Local food truck owner organizes event in Key West
Key West’s first Food Trucks in Paradise festival is coming Saturday, Jan. 30 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to East Martello Tower featuring local food trucks and touring live bands while raising money for local non-profits like Key West Art and Historical Society, MOTE Marine and more. The $5 admission will cover the entrance fee and add an opportunity to win raffles for local attractions.
“When I posted that we were going to do the festival, I had someone tell me no one will show up because, ‘Good luck, that’s during the Key West Food and Wine Festival,’” said founder Clint Steckly of Big Pine’s Triano’s Taco Company food truck. Two days later, the co-founder of the Food and Wine Festival, Mark Certonio, was in touch with Steckly asking him to be an official event with the annual culinary and libation festival.
Certonio said he, too, thought about a food truck event, but didn’t have time to put it together during his busy Key West Food and Wine Festival schedule, but was glad Steckly took the reins.
Bands that will be at the festival include Fish Out of Water, The Copper Tones, Miguel Perez and Ross Brown, and J-Sneez, a hip-hop band.
“It’s a good way to bring people together for a good cause,” said Steckly.
Steckly has been in the service industry for the past 10 years and when the opportunity arose to buy a truck in Marathon with a food license, he jumped on it. “I love tacos, my friends love tacos,” he said. “I was having taco parties all the time and figured I could share my taco love with the Keys.”
His favorite taco is a buffalo chicken taco with pico de gallo. The tacos and burrito bowls are served al la carte, letting his visitors customize their creations. He also offers freshly caught local fish along with the traditional ground beef, pulled pork, and chicken.
Trianos can be found in the parking lot of Lower Keys Tackle on Big Pine Key, Thursday through Saturdays starting at 11 a.m. until he runs out of tacos. Since there isn’t a ton of food options in Big Pine Key, he said it was the perfect place to set up shop.
“I’m really looking forward to reaching a new crowd at the festival,” he said. “I have to imagine we are going to be very busy.”
