seemingly popular opinion. They can often be seen starting their prep work on Tuesday or Wednesday for a job on Saturday. Yep, that’s how much work can go into it! They’re passionate about their food, passionate about the industry and work so bloody hard to bring quality and visually pleasing food to your table..or lap, in this case! And remember, as business owners, not only do they have a reputation to uphold, but they also need to build their brand and their customer base in a world where competition is fierce.
Food trucks in Perth are getting more competitive and creative by the day. To have a strong, supportive and loyal customer base is the ultimate goal for any business owner and with such strong competition at every angle, it is little wonder that the owners work almost 24/7 for a slice of the success pie. The customer simply sees the serving of their meal, but what about the rest of the work that goes into that end result? Shopping for hundreds of people in one hit is no mean feat! I can easily fill up a trolley for just two people! Then there’s the prep work for the food (it may be slow-cooked, need resting, need refrigerating prior to cooking, need to be sliced and diced…just to name a few), the storage of the food whether it be hot or cold, the paperwork required for events and councils (of which is endless!), emails answered and catering menus sorted within 24 hours or the customer goes elsewhere, maintenance on the truck or van, safety equipment up to date, supplies sufficiently stocked, staff organized, business expenses paid and paperwork kept up to date…oh and let’s not forget the actual cooking of the food which can take hours and hours. All this BEFORE the seamless transition of your hot, delicious meal from the bain-marie to your hands, usually within 5 minutes of ordering.
It’s easy to see why people love coming out to eat. There are numerous food truck locations around Perth and with something on most nights, it’s an easy solution to the endless issue of “what do we have for dinner tonight”. Steering clear of formality with kids is key for most busy families, who just want a casual vibe and good food, so it comes as no surprise that the food truck industry is on the up. With new food trucks, new flavors, new cultures, and new fusions being born every day, it is essential for the longevity of the industry (and our taste buds!) that we continue to support our community events and food trucks in Perth.
So where are your food truck locations tonight? Download our Snack Tracker app from either app store to check them out!