The first annual Lohud Food Truck Mash-Up is bringing food trucks and families together for an afternoon of food, entertainment and healthy competition.
On Sunday, Sept. 10, more than 20 food trucks from New Jersey and New York will battle it out for the title of “Best Food Truck” at the Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway.
The winner is chosen based on votes by Mash-Up attendees who can vote online at lohud.com/vote.
T.H. Waldman, organizer of the Mash-Up, explained that after hosting mashups with New Jersey and Philadelphia food trucks, she wanted to bring it to New York.
“Everyone loves food trucks,” she said. “What makes our event different is that we can attract food trucks that don’t normally operate in our area.”
As of press time, Waldman has chosen more than 20 food trucks to participate in the event.
“I select trucks that I’ve worked with in the past, who can handle the fast pace [environment] of this type of event,” she said. “I also reach out to locals who have great reviews and a following.”
At the Mash-Up, attendees will be able to munch on hot dogs from Walter’s Hot Dogs in Mamaroneck, wood-fired Neapolitan pizza from The Cookery’s DoughNation in Dobbs Ferry and barbecue dishes from Three Little Pigs BBQ in Hawthorne.
Gene-Christian Baca, head of business and product development for Walter’s, explained that they were excited to have their food truck involved in the event.
“It’s just a way to have people [become] a little more educated in food trucks and the quality [of the] food, and the innovation behind it,” he said.
Baca said that he also hopes for this event to make people aware of “these great concepts and these great businesses that most people don’t know about.”
Tatiana Diaz, sales and catering manager for Empire City Casino, said that participating in the Mash-Up was a “no-brainer.”
“We knew it would be something fun and new for our guests to check out,” she said. “The Mash-Up is a great way to bring the food truck experience to our community.”
Along with delicious foods, visitors can enjoy the wine and beer garden, carnival games and live music.
“It’ll be a lot of fun for the whole family,” Diaz said.
The afternoon event will take place on the infield of the raceway track.
Waldman said that early access tickets, which are $20 tickets that allow attendees to enter the event two hours early, and gives them $5 in Food Truck Mash-Up cash, which can be used at any of the food trucks, have been selling well.
“We love doing events like this,” Baca said. “We love to collaborate, we love to compete, [and] at the end of the day, it’s a great cause.”
To purchase your tickets visit lohud.com/events.
