It’s those types of side stories that occur at the competition, now in its sixth year. The event brings the familiar including pizza and barbecue to ethnic foods and various desserts in one location.
Each of the trucks also submits a signature dish competing for cash prizes in several categories. Greek Street Food Truck, of Miamisburg, Ohio, was selected the $10,000 grand prize winner.
PHOTO GALLERY: 2019 Gourmet Food Truck Competition
“It’s amazing (to win),” said Chris Spirtos, owner of Greek Street Food Truck. “This is why everybody comes here, to take home the top prize. This is hands-down the best competition we go to, and I’ll definitely be back to try again.”
When Enon’s Tim O’Donoghue and Tine O’Donoghue-Tull attended their first food truck competition here in 2018, they spread the word to family as the destination for 2019. Joyce Moore came in from Pocomoke City, Md. and Kevin Tull arrived from Fayetteville, N.C.
“We decided this was great and here we are,” said Tim O’Donoghue, a retiree from Wright-Patterson AFB.
Both came with their sights set on Firehouse Crab Balls, which comes in each year from Moore’s home state, and usually has one of the longest lines as it offers something different.
Tull and Moore claim such food truck events aren’t common in their states. Tull has tried to get his area to catch up with what’s been popular in Ohio for a while now.
“It’s just something you can’t do back home,” Moore said.
The plan was to load up with food, one to eat at the park and two others to take home, including pizza and pulled chicken topped with macaroni and cheese.
Rotarians work to keep the competition fresh each year, mixing in returning favorite trucks with new offerings. As plant-based foods have become popular in some diets, first-year entrant The Little Kitchen brought that option to Springfield.
READ THIS: Clark County residents might see higher property taxes next year
Owner Chloe Graffeo heard from fellow competitor Fetty’s Street Food about how well organized this event was and despite not doing many such competitions was eager to join.
All Little Kitchen offerings are plant-based including a cake batter milkshake and the signature dish mac and peas, which uses a cashew-based cream sauce opposed to dairy as well as a Frito wrap.
Another newcomer offering a different taste was Hisham’s Food Truck, specializing in South Africa foods. Cape Town native Hisham Omardien was a ballet dancer, first in Capetown and later for BalletMet in Columbus, where he met his wife, Olivia.
Retiring after nearly 30 years of dancing, the couple wondered what was next. Omardien turned to his love of cooking.
He used recipes his mother and aunt handed down and imports spices from South African to complete the authenticity of dishes including chicken curry from scratch and a garlic ginger chili.
His food truck is also new. As Omardien’s truck was considered too small for a Columbus food truck rally, also going on this weekend, he heard from a Springfield resident who works for BalletMet about the Rotary competition.
“I’m loving it,” he said. “I’m so glad people are willing to try something different.”
Trying foods he can’t normally get is what brings Springfield’s Brett Rudy back year after year. He opted for the South African and Korean food during the afternoon and said he’d likely be back later in the day for another option.
The day saw overcast skies and a brief stretch of light rain, which didn’t deter most attendees. One was overheard saying “Sometimes hunger beats getting wet.”
A group of incoming freshmen trekked down the hill to the park from Wittenberg University as part of its orientation week program.
“It’s their home for the next four years. We’re trying to get our students connected to Springfield and all the things to do here,” said M.C. Lynch, an orientation assistant.
Rotary uses proceeds from the competition for a variety of charitable causes. Food truck committee chair Bill Brougher was pleased with the day.
“The crowd has been one of the best we’ve had and this is probably the best group of trucks we’ve had. And nobody left through the rain,” he said.
For information on the competition winners, go to https://springfieldfoodtruck.com/.
About the Author