Video Transcript:
Ryan Cuddy: All around Syracuse and the surrounding Central New York area, a fleet of vibrant food trucks is doing more than dishing out local favorites. The Syracuse Food Truck Association puts on weekly events throughout the area, and the community comes out in full force, regardless of rain or shine. According to Nick Biamonte, the general manager for food truck and catering of Toss and Fire.
Nick Biamonte: Food truck events that go on, I’m always shocked at how many people are here. If you look at the crowd today, it’s probably 45 degrees. It’s raining, it’s wet, and there’s people at every single truck eating food. I’ve seen people at our events in the pouring rain sitting at picnic tables eating like nothing’s going on.
Cuddy: Kristin Hickey, who is on the board of the food truck association, and owner of the Birdsong Cafe, is impressed at how much the association has grown over the past ten years.
Hristin Hickey: You can see just by this one, how many people every week come and show their support.
Cuddy: Even when times got tough with the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Food Truck Association found ways to stay involved with the community.
Hickey: So when the restaurants couldn’t be open and we were going through the neighborhoods and doing the distance ordering and things like that I think it got our names out there.
Cuddy: These food trucks are fueling a stronger Syracuse community one stop at a time. In Syracuse, I’m Ryan Cuddy, N-C-C News.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — In Syracuse and across Central New York, food trucks are serving up more than just fast meals — they’re creating spaces for connection and community spirit.
The Syracuse Food Truck Association has become a staple in the area, organizing weekly events that bring dozens of mobile kitchens and hundreds of community members together, rain or shine.
For Nick Baiamonte, general manager of food truck and catering at Toss & Fire, said the dedication of the community never ceases to amaze him.
“Food truck events that go on, I’m always shocked at how many people are here,” Baiamonte said. “If you look at the crowd today, it’s probably 45 degrees. It’s raining, it’s wet, and there’s people at every single truck eating food. I’ve seen people at our events in the pouring rain sitting at picnic tables eating like nothing’s going on.”
The Food Truck Association, which began with just a handful of local vendors, has grown steadily over the past decade. Kristin Hickey, owner of the Birdsong Café and a board member of the association, says the growth reflects how important these events have become to residents.
“You can see just by this one, how many people every week come and show their support,” Hickey said.
That support didn’t waver even during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. While many brick-and-mortar restaurants struggled to stay afloat, Syracuse’s food trucks adapted quickly. They brought their offerings directly into neighborhoods, using socially distanced ordering systems and spreading the word through digital platforms.
“So when the restaurants couldn’t be open and we were going through the neighborhoods and doing the distance ordering and things like that, I think it got our names out there,” Hickey added.
From tacos and wood-fired pizza to locally brewed coffee and sweets, the food truck scene has become part of Syracuse’s cultural fabric. More importantly, the events have evolved into community gatherings — places where people connect, laugh, and share meals together, no matter the weather.
The Syracuse Food Truck Association continues to roll forward, proving that sometimes the best way to strenghten a commuity is one food stop at a time.