Hot trend hits Duluth streets as entrepreneurs feed customers on the go
July 29, 2012 at 7:00 pm in Duluth News Tribune
Jodi Timmersman has been a substitute teacher looking for a full-time job. So with prospects not looking great for landing one this fall, she hit the bricks.
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Where there’s ambition, there’s government looking to tell it what to do.
And if I were this lady I’d highly consider telling Ms. Marshall where to shove it. She already had to abide by the Department of Health & get a city permit.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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“Dan Hartman, president of the Duluth City Council, has talked about setting up more specific rules for vendors as an encouragement to have more come in.”
So wait. Setting up more rules would encourage them to come to town? How does that make any sense.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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More regulation, more fees…so, that they don’t compete with other restaurants? Sounds logical for Duluth. Drive all budding business out of town to protect the old boy network.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Having just been to Portland, food trucks can definitely be an asset to the community. It allows for incorporation of ethnic and other unique food offerings that would not be sustainable as a full size restaurant. Also, there are many restaurants that seat a few as 30-40 people and require smaller staffing that allows for a wider variety of restaurants to develop, something that I would like to see developed here instead of the 120+ seating variety.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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I work in Downtown Minneapolis and between 5th & 9th Streets I can have anything from British “pies” to awesome pulled pork BBQ, Mexican that blows away anything you can get in Duluth to any assorted hippie food, plus the famous Smack Shack. It’s gastro-nirvana. In four blocks of Marquette Avenue there’s probably 20 trucks.
And the funniest of all of Hartman’s hot air? The food stand in question, which needs sooooooo many more laws against, is selling hot dogs. Products that are processed animal hoof, tail, b-hole, and an allowable amount of rat poo.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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I believe what Hartman is suggesting is to create food truck specific regulations to clarify current rules similar to what Multnomah County has in Oregon.
http://web.multco.us/health/food-carts-mobile-food-units
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Quote from the website: “You must also notify us when: Your menu changes”
Seriously?
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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According to Oregon Law there are four classes of food trucks.
a) Class I. These mobile food units can serve only intact, packaged foods and non-potentially hazardous drinks. No preparation or assembly of foods or beverages may take place on the unit. Non-potentially hazardous beverages must be provided from covered urns or dispenser heads only. No dispensed ice is allowed;
(b) Class II. These mobile food units may serve foods allowed under Class I and provide hot and cold holding display areas from which unpackaged foods are displayed. Self-service by customers of unpackaged foods is not allowed. Preparation, assembly or cooking of foods is not allowed on the unit;
(c) Class III. These mobile food units may serve any food item allowed under Class I and II mobile food units, and may cook, prepare and assemble food items on the unit. However, cooking of raw animal foods on the unit is not allowed;
(d) Class IV. These mobile food units may serve a full menu.
So, it looks like the intent to ensure that they don’t move classes without proper inspection.
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There is an allowable amount of rat poo in hot dogs? Well, what do you know. I was told they were made of lips and buttholes, but I didn’t know about the feces. That is not right. This could be why hot dogs from push carts are called dirty water dogs in New York City. Is there anything else I should be aware of?
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Why is it whenever any form of government wants to make sure everything going on in its constituency is on the up and up, ‘pro-business’ conservative hawks cry foul? It really doesn’t sound like any rules are going to be over bearing. One of the rules stated the hot dog cart can’t plant itself in front of Coney Island (ex.) in an attempt to undercut them, that isn’t too unreasonable. I would rather know what they are selling is safe to eat and it is a good deal for all. That being said, BRING ON THE FOOD TRUCKS AND CARTS!!! I have eaten at some of these in Minneapolis as well and the food will blow you away. I don’t think competing with other restaurants is going to be an issue at all. The product will speak for itself. Its not like people on a business lunch are taking their clients to a food truck anyway.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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I wish I would have known about the food carts in Mpls. I was there for two months this summer. I stayed just a block from the TCF bank stadium. I could have easily gone over there. I did eat at several great independent restaurants though. Rudolph’s BBQ at the corner of Franklin and Lyndale Avenues was really good. (Thank you for the location of the carts Patrick.)
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As long as they meet health standards leave them alone….!!!! We have enough laws & regulations now…
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