Mobile Chowdown 2: Back with a Vengeance

When Seattle Magazine decided to throw a street food extravaganza, it sounded like a great idea: tons of mobile food carts, collected together in one place, providing mini-bites.  What could possibly go wrong?

But the first Mobile Chowdown, held last October, turned out to be a clusterfuck of epic proportions: poorly organized, misused space, crazy-long lines, and carts running out of food.  It was a post-apocalyptic hellscape *thisclose* to being The Road.  Everyone I know who went took one look at the mess and left.  Those who stayed suffered. (Seattle, the only city in the world where folks will patiently wait in line for hours, and then complain.)

Tomorrow (11 a.m.-3 p.m.) marks the second attempt, and word is that this time around, organizers have taken steps to ensure it runs a little more smoothly.  The site's the same--the parking lot at 1616 W. Vertona--but now the carts will be spaced farther apart to keep the space organized.  There will also be more staff on hand to help direct people, more clearly designated vendor line areas, and plenty o' port-a-potties.  Because yes, even that was a problem last time around. 

The final list of vendors is as follows: Marination Mobile, El Camion, Dante's Inferno Dogs, Veraci Pizza, Anita's Crepes, Kaosamai Thai, Top Pot Doughnuts, Jones Soda, Gert's BBQ, and Here and There Grill.  There will also be live music from Ajedrez, a contemporary Latin mariachi band.

Even though there have been assurances galore that this time the event will go off without a hitch, I'd still recommend checking out the blogs, Facebook updates, and the tweet-o-verse before heading out tomorrow. You've been warned.