By Neil Nisperos | DailyBulletin.com
CHINO – An armada of food trucks, featuring an assortment of culinary curiosities, rolled into town Saturday to help raise funds for the local school district.
Chino Valley Unified held a gourmet food truck festival from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday at Don Lugo High School to raise money for students and parent-teacher associations as the district faces fiscal shortfalls stemming from the state fiscal crisis.
The event was billed as the first of its kind in the Chino Valley area. Mobile food trucks, outside of permitted special events, are not allowed to operate in San Bernardino County.
Eight mobile food trucks participated in the event, included the Bacon MANia Truck, Buttermilk Truck , Don Chow Tacos, Frysmith Truck, Greasy Weiner, India Jones Chow Truck, Sweets Truck, Curbside Cravings, and Bool Korean-style BBQ.
The trucks were parked along the perimeter of the school’s outdoor basketball court. Hundreds came out to the event with long lines snaking away from the trucks to the center of the outdoor play area. Students walked the grounds selling water and soda to raise funds for the programs they belong to.
“As we were hoping, the weather cooperated and we knew there would be a lot of interest at the end and that’s what it turned out to be,” said Julie Gobin, spokeswoman for Chino Valley Unified. “The last couple of days have just been explosive with people calling, stopping and buying tickets. There was just a momentum building and
we’re really happy with the turnout so far.”
Gobin said the festival at Don Lugo won’t be the last, with the district planning to hold another food truck festival on Sept. 17, in conjunction with the annual Chino Valley Unified state of the district event, at Don Lugo High School.
Don Lugo janitor Shawn Rodriguez was enjoying a taco stuffed with spicy kung pao chicken from Don Chow Tacos. Rodriquez said he was going to eat all he could to help the district.
“It’s a great fusion,” Rodriquez said of the food. “I like Chinese food, and I like Mexican food, so I don’t have to go to two different places.”
Chino residents and district parents Bryan and Kelleigh Burgess were nearby enjoying fries covered with steak and cheese from the Frysmith Truck.
“It’s awesome,” Kelleigh said. “This is something different and fun. It brings the community together.”
Added Bryan, “San Bernardino County doesn’t allow these kinds of trucks. I don’t know why they’re illegal in San Bernardino County. They’re missing out here.”
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