The Signal

The food truck trend is sweeping across states with new and creative street food delights. While cities like Austin, Portland and San Francisco have thriving food truck scenes, Houston is not far behind with its kitchens-on-wheels.

The aroma of the food mixed with loud booming music seems to attract long lines of customers. The old, dirty image of an unsanitary street vendor has turned into fun-filled party food trucks with lots of options, including low calorie fare.

“We try to keep everything under 200 calories and use seasonal ingredients that gives freshness in our crepes,” said Sean Carroll, owner of Melange Creperie, a crepe food truck in Houston.

As the economic downturn continues, more and more people turn toward running a food truck instead of opening a restaurant.

“A restaurant costs up to half a million dollars while it costs about 60 – 80 thousand dollars to own a truck and set-up the business,” Carroll said.

The growing food truck businesses are coming up with new and creative food items at affordable prices to attract customers. The wide variety of menus feature foods ranging from a bowl of rice at around $3 to juicy grilled burgers at around $5.

“When something is new, people want to try it and see if it is any good,” said Naila Johnson, food cart customer. “If it falls under the right price range, then why not give it a try?”

The fact that food trucks are able to literally go to their customers also makes them appealing. Food trucks have the advantage of choosing their location everyday and if one location does not work, they can move to another. You can find them at parking lots, parks and even universities.

The Melange Creperie is located in front of Mango’s Café at the corner of Westheimer and Taft in Houston.

“Most of our customers are people from the neighborhood we are in,” mentioned Carroll, “we have people who moved here from different locations, walkers, bicyclers, construction workers and even the postman.”

Food trucks have become popular due in large part through the use of the social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to keep their customers up to date about their hours of operation and locations. They use the sites to advertise specials and to attract new customers.

“Eating from a food truck is an experience, and that is why I am a regular food truck eater,” Johnson said. “I like the variety of finger foods and desserts that are offered.”

Far removed from the old “roach coaches” feared in the past, today’s food carts are inspected annually in order to have their permit renewed.

“We are inspected twice as much compared to a regular restaurant,” Carroll said.

As the popularity of food trucks increase in Houston, The Houston Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Consumer Health Service conducts citywide programs to prevent food diseases and ensure healthy food is being sold by restaurants, including those on wheels.

“We want to have a safe food supply,” said Robert Stine, mobile food unit supervisor. “We also make sure that the food trucks are not causing any environmental violations.”

One of the things health inspectors focus on is the water service. Water for restaurants is provided by the city whereas, water for food trucks has to be provided by the owners. It is illegal for food trucks to dump their dirty water on the streets.

“I usually judge a truck by its appearance from the outside. If it isn’t clean from the outside, I don’t trust it to be clean on the inside,” Johnson said, “I also look at the trucks rating before eating.”

Food trucks are the new trend capturing a lot of people’s attention with a large selection of easy to eat, affordable food items and desserts.

The owner of Melange Creperie points out two good things about food trucks.

“They are fast,” Carroll said. “And they are like a drive-thru with easy access.”

Reaching the consumers on wheels, keeping them updated, and following the health and safety regulations play a huge role in a food truck’s success.

“I would not eat that food from the cafeteria,” said Rachel Hoffan, behaviour analyst program graduate. “If we had a food truck on campus with good food I will eat it and pay for it.”

Video shot and edited by The Signal reporter Kevin Aguilar.

The Nutcracker Market features over 300 national and international merchants offering gifts the whole family will love from home décor to sporting goods. All proceeds from the market benefit the Houston Ballet Foundation, Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy and its scholarship funds.

For more information please contact Houston Ballet at 713-535-3231 or nutcrackermarket@houstonballet.org.

Jade Wise: The Signal

Cindy Marquez
The Signal
Houston, Dallas and Austin are all potential destinations for a CityStreak race if the urban adventure challenge can attract 1,000 interested participants.

CityStreak, an “Amazing Race”- style scavenger hunt, offers competitors a chance to get to know their city while meeting and interacting with new people.

Daniel Goldstein and business partner Carter Hopkins created CityStreak while sitting in a Starbucks. As Goldstein and Hopkins casually made a list of all the things they were passionate about, Goldstein noted he always wanted to be on the “Amazing Race,” but knew that would not be a reality. The two friends decided to create a localized version of the popular reality show.

The first CityStreak was held in Nashville, Tenn., May 7, 2011.

Nashville participants re-enacted a scene from Titanic at Centennial Park and later relived their track and field days from elementary school during a three-legged race.

Chicago’s CityStreak participants scrambled through the city trying to solve a wacky crossword puzzle, sang a song while wearing a wig and proposed to a stranger.

The Chicago CityStreak event ended at McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon.

“It was a good scavenger hunt,” said Ashley Miller from events and marketing at McFadden’s. “If we’re asked to participate again we will; they were a fun group.”

The first couple of races were so successful that Goldstein and Carter decided to expand the race nationally. Texas is one of the states they are reaching out to.

“We both went to Baylor University and knew we would come to Texas, so we chose the largest cities in Texas,” Goldstein said.

Although the word “streak” has confused a few interested individuals into inquiring whether clothing is required, the website assures competitors that “streak” is not a throwback reference to the 1970s trend to run naked in a public place.

“Wear athletic apparel, strategize and read through the directions,” suggested Goldstein.

Teams of two to four people can signup for $5 per person for a chance to win a $300 cash prize.

Anyone interested in participating can signup at www.citystreak.com/houston or follow them on Twitter at @CityStreakHOU to bring CityStreak to Houston.

All university students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to visit the Community Service Fair and connect with over 20 non-profit agencies from the Houston and Galveston areas. This is a great opportunity to learn more about some of the major non-profits as well as some of the lesser-known agencies.

Those new to volunteering and a little unsure about the experience, consider the many benefits.

“Volunteering fosters a sense of pride in knowing you are giving selflessly of your time,” said Jennifer Clark, assistant director of Student Life –The Center for Student Leadership, Involvement and Community Engagement (SLICE). “You can learn so many valuable skills in teamwork and leadership, and it also connects you to your community.”

Some of the local agencies that will be attending include:

• Partnership for the Advancement and Immersion of Refugees (PAIR) Houston
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Houston
• Krist Samaritan Center
• Resource and Crisis Center of Galveston County, Inc.
• Big Brothers, Big Sisters
• Bay Area Turning Point
• Moody Gardens
• Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center-Be the Match
• Baytown Habitat for Humanity , Inc. / Bay Area Houston Habitat for Humanity, Inc.
• Houston Food Bank

The Signal reporter Jenny McHugh interviewed Houstonians about Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Broadcast Reporter: Jenny McHugh, Videographer: William Garfield

The Signal reporter Jenny McHugh interviewed Houstonians about Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Broadcast Reporter: Jenny McHugh, Videographer: William Garfield

The Signal reporter Amanda Anderson was out early on Black Friday to catch some of the shopping crowds in this photo slideshow.

The Signal reporter Amanda Anderson was out early on Black Friday to catch some of the shopping crowds in this photo slideshow.