Toasted Tangerine food truck motors down for good
Toronto’s food truck scene took a hit Saturday when The Toasted Tangerine announced it would be winding down. Alyssa Tangerine, co-owner of the truck alongside her husband Adrian, spoke to The Dish about the reasoning behind the closure. Primarily, she told us, the couple decided to pack it in following personal health issues on her part, which made it difficult to continue working on the truck. But in addition to those concerns, she told us that costly city-sanctioned rules and restrictions made it nearly impossible to turn a profit. And it turns out that showing up at big festivals wasn’t much of a solution either—Alyssa explained that vendor fees to park at a three-day event could cost up to $1,000, and that’s on top of the price of gas, employees, propane and food. “I don’t know what they think we’re selling,” Alyssa says of her $8 fare, “there’s no gold in my sandwiches.” The couple plans to take time off for now, but another food-service venture isn’t entirely out of the picture. It’s safe to assume, however, that unless there are some drastic changes in city by-laws, you won’t see these two on another truck. As Alyssa explains, “I don’t see any longevity in the business.”
I have just returned from NYC where I happened to catch the free PARKED! event (a food truck festival) on August 4th. The sheer variety and quality of the food trucks/stands amazed me and I felt disheartened to hear about the closing of the Toasted Tangerine. My friends and I lamented Toronto’s lack of variety, although it is growing slowly.
Why our restrictions and regulations aren’t more relaxed like NYC’s is beyond me. Politicians: take a cue from The Big Apple, if you want T.O. to become more interesting to us locals and the international community alike.
So sad. I am a huge fan of the new food trucks and Toasted Tangerine was one that I longed to try. I hope that the restrictions that stop such amazing ventures from having the success that they deserve will be lifted. Some of the best and most innovative food I have had in ages has been from the new gourmet food trucks.