In a Word, Food Truck Festival is "Delicious"

By DONALD WITTKOWSKI Kass Gehringer settled on having the lobster with tater tots, while her husband, Lou, was munching on a lobster grilled cheese sandwich, also with tater tots. “Delicious,’’ Lou exclaimed of his meal in between bites. The Seaville couple was in culinary heaven during the opening day of Sea Isle City’s Food Truck Festival, a popular event expected to draw thousands of foodies over the weekend, organizers say. The Gehringers loved their food so much on Friday afternoon that they were already planning on returning Saturday to sample even more of the mouth-watering meals on wheels. “I think that we’ll probably have to come every day to eat everything that is here,” Kass said with a laugh. Altogether, there were a dozen food trucks from New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York lining the grounds of Kix McNutley’s, the bar and entertainment complex on 63rd Street and Landis Avenue owned by Sea Isle Mayor Leonard Desiderio. The mayor has become one of the festival’s major supporters. A few more trucks are expected to arrive on Saturday as the festival continues from noon to 8 p.m. Festival-goers check out the menus at some of the food trucks while deciding what to eat. Although it is being held later in the summer than usual, the Food Truck Festival has returned this year after being canceled in 2020 because of the pandemic. The turnout may not be as big as in previous years, but thousands are still expected. “In the past, before COVID, it used to be an 8,000 or 9,000-person weekend. But we still are expecting 6,000 to 7,000 over this weekend,” said Denis Brown, co-owner with his wife, Elizabeth, of Stallion Marketing LLC, the festival organizer. Brown said Sea Isle’s event has been rated as one of the best food truck festivals in the country and is known for its family-friendly vibe. Vincent Bruzzese, owner of the Traveling Tomato food truck, which specializes in wood-fired pizza, believes that having the event in Sea Isle is a huge draw all by itself. “I think it’s the location in Sea Isle. Everybody wants to be at the shore,” said Bruzzese, whose food truck is based in Williamstown, N.J. Festival-goers were also pleased by the quality and variety of the cuisine served up by what are essentially gourmet restaurants on wheels. Little Nina, 6, shares some of her food with, from left, her grandmother, Michele Katze, her mother, Kelsie Katze, and her aunt, Kristin Katze. Michele Katze, her two adult daughters, Kelsie and Kristin Katze, and her 6-year-old granddaughter, Nina, stopped in at the festival Friday as part of their summer vacation in Sea Isle. They are all from the Drexel Hill, Pa., area. “We like all different kinds of food,” Michele said. The women laughed while tiny Nina took a bite of some tasty treats that she held in a large paper cup. “Nina, where else can we get chicken, bacon and cupcakes all in one place?” her aunt, Kristin Katze, asked the little girl about the wide selection of food. Holly Verrichia and her daughter, Brenna, both of Mantua, N.J., wandered the grounds of the festival trying to decide what to eat. Brenna brought her mom to the festival Friday afternoon. “We’re checking things out,” Holly said as she looked at the different food trucks. “I’m thinking that we’ll probably be coming back tomorrow, too. I love the Food Truck Festival.” Holly Verrichia, left, and her daughter, Brenna, walk the grounds before buying their meals. The festival also includes live music and crafters for the whole family. It is also dog-friendly. Kix McNutley’s will be serving both alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages on site. For more information on the Sea Isle City Food Truck Festival, visit seaislecityfood.com.