We’re hopeful that we might actually see some interesting street food this summer with City Hall’s change of heart on sidewalk vendors and food trucks. No fewer than five restaurateurs with existing businesses have passed word on the down low that they’re interested in getting mobile, and I imagine there are plenty more dreamers (who are just as keen) that we aren’t privy to. The deadline for those seeking to apply to have a mobile food truck or cart within the city limits is June 30th at 4 pm. Get the skinny after the jump…

The pilot program will run from July 2010 to April 30, 2011. Up to 17 new locations on City property are available (sidewalks and curbside locations). The locations will be filled through a lottery process. To be eligible to apply, you must be prepared to begin operations no later than July 31, 2010; offer menu items other than hot dogs and pre-packaged, non-perishable food like soft drinks, chips, candy bars, granola and nuts; offer nutritional options as part of your menu; have a plan to reduce the environmental impact of your operation (i.e. waste management and / or diversion); and comply with Vancouver Coastal Health requirments.

The spelling error in that last word isn’t mine. I’m also pretty sure they meant “nutritious” and not “nutritional”.

This is all well and good, but what creeps me out is that City Hall is seeking only businesses willing to “focus on diverse and healthy offerings”, as if the offices of those who for decades have done their utmost to derail Vancouver’s ascension as a world class food and drink city are natural arbiters of what is diverse and healthy.

Ahem.

These are the same folks (+Parks Board) who green lit Watermark on Kits Beach (now closed) and have just followed it up with welcoming The Boathouse chain, both of which are esteemed (if only in memory) to be about as healthy and diverse as earwax. I trust the creators of the Granville Entertainment Douchebag Fiasco and ardent supporters of steroidal sapiens kicking the living shit out of eachother using “mixed martial arts” with steering our food scene forward as much as I have faith in a last minute HST reprieve. How utterly typical of them to now dictate what’s best for us after flooding the streets with crap hot dog carts and sweet nothing else for so long. I’d prefer an apology, really. “We’re sorry we made everything so lame.”

– crickets –

I’ve heard only 17 vendors will be chosen to participate in the pilot project. It’s a good thing it’s a lottery, for if the deciding body’s track record is anything to go on, it’s as near a sure thing as sunrise that they’d find brilliant new ways of fucking things up. So here’s to the bright side, and those of who enter the fray with new and delicious concepts on wheels. Good luck. Don’t let the bastards get you down.