Food Trucks in the University City of Philadelphia - Article Example

Food Trucks in of Philadelphia Introduction: Food trucks in the in Philadelphia have been very common in the recent times. The food trucks are a form of modern dining which doesn’t require indoor restaurants or fancy seating arrangements, these trucks are mobile and serve at the best locations at a cheaper price than the restaurants and hotels. These lunch counters of University City serve the community every day with a variety of cuisines and diverse flavors. The food trucks have been a significant element of University City which has gained a lot of attention and good name throughout (FOOBOOZ, 2013). This research project will talk about the importance of food trucks in the University City culture and how the environment has given it a boost to promote more food trucks. The neighborhood of University City has contributed to making these food trucks greatly successful for decades now. The food trucks culture in University City has been ongoing since many years and it has proved to be one of the most attractive dining places of the city (Lattanzio, 2013). There is a large variety of foods which suits the diverse population that visits these food trucks including students, residents, labors, etc. With two major universities; University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University, the food scene has become more vibrant and noticeable (Stadd, 2011). This research paper analyzes the food truck scene of the area with the help of three research articles and own research on the topic. The research has been carried out on the field to understand the culture, background, and importance of the food scene. Analyzing research articles: The first research article that will be analyzed is From Place to NonPlace: A Case Study of Social Media and Contemporary Food Trucks by Ginette Wessel. The article talks about the changing social dynamics of the cities and the growing culture of the food trucks in urban cities. Wessel talks about the increasing advancement in information and technology including the vast use of social media and digitalization. She wrote on food trucks saying that the place, social media, and mobility of food trucks is greatly aiming to uncover the changing social dynamics. She talks about the contemporary urban environment and relates it with the urban design that is emerging due to the social processes caused by social media, information, and communication technology (Wessel, 2012). Wessel used a methodological approach and concluded that the people who used social media to reach to the food trucks tended to identify less with the environment and culture of the food trucks including the place where the truck is parked, the people coming to buy the food, and the competing food truck sellers. The study suggested that social media and the use of information technology greatly weaken the ways in which people attach with the environment and culture. It also increases connectivity and access but loses touch with the urban space (Wessel, 2012). Wessel is right in her approach that people become less connected as they don’t need to visit the food trucks and weaken their ties to the location. University City and its food trucks culture tends to be a perfect example of how the food trucks culture has bought people together and attracted them towards a significant and cultural phenomenon that has made University City worth visiting. The second article that will be analyzed is Street Foods in America- A True Melting Pot by Taylor D.S. The article talks about the food trucks that have been emerging in various cities of America and the most famous one being in Philadelphia. The article gives a historical account of the food trucks culture and its importance for people. It starts with the historical evolution of street foods and how they have eventually taken the form of food trucks. The writer believes that these street foods are the future of the American society due to the changing lifestyles. The lifestyle is changing and these street foods have a major contribution in our lives. This can be seen by the example of University City where a large proportion of the community relies on the food trucks for their daily lunches (Taylor, 2004). With a detailed study of the American lifestyle, diet changes, and the evolution of street foods, the writer has outlined the food trucks culture in University City as one of the major contributions to the American street food emergence. This article also focuses on the variety of foods available on these trucks and how these foods tend to affect the health of the Americans in the future (Taylor, 2004). These food trucks provide a wide range of foods including a variety of ethnic foods as well. The writer rightly concludes that American lifestyle is changing and the food trucks culture will soon take over and affect the health of Americans. The third article is Food Trucks’ Rocky Roads to Success by Suzanne Zionts. It talks about the small business owners that own these food trucks and how they have promoted and expanded their businesses. It also talks about the food truck owners at Philadelphia talking about their sales and growth. The article is about the difficulties and facts that should be considered by the small owners before they decide to launch a food truck. With various examples and references to existing food trucks, there are suggestions and recommendations made for new owners (Zionts, 2012). Different features of the food trucks are discussed which give a perspective of the other side of the trucks instead of the consumer perspective. With examples and references to various food trucks of University City, the writer successfully explains the problems associated with the establishment of these food trucks. It is a difficult job than opening a restaurant as there are many small and big factors that have to be considered (Zionts, 2012). The article concludes with recommendations based on the primary data collected through interviews of various food truck owners. With the help of their suggestions and answers, the writer manages to make efficient recommendations for all those who want to operate food trucks. Comparative Analysis: The three research articles discussed above tend to talk about different elements about the food trucks in University City Philadelphia. They have different approaches towards the food trucks, their establishments, their historical accounts, their future, and their importance. The first article focuses on the environment and culture which is created by these food trucks and how people get attached to it while the second article focuses mainly on the historical evolution and importance of food trucks in general and specifically in Philadelphia. However, the third article distinctively talks about the food truck owners and the problems that they have to face in order to open and establish their food trucks. Discussion: The research carried out by the team for this research topic focused on the culture and importance of the food trucks in University City. The students of the universities tend to enjoy the food trucks culture as they find a lot of choices and varieties to choose from. Moreover, the community as a whole makes use of these trucks and they are always crowded. The customers are highly satisfied with the quality and taste of the food. The food served is also hygienic and clean which attracts more customers especially students. Thus, the food trucks culture has been emerging since many years but it has been established in University City greatly. The community is being recognized because of the food trucks that are serving them since decades. References FOOBOOZ. (2013). Where the Food Trucks Roam in Philadelphia. Metro Corporation Lattanzio, V. (2013). Promoting Healthy Eats at Philly Food Trucks. NBC Stadd, A. (2011). A Guide to University City’s Awesome Food Truck Scene, Courtesy the Insiders at Penn’s Food Magazine. Uwishnu.com Taylor, D. (2004). Street Foods in America-A True Melting Pot. Karger Wessel, G. (2012). From Place to NonPlace: A Case Study of Social Media and Contemporary Food Trucks. Taylor & Francis Zionts, S. (2012). Food Trucks’ Rocky Roads to Success. Fox Business Read More