Although food trucks are not a new concept, the phenomenon has a direct correlation with our use of social media. We’re more connected now than ever before, which is opening up the world for more possibilities and opportunities.
Lethbridge now has three unique food trucks circulating the city, which can be found parked along the streets outside different businesses throughout the year.
“There’s actually three different processes they have to go through before [people] can have a food truck: There’s a business license application, development permit and on street vending permit,” said Dave Henley of the licensing department at the City of Lethbridge.
One truck making a splash onto the scene in August of this year is the family-run food truck, Sparkies Street Side Diner.
Owners Tina and Shane Mazutinec started the food truck with their children Mickayla, Madison and Miranda because it’s a market they feel will eventually develop like it has in bigger cities like Calgary.
What sets Sparkies apart from the other trucks in Lethbridge is that it offers an authentic diner menu that is versatile with items that are accommodating to a lot of people and markets.
“I want people to know when they come up to the food truck, that it’s not just your typical burgers and fries, but real good comfort food,” said Tina Mazutinec.
Not only is their menu unique to their food truck but they’re also open all year and offer a service that will come in handy this winter. They give their customers the option to stay in their vehicles and text their order to them and have a return text when it’s ready.
Customer Mariko Yamada said, “not only is the food good, but they have good customer service and respond quickly through Facebook to customer inquiries.”
A favourite on the menu at Sparkies is the Freddy Funder Fries, which is a poutine made from sweet potato or home cut fries, jalapeno havarti cheese, thinly sliced BBQ steak and crunchy pico.
“This whole concept is family oriented from the name to the design of the trailer, so we figured some of our menu items needed to be fun and Freddie Funder is my oldest daughter’s nickname,” said Tina Mazutinec.
Nearly everything is made from scratch at Sparkies and future menu plans include desserts like sugar cookies and gluten-free items.
If you don’t have time to drive around and scour the city for a food truck, check out your favourite truck’s social media page for daily updates.
Interested in where Sparkies will be next? Visit http://sparkiesfoodtruck.com/ for more information.
Along with Sparkies there are also two other food trucks in Lethbridge including the Flyin Hawaiian and Fries and Dolls.