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Food Trucks to the Rescue

by Kirk Ross

Congrats to Chapel Hill Town Council member Lee Storrow for being the first of his peers to say the town needs to expedite a review of its failed food truck policy.

The policy was initiated last March to clear the way for food trucks, but instead threw up roadblocks in the form of high permit costs and complex rules. The town had no takers. Meanwhile, the food truck party goes on in Carrboro, Durham, Hillsborough and Raleigh.

Storrow, astutely ascertaining that Chapel Hill is being out-competed, wants a review of the rules early in the fall. The town should also consider going a little out of its way to be friendly to the entrepreneurs, because word around the food truck world is “forget Chapel Hill.” Maybe suspend the rules for a weekend and hold a rodeo or open the door for trucks at downtown events.

The council has gotten stuck on the idea that food trucks are mini-restaurants that hurt brick-and-mortar establishment. What other towns have found out is that they are an amenity. Sure, they add options in food choices, but they also contribute to the vitality of the downtowns, where they liven up otherwise dark corners and offer food at times few others will.
Storrow, who grew up in Asheville and watched its renaissance, knows a little about how a downtown riseth. The council ought to hear him out and fix the rules soon.

Food rocks out
Well, as you might have guessed, a meal at Lantern did have something to do with Arcade Fire signing to Merge Records.

Merge co-founder Mac McCaughan, who is married to Lantern co-founder Andrea Reusing, told food and music podcaster Zach Brooks of “Food is the New Rock” that Arcade Fire’s Richie Perry said a meal at the Chapel Hill eatery influenced the decision to sign.

That might also explain why the Grammy winners stop in town every now and again.

Holiday Market and Kenyan cooking
The Carrboro Farmers’ Market is hosting a special Tuesday market ahead of the Fourth of July. The Tuesday market will run the same hours – 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. – as the usual Wednesday market. Because July 4 falls on a Wednesday, that Wednesday market won’t be held so the town can put up giant inflatable objects and a tent for the baby races on the Town Commons.

The Tuesday market will feature chef and Kenya-native Njathi Kabui, who will be preparing dishes from local ingredients inspired by his homeland.

Kabui’s new Organics and Sounds catering company has been serving up great meals and music in our area, and the chef has been traveling to events around the country. He returned to Kenya earlier this year for a tour of restaurants and farms and to talk about his concerns about food issues, including the use of GMO grains in Africa.

You can learn more about Kabui, his interests and food at organicsandsound.com