Last year saw the launch of the Capital City Food Truck Battle, which drew thousands of hungry area residents and out-of-towners.
Dueling food trucks?
A dispute between two event promoters is leaving Trenton residents and visitors with an abundance of eating options during the weekend of Sept. 19 and 20 - a hassle for the businessmen involved, for sure, but Heaven for the city's gourmands.
Last year saw the launch of the Capital City Food Truck Battle, which drew thousands of hungry area residents and out-of-towners.
TC Nelson, owner of the bar/restaurant Trenton Social, teamed up with Joseph Kuzemka, founder of the Trenton Punk Flea Market, to get things rolling for that inaugural event last September, at which 10 trucks from the tri-state area offered their tasty wares.
Visitors chowed down on weiners from Philadelphia's Dapper Dog, sweets from Princeton's Cupcake Carnival and sandwiches from Hunterdon County's Fired Up Flatbread, among other goodies.
They also crowned a winner: El Lechon de Negron, purveyors of authentic Puerto Rican fare.
RELATED: Last year's Capital City Food Truck Battle
The two men are parting ways this year, after Kuzema opted to change venues, moving the event from Trenton Social to Rho Waterfront at Riverview Plaza in order to spread out and provide room for more trucks.
Although he says his former partner's decision caught him unawares, Nelson was determined to forge ahead on his own.
Thus: The Trenton Food Truck Festival will take place on Saturday, Sept. 19, noon to 8 p.m. at Trenton Social, and the Capital City Food Truck Battle will follow the next day, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., at Rho Waterfront.
And what a weekend it promises to be.
El Lechon de Negron will be back again, for those who missed out last year. Over the course of the two days, adventurous palates will also have the chance to sample Korean fusion, peanut butter-inspired items, hallal chicken, Texas barbecue, shrimp po' boys and gourmet tater tots.
Gourmet tater tots?
MORE: Trenton hosts 3 pork roll festivals
The explosion in food-truck popularity is a relatively recent phenomenon, finding traction in cities like Manhattan, Los Angeles, Seattle and San Francisco. Yesterday's street food, once the ugly stepchild of the culinary world, has become today's chic.
We're sorry that it took a business dispute to bring this embarrassment of riches to Trenton, but just as you can never be too thin or too rich, you can never have too many food trucks - or food truck festivals.
To their credit, Nelson and Kuzema have come to an understanding, wishing each other well for next weekend and agreeing that mutual success can only bring better ink and a more positive image for the city they both love.