To the Editor:
A long time ago, in a previous life, I worked in an office building nestled in the suburban sprawl west of Boston. Each day at precisely noon, a stainless steel box on wheels would appear and park outside my office window. The daily arrival of the food truck created a mass exodus of workers eager to consume a variety of cold sandwiches, wilted salads, cold drinks and the worst coffee one can imagine. I noticed that this would repeat day after day except on Fridays when the masses would depart to the local Asian restaurant for spring rolls, chicken wings or other Chinese and Polynesian delicacies.
Observing this phenomenon, I perceived an opportunity. Why not have an Asian-themed food truck that would come around only on Fridays. I would call it the “Canton Canteen.” Alas, my idea went nowhere. Since then, food trucks have changed significantly. The day of the “Roach Coach” and “Gut Truck” are gone. Food trucks have morphed into mobile luncheonettes serving a wide variety of American and exotic cuisine. Venture into any big city and you will encounter rows of vans serving gourmet burgers, and all manner of high quality delicacies from fajitas to sushi. One town west of Boston even has an annual Food Truck Festival. Once a year a convoy of food trucks rolls into town, sets up alongside the local park and everyone comes out to enjoy the food and festivities that accompany the event.
The food truck phenomenon may be arriving in Mattapoisett in a big way. The Selectmen have proposed that perhaps twice a month in the fall an array of trucks can descend on Ned’s Point Light for a few hours, providing an opportunity for everyone to get together and break bread as the sun sets. This could be a great idea.
Ned’s Point, or the more accurately named Veterans’ Memorial Park, is a beautiful, tranquil place where folks go to enjoy the view, the breezes, a sunset, and relax and presumably ponder the sacrifices of veterans who have served our country. Before this becomes a reality, I offer some … forgive the pun … food for thought. Is Veterans’ Memorial Park the best place for a venture of this nature? While cookouts and flying kites may be benign activities at a veterans’ memorial, is a caravan of commercial vehicles set against a colorful sunset desirable? Perhaps the high school or better yet the town beach would be a better venue with ample parking, the same view and fall breezes and villagers could walk to the food fest. Is twice a month too often? If held once a year, could it become an annual fall “event”?
I don’t know the answers, but unlike my “Canton Canteen” that never matured, this idea has potential. Given time to mature, it could become something quite tasty. Just a thought.
Dick Morgado, Mattapoisett
The views expressed in the “Letters to the Editor” column are not necessarily those of The Wanderer, its staff or advertisers. The Wanderer will gladly accept any and all correspondence relating to timely and pertinent issues in the great Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester area, provided they include the author’s name, address and phone number for verification. We cannot publish anonymous, unsigned or unconfirmed submissions. The Wanderer reserves the right to edit, condense and otherwise alter submissions for purposes of clarity and/or spacing considerations. The Wanderer may choose to not run letters that thank businesses, and The Wanderer has the right to edit letters to omit business names. The Wanderer also reserves the right to deny publication of any submitted correspondence.