It’s Friday night, you’ve had a long week and you want to try something different. The semester’s almost over and you already know the Grove like the back of your hand. Need a new Friday plan? Leave Coral Gables and come down to Tropical Park for its monthly Food Truck Invasion. Surrounded by lights, music and plenty of food trucks, Tropical Park becomes a place to sit back, dance, and enjoy food so delicious, you will already be planning to come back next month.
Food Truck Invasions have been happening for five years now, according to its administrator, Steve Simon. What started in Miami has now expanded down to the Florida Keys and even up to Fort Pierce. Simon picked Tropical Park to kick-start the invasion because it was a large part of his childhood.
“I have a personal attachment to Tropical Park… I lived a few blocks away,” Simon said. “It is central to the county and many of the pioneers of the food trucks started around there on Bird Road more than six years ago.”
The event has consistently been at Tropical Park but the trucks are always rotating to provide customers new food experiences. Additionally, its one of the only food truck events around Miami that is open until 11 p.m., so there is no rush to make it to the event if you like having late dinner.
Last month, 18 food trucks circled the area so everyone could walk around and enjoy the food, either right in the middle of the lot or by the grass surrounding the trucks. With a DJ right in the middle, it’s easy to jam along as you wait for the amazing food you just bought. Food trucks range from ice cream, to Greek food, New York style pizza, doughnuts and barbecue. Since the trucks are always rotating, it isn’t likely that you’ll see the same ones next month, so make sure you try as much as you can to experience new flavors right in the heart of Tropical Park.
According to Simon, the invasion is a good chance for college students to just relax with friends.
“Bring your own chairs, like a tailgate, and setup your own base-camp,” he said. “Here’s some advice, if you’re going in a group of friends, each one purchase from a different truck and then share amongst each other.”
Alina Zerpa is a junior majoring in journalism and psychology, a major Oreo enthusiast, and spends way too much time on Tumblr.
words & photos_alina zerpa.