food truck culture as told by Sri from "Crepe Amour"
Today
I talked to Sri, owner of the Crepe Amour truck (follow them at @crepelovetruck
– you will definitely want to try the
crepes). He was friendly and talkative, and certainly had some strong and
well-supported opinions about food trucks and food truck culture. His truck
feeds everyone: colleges, weddings, professionals, elementary schools, catering;
they were even asked to vend at the presidential inauguration parade. Sri is
very conscious about what he sells, how, and to whom – a savvy businessman if
there ever was one. He told me crepes are unique and fun, and that’s why they
do so well in so many different settings. The truck also is an espresso bar,
but they were parked in front of Starbucks. “I’m not going to sell coffee in
front of a Starbucks,” Sri said, and those manners (also read: common sense.
Intelligence.) became more evident as our conversation turned to the DCFTA and
its impending legislation. Crepe Amour is part of the DCFTA, and Sri supports
the legislation. As far as he’s concerned, parking spaces should be used by
food trucks that are up to hygienic standards, sell interesting food, and work
to serve communities and enhance culture, not just make money. “DC is all
commerce,” according to Sri, and it is not always beneficial to communities. In
other words, DC does not need thirty dirty kebab trucks trying to turn a profit
taking over entire blocks. DCFTA food trucks are “more well-mannered” than
other trucks, he says, and he thinks “a lot of [other] operators are giving
food trucks a bad name.” Hygiene is a big part of this, according to Sri, and
he thinks that will be part of future food truck legislation. Sri says trucks
like these “don’t help the cause.”
When I asked what “the cause” was, Sri started talking about the real “cultural infusion” that food trucks can provide. “DC is making a big deal about food trucks,” he said, “but go anywhere else in the world and street food is everywhere. You get some of your best food on the street.” So part of his purpose is to emulate the ease and authenticity that comes with the street food he’s seen in his travels (Singapore, Thailand, India – they all know what’s up.) He also told me about how Crepe Amour does a lot of fundraising (for PTAs or PTOs) and donates 10-20% of profits because “it comes back” to the truck and the shop. Help the community help you! Overall, Sri is a proud member of the DCFTA and supports the pending legislation because he thinks its will help start a movement and create, in his words, a “wave.” Once parking is more limited and quality is assured in DC, he thinks the trucks that can’t hang will move out to places in Virginia. Those places will then have to tighten up their legislation as well, and the “wave” effect will be in motion as the then-under-qualified trucks move further away, and so on.
Today
I talked to Sri, owner of the Crepe Amour truck (follow them at @crepelovetruck
– you will definitely want to try the
crepes). He was friendly and talkative, and certainly had some strong and
well-supported opinions about food trucks and food truck culture. His truck
feeds everyone: colleges, weddings, professionals, elementary schools, catering;
they were even asked to vend at the presidential inauguration parade. Sri is
very conscious about what he sells, how, and to whom – a savvy businessman if
there ever was one. He told me crepes are unique and fun, and that’s why they
do so well in so many different settings. The truck also is an espresso bar,
but they were parked in front of Starbucks. “I’m not going to sell coffee in
front of a Starbucks,” Sri said, and those manners (also read: common sense.
Intelligence.) became more evident as our conversation turned to the DCFTA and
its impending legislation. Crepe Amour is part of the DCFTA, and Sri supports
the legislation. As far as he’s concerned, parking spaces should be used by
food trucks that are up to hygienic standards, sell interesting food, and work
to serve communities and enhance culture, not just make money. “DC is all
commerce,” according to Sri, and it is not always beneficial to communities. In
other words, DC does not need thirty dirty kebab trucks trying to turn a profit
taking over entire blocks. DCFTA food trucks are “more well-mannered” than
When I asked what “the cause” was, Sri started talking about the real “cultural infusion” that food trucks can provide. “DC is making a big deal about food trucks,” he said, “but go anywhere else in the world and street food is everywhere. You get some of your best food on the street.” So part of his purpose is to emulate the ease and authenticity that comes with the street food he’s seen in his travels (Singapore, Thailand, India – they all know what’s up.) He also told me about how Crepe Amour does a lot of fundraising (for PTAs or PTOs) and donates 10-20% of profits because “it comes back” to the truck and the shop. Help the community help you! Overall, Sri is a proud member of the DCFTA and supports the pending legislation because he thinks its will help start a movement and create, in his words, a “wave.” Once parking is more limited and quality is assured in DC, he thinks the trucks that can’t hang will move out to places in Virginia. Those places will then have to tighten up their legislation as well, and the “wave” effect will be in motion as the then-under-qualified trucks move further away, and so on.
Out with the “nonsense trucks,” in with cool concepts, passionate people, and quality food. Sounds like a plan.
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