In the Boston Globe, Edward L. Glaeser, a professor of economics at Harvard University and director of the Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston, asks himself, “Why do food trucks matter?” and answers his own question:

“Cities work economic magic and entertain their citizens by connecting smart people, helping them to learn from one another and to innovate….Food trucks are a natural part of the innovative culinary process…Preserving the monopoly power of local eateries is a terrible reason to restrict food trucks.”

Subsitute the word “Atlanta” for the word “Boston, and you have it in a nutshell:

“As in many other areas, a one-stop permitting process that aims at providing speedy approval seems like a step forward. While I admire the Food Truck Challenge in City Hall Plaza to bring food trucks to scale, we should give up on micro-managing the location of every food truck. Instead, public spaces should be rented to food trucks, so the space will go to the truck that values it most. Food trucks can improve Boston’s streets and Boston’s palates ­ they just need to be free to do so.”

(photo of Mayor Thomas Menino from the Boston Globe)

Yesterday, Councilman Kwanza Hall of District 2 invited the Atlanta Street Food Coalition to City Hall to spark an interest with the other members on the City Council and honor pioneers such as the Yumbii truck, the King of Pops, and other attendees.

Proclamations were read, popsicles were shared, and sincere thanks went to the Councilman, who briefly alluded to the current statute of street food (“not quite legal at the moment”) and has vowed to introduce new legislation to help vendors over the hurdles.

Look at all the happy faces of the honorees!

History and street food complement one another in Germany. Alas, we didn’t run into the guys who wear portable grills shaped like aprons and cook sausages while walking on the sidewalk (we looked) but we saw plenty that Atlanta should emulate during a ten-day blitz trip around Deutschland.

If you fly Air Tran in August, reach into the pocket in front of you and grab a print copy of this article on Atlanta’s street food written by Stephanie Davis Smith.

Jennifer and John Maley, who live in Ansley Park and run the Atlanta food blog Food We’ve Eaten, linked us last week in a blog post on street food. John writes,

Personally, I think there’s something really appealing to being able to walk down the street and pick up a hot dog, or a burro pollo, and enjoy it al fresco. There’s none of the experiential overhead of a restaurant to deal with  (waiters, counters, decor, elevator music, etc.). It’s just about the food. Plus, when everyone is forced to improvise seating, you end up a little more connected to the people around you, even if you don’t necessarily talk to them.

We agree!

Becky and Deb Tokich (profiled previously in our Vendor Gallery) love soccer and Cuban sandwiches. They went to South Africa, came back, and decided to start their business in earnest.

The Urban Picnics held once (soon twice) a month at the Sweet Auburn Curb Markets serve as incubators for the next generation of food carts. Vendors such as the Tokich sisters often start modestly with a table and portable equipment.

Pressed Cuban sandwiches and spicy roasted cashews were a big hit at the market and you can expect to hear more from the twins as soon as they figure out the wheel situation!

Brittany “Grace” Shiver, founder, and Laura Feuillebois, creative director, are working to bring a southern “farm to truck” concept to life, with honest, super-fresh treats. “The food we offer has only been through the farmer’s hands, and the hands of Grace’s Goodness,” they write.

Brittany Grace was raised “on hoecakes and collard greens in the backwoods of North Florida and South Georgia.” After what she calls her “uncoordinated stint at the largest microbrewery and organic inspired restaurant in the Southeast,” she is working on a masters in applied linguistics and English as a Second Language. She loves food and people equally. Her favorite foods include heirloom tomatoes and olive oil.

Laura is the product of a French father and a southern mother, who fostered her love affair with butter. After living in Paris, her two passions were fully realized: great food and art. She has spent the past few years working at art museums in Colorado and Atlanta. She speaks Pig Latin, Yiddish, and French.  Her favorite foods include cheese and baguette.

Grace’s Goodness made its debut at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market with a tiny table and offerings such as watermelon tomato salad with organic heirloom tomatoes, jicama, Greenleaf Farm lime basil, citrus juice, cayenne pepper, and sea salt; Vietnamese wraps filled with rice noodles, Love is Love Farm cucumbers and tri-colored peppers, basil, cilantro, and mint with a side of hoisin sauce on a bed of mixed herbs from Greenleaf Farm; Pearson Farms peaches with a chilled cream consisting of a blend of Atlanta Fresh crème fraiche and Atlanta Fresh vanilla caramel Greek yogurt. The pimento cheese served with H & F Co. toast points (some pumpernickel and some brioche) is a recipe Grace’s mom has used for years and includes cream cheese, sharp cheddar, mayo, pimentos, fresh ground black pepper, and sea salt.

The menu will change often to reflect the seasons. Next month, for example, they are thinking of doing figs with Riverview Farm bacon as well as local corn off the cob with fresh churned butter, parsley, and sea salt.

[last three photos by Daniel Stabler]

Given the chance to decide between a candidate who likes street food and one who is mum on the subject, go for the one who will make delicious things happen.

Joan Garner, candidate for Fulton County Commissioner District 6, showed up at the Urban Picnic in front of the Sweet Auburn Curb Market. If elected, she will align herself with Kwanza Hall and support legislation freeing up opportunities for the food truck community to thrive in the city of Atlanta.

Look at Ms. Garner moving between the Yumbii Korean taco truck, the popsicle cart of the King of Pops, and Hayley Richardson’s adorable Artichoke Bliss tricycle cart and follow your intuition: the woman loves food and supports young entrepreneurs. Vote for her August 10 (or early, August 2-6) in the runoff election for District 6, which includes much of intown Atlanta.

No, it isn’t an optical illusion or a feat of cloning…

If the King of Pops appears to be in two different places at the same time, it is because Steven Carse and his brother, equally tall, blonde, and good looking, are virtually indistinguishable from one another.

Yesterday, for example, while one of the brothers was in his usual spot at the Buddy gas station on Highland Avenue, the other was in front of the White Provisions Building on Howell Mill Road.

An article in the August issue of Atlanta magazine (the football issue) will show you the King of Pops in all his glory and you can refer to our vendor profile to determine whether you are buying from Steven or from his bro.

In Boston, City Council president Michael Ross is calling for a hearing on food trucks –actually, make that “mobile restaurants”–according to an article in the Boston Globe.

“I really support restaurants and see them as transformative devices for neighborhoods,” this enlightened (and well dressed) politician declared, adding, “We need to roll out the welcome mat for businesses, let people know Boston is a business-friendly city, embrace innovation. Food trucks are welcome.”

Also, Boston’s first Food Truck Festival is to take place August 8 in the South End.