Food Truck Warz back at Keystone Centre

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This article was published 15/09/2023 (963 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The battle of the taste buds begins today at the annual Food Truck Warz at Brandon’s Keystone Centre, with dozens of restaurants on wheels to choose from.

There are 26 food trucks from across the province that are already set up as part of the event, along with a midway and beer garden.

Admission is $5, with children 12 and under admitted free. People can choose from different vendors including barbecue, Italian, Indian Fusion, Greek, German, Japanese fusion, Mexican, African, Jamaican, according to Darryl Wolski, one of the event’s co-organizers.

“We try not to do more than 26 trucks, that’s kind of a magic number,” Wolski said. “We could probably do up to 40 trucks, but we’re in a marketplace and an area where your entertainment dollar can only go so far, and for the vendors, we feel the pie can only get sliced so many ways.”

Spectators who have been to the Food Truck Warz in the past have their personal favourites. Wolski said he has already received an email from a family in Minot, N.D., asking about the Japanese-Hawaiian fusion food truck called QYU Grill, which was the “People’s Choice Winner” in 2019.

Food fans are encouraged to vote for the truck they believe is the best overall. And at the end of the event one of the vendors will be named “fan favourite.”

Voting is set up at the Fusion Credit Union tent.

Many of the trucks have a cult following, said Wolski, who added that the great food offerings are why the attendance increases year by year.

“At any one time, there are two to 3,000 people on site and it’s a good community vibe. Last year over the three days we had 35,000 people, and so far, it looks like we’ll have pretty good weather, so we could see up to 40,000 over the weekend,” Wolski said.

There will be a midway with one-day wristbands available for $30, which means those who have them on, can ride all day.

On Saturday at 1 p.m., there will be a celebrity wing-eating contest sponsored by Westman Communications Group (WCG) featuring its president and CEO, Bud Keys, who is a fan of hot wings.

Keys will be up against Colby Robak, a former Brandon Wheat King; Austin Dobrescu, a Westman golf professional; and Frank McGwire, host of WCGtv’s “Your Town Today.”

It’s a big undertaking for Wolski and his business partner, Jody Sass, who Wolski credits with suggesting Food Truck Warz seven years ago.

“I’m kind of an event junkie,” Wolski said.

“I really like putting on events. The minute we shut down on Sunday night, I’m already thinking towards next year. How can we change things, should we bring in a couple of new trucks and release a few? Always planning one year in advance.”

A percentage of the proceeds from the gate admission will go to Westman Dreams for Kids, which has helped grant dreams to hundreds of children and their families living in Westman, who have serious health concerns.

Today, Food Truck Warz is on until 11 p.m. On Saturday, the gates open at 11 a.m. and the food trucks will be open for business until 11 p.m. Sunday’s hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

» mmcdougall@brandonsun.com

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