Echo Christian elected to kick off her holiday weekend Friday night by enjoying a taco and a lobster roll during the Cuisine at the Crossroads food truck festival in North Aurora.
“I just moved here in February and I love food trucks,” Christian, of North Aurora, said. “I love going to events like this. It’s difficult to stop on a daily basis, but when you can sample things like this it’s something you have to do.”
Christian has a game plan for enjoying events like this.
“I’ll do a whole loop. I do a reconnaissance and see what’s there,” she said. “I try to hit different things.”
North Aurora’s third annual Cuisine at the Crossroads event ran for four hours Friday at Riverfront Park.
Natalie Stevens, community relations coordinator for the village of North Aurora, said the event continues to be a way of welcoming in the Memorial Day weekend and one that “brings the community and others together.”
A total of nine food trucks were offering dishes including Hawaiian, Mexican and Asian cuisine as well as burgers, hot dogs, chicken tenders and more.
Stevens said the number of trucks has remained pretty consistent and that a total of five of the trucks were new to the event this year.
“Last year, we had two of these food truck events but this year it’s only one as we have other things planned,” Stevens explained. “We’re excited to have some new additions this year.”
First-time food trucks included Chkn Box Chi, offering chicken tenders and sauces, Yum Dum with Asian street cuisine and Bluesy Box offering Chicago street food.
Stevens said the event “has solidified itself as the kick-off for the Memorial Day weekend with people keeping an eye out for the event.”
“We see this as community-building and like to have a variety of events for people to come out and food trucks always bring people together,” she said.
Cesar Venzes of Chicago, a manager for Happy Lobster, said he believes the popularity of the food truck is about its uniqueness and authenticity.
“The food is fresh and the lobsters are fresh and people seem to come back time and time again, and always have a good experience here,” he said at the festival. “This is something different and people turn out everywhere we go.”
Daniel Leisten of Naperville was enjoying a bowl of macaroni and cheese at the fest and said his next move would be the funnel cakes.
“That’s one of the reasons we came. This is a great way to get the weekend started. It’s a different style of food that you can’t get everywhere,” Leisten said.
Brandon Woodlock of North Aurora came with his wife and said he came two years ago to the first festival.
“I’m looking at Bluesy Box first as I’m a Chicago native – pizza, hot dogs, that stuff,” Woodlock said. “I’ll probably hit about three places altogether.”
Woodlock’s wife Teagan Woodlock said the thing she likes about food truck festivals “is the variety.”
“You get to try a bunch of different stuff and it’s a great opportunity to see friends,” she said. “I try to find something different like the Hawaiian truck they have here tonight. It looks like something interesting.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
