Pop up restaurants and food trucks are all the rage these days, and Gautier is keeping with the times. The idea was conceived by the City of Gautier Recreation and Community Events Department. Tasty Thursday is a monthly event the 4th Thursday of every month. Selected vendors invade the old Singing River Mall Property along Hwy 90. The atmosphere is festive with highly decorated stands, flags, umbrellas, and contests.
There was constant traffic in the ample parking area. Many customers were using the various selections of takeout lunches. Couples were pleased that each individual could select from a truck depending on their own tastes, then enjoy lunch together under some of the umbrella stands – offering relief from the late summer heat.
One customer remarked: “I wish they had this EVERY Thursday.” One young man explained that he was at the food fair at the request of his homebound mother, scooping up the specialties she had already picked out. Another buyer commented that the prices were great for people on fixed incomes.
True Wings UK added an extra bit of excitement. The contest challenged hot eaters to down six of their HOT thunderbird fire wings in a certain period. A tough way to win a T-shirt but worth the challenge.
September’s featured merchants were True Wings, Chef in a Box, Mann Kettle Corn, Charro’s Hot Tamales/Muffuletta, Haven Down Home Creamery, The Gulf Cart Food and Below Zero. The amazing culinary choices were so varied it was hard to decide: burgers with fried green tomatoes; fish, shrimp, pork or beef tacos; po’boys and fries; nachos; slushies and ice cream; hot tamales and muffulettas. What a menu! I finally decided on tamales for lunch and tacos to take home for supper. Both were delicious with very ample proportions.
Watch for the Oct 24 announcement on Facebook.