Find tasty fare at a Maryland food truck gathering

The atmosphere on a recent summer evening as hundreds dined at a firehouse in Anne Arundel County could best be described as abuzz. Visitors chatted about where and what they were eating while generators hummed in the background, powering more than a dozen food trucks.

It was Food Truck Thursday in Odenton, a weekly occurrence that began earlier this year and one of several like it in the region.

Food trucks are no longer just a lunchtime staple in office parks and along main roads. Nor do you have to head into Baltimore or Washington, D.C., to dine from a truck. The trend has caught on quickly, spurred by television shows and special events, and welcomed in areas where there isn’t typically a broad selection of food options.

This new trend meant Ashley Russell, of Severn, didn’t have to travel far with her husband, Gerry, to choose from a variety of local and foreign foods.

“This is something new. It’s exciting. It’s outdoors,” Russell says. “There are a lot of different choices.”

There was, indeed, plenty on the menu. Trucks had come from surrounding counties to dish out pizza, pasta, crab cakes, Cajun food, seafood, Greek food, pit beef, barbecue, Korean food, fish and chips, tacos, diner food, waffles and ice cream for those who still had room for dessert.

Food Truck Thursday is one of a series of food truck nights run by H2 Markets, a Crofton-based company that started off with food trucks at a farmers market in the community until demand led to expansion.

“Folks asked us to bring in more or do a food truck night,” says H2 Markets co-owner Chad Houck. “We did a food truck night last year [in Severna Park] and it went over phenomenally well.”

Now H2 Markets draws regular crowds in two additional communities — Halethorpe and Odenton. Each helps raise money for the fire departments that host them.

Here’s a rundown of several regular food truck rallies in the area — the H2 Markets locations as well as several others.

Food Truck Tuesdays – Severn

More than a dozen food trucks offer a variety of cuisines at the Church at Severn Run. A recent night included Beef on the Street (pit beef), CrabTownCurbs Cuisine, Dèjá Roux (Cajun food), Diner on the Go, Flavor Cupcakery, Funnel Fare, Greek on the Street, The Green Bowl (Asian- and Latin-inspired food), Koco Truck (Korean food), Pasta La Vista Baby, Pizza di Joey, SliderGirl and the Smoking Swine. Check the website weekly to see the truck lineups and menus.

Where: 8187 Telegraph Rd. Severn Md.
When: 5-8 p.m., every Tuesday through Oct. 23
foodtrucknites.com, H2FoodTruckTuesdays on Facebook, @FoodTruckNites on Twitter

Food Truck Wednesdays – Arbutus

Many of the same trucks that attend Food Truck Tuesdays in Severn attend this event at the Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department. A recent evening included Flat Chance (flatbread sandwiches), Jimmy’s Famous Seafood, Kommie Pig BBQ, Mexican on the Run and Wanna Pizza This. Indoor seating is plentiful as well as a pavilion outside to provide shade.

Where: 5200 Southwestern Boulevard
When: 5-8 p.m., every Wednesday through Oct. 24.
foodtrucknites.com, H2FoodTruckWednesdays on Facebook, @FoodTruckNites on Twitter

Food Truck Thursdays – Odenton

The Odenton Volunteer Fire Company hosts many of the same trucks as Severna Park and Halethorpe. A recent evening also included Chubby’s (subs and sandwiches), The London Chippy (fish and chips) and Mrs. Moo’s Corner (ice cream). Seating is available inside and out.

Where: 1425 Annapolis Road
When: 5-8pm, every Thursday through Oct. 25.
foodtrucknites.com, H2FoodTruckThursdays on Facebook, @FoodTruckNites on Twitter

Food Truck Thursdays – Middle River

Where: 900 Bowleys Quarters Rd. Middle River, MD
When: 5-8pm, every Thursday through Oct. 25.
foodtrucknites.com, H2FoodTruckThursdays on Facebook, @FoodTruckNites on Twitter

Food Truck Fridays – Glen Burnie

The Glen Burnie Improvement Association was originally planning to hold a one-day food truck event at the Glen Burnie Carnival grounds. Those plans, however, gave way to a weekly food truck gathering, often with a DJ playing music and people sitting on chairs and blankets or throwing footballs and Frisbees.

There are usually about 10 food trucks every week, with many of the same trucks that attend the food truck nights in Severna Park, Halethorpe and Odenton. Tables and chairs are provided for those who don’t bring their own.

Where: 19 Crain Highway South
When: 4-8 p.m., every Friday through September or October.
GBIA.org or GlenBurnieImprovementAssoc on Facebook

More food truck gatherings

Other food truck events to try:

• Truckeroo, a monthly event in Washington, D.C., outside of Nationals Park that runs through October. For details visit the website, TheBullpenDC.com/truckeroo.
• The Gathering Food Truck Fest, occasional events in and around Baltimore. For details visit BmoreFoodTrucks on Facebook.

By David Greisman

Second photo of a Truckaroo by Jonah Koch of Kochfoto