Business & Tech

Beer and Food Truck Festival Takes Over Grand Central

The Grand Central District was host to a craft beer and food truck festival on Saturday in St. Petersburg. A successful turnout was in store as well as many satisfied vendors.

Craft beer and food trucks came together Saturday in the Grand Central District to the delight of fans celebrating American Craft Beer Week and those wanting to get in on the food truck craze. 

Masses of beer lovers taste-tested potions from bay area breweries like Green Bench (St. Pete) and Little Giant (Bradenton). From a peanut butter and jelly brew to a maple bacon infused treat, the festival showed the flexibility and variety of American craft beer.

David Doble, Owner of the Tampa Bay Brewing Company, poured samples from his canned beer selection. He said he was happy to be sharing the taste with others.

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"The response has been great so far," said Doble. "We wanted to present the beer to the good folks over here in St. Pete."

Saturday marked the fifth year of the event, but it was the first time food trucks were involved. Past years, the focus was the craft beer breweries.

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The addition of area food truck vendors only boosted the popularity of the event. According to Event Coordinator, Jon-Paul Francis Taylor, food trucks have a large following right now.

"Food trucks are the hottest thing going on right now," said Taylor.

Food trucks offered macaroni and cheese, stuffed hamburgers and Nutella smothered crepes to give the food truck some variety.

The Bento Box claims to be "a healthy alternative." Plates like the Marinara Wrap or the Buffalo Wrap lighten the load of an otherwise gluttonous day. The Bento Box also offered vegetarian and vegan dishes.

Owner of the Bento Box, D.Z. Houston said that he wanted to give the public a chance to eat healthy.

"We're fairly healthy people, so we decided to give people a healthy alternative to the normal greasy foods at events like this," said Houston.

Funds raised at the event will go directly to D&B Ministries, an organization that hopes to provide assistance for those in need of prescription medications. The proceeds will help D&B Ministries construct a website as well. 


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