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player ready...It was all about the lobster.
The moment the Exchange Club of Grayslake opened the gates to the second-annual Food Truck Frenzy at the Lake County Fairgrounds Saturday, the line started forming at Happy Lobster.
An hour later, the line was still at least 75 strong.
“This is the best-tasting lobster sandwich you’ll ever get,” Mike Gontko of Arlington Heights told Billy and Paula Crutcher of Waukegan, all of whom were waiting in line.
They paid a $20 early bird fee so they could get in line an hour earlier than the general public for first dibs and looks at the nearly 30 trucks offering special goodies for hungry foodies. Picnic tables were set up, and patrons could also bring lawn chairs and tables and choose their spot on the fairgrounds.
Gontko discovered Happy Lobster at a food truck event in Chicago last year, and when he learned it would be in Grayslake Saturday, he put the date on his calendar.
“He’s got some special sauce,” he told the Crutchers. “It’s got a good kick to it.”
Truck owner Alex Robinson, who was taking orders and reciting them back to patrons, said the lobsters come from Maine, the best place to get them in the states. Happy Lobster was named best food truck at last year’s event, as well as at other events in the Chicago region.
Of course it wasn’t just about the lobster. It was also about the special toasted cheese – there was a line there, too – and homemade marshmallows stacked between two homemade graham crackers and topped with ganache chocolate; and hot dogs with names like the Grill of the Dead and the Slasher; and empanadas stuffed with spinach and ricotta or beef and spicy sauce.
“I walked by the pizza truck, smelled it and wanted to eat the whole truck,” said Adam Shores, Grayslake trustee and member of the Exchange Club of Grayslake. The group sponsored the Food Truck Frenzy for the first time last year, and it went so well, with nearly 5,000 people coming, that members doubled the space this year and created the early bird rate.
“The food truck craze has taken off. It’s fun for people to get out, and you have all these different flavors and choices right here,” Shores said.
Paula Crutcher has been to Chicago food truck events and loved them. When she saw one being held in Grayslake, she was thrilled and told her husband, Billy about it, mentioning the Happy Lobster.
He loves lobster. She asked him if he wanted to pay the early bird fee, set up their chairs and table on the lawn and stand in line to buy lobster rolls.
“I said heck, yeah,” Billy replied.
“Lobster mac and cheese bites are awesome,” Shelly Coleman of Wildwood told the couple just before she got her order.
But it wasn’t lobster that floated the hunger boat of Max Shores, Alan’s 10-year-old son. He was getting impatient for the funnel cakes food truck to open. He had never tasted one before.
While setting the twisted dough into a pan of oil, Mark Wesson, owner of My Funnel from Island Lake, said the key to a good funnel cake is to use high-quality products, especially for the dough. “We use Pennsylvania Dutch brand,” he said.
Just one taste and Max knew he liked funnel cakes. He ordered his with cinnamon, sugar and chocolate syrup.
“It’s really yummy. The dough is really crunchy,” he said.
Other yummy homemade delights included s’mores at Mother Wilma’s Marshmallow Factory from Crown Point, Ind.
“We make everything from scratch including the marshmallows and graham crackers,” said proprietor Jayme Goffin, as she heated a huge, square vanilla bean marshmallow sandwiched between two crackers, then topped it with homemade chocolate. She handed it to a customer instructing, “Eat it from the top so it doesn’t get too messy.”
Next door, Dan Gibrick of Volo stood at the front of the line at Killer Zombie Dogz. He started reading the menu; “Beer brat sausage with caramelized onions, feta cheese and sweet and bacon barbecue sauce – the Dixon Dog. I’m going to order that.”
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Meanwhile, Paula and Billy Crutcher sat on the lawn enjoying their food. Though not a lobster lover, she took one bite of the happy lobster roll, and “I ate the whole thing,” she said. They also had purchased some other items they’ll be taking home with them for later feasting.
Proceeds from the Exchange Club of Grayslake’s food truck event go to child abuse prevention programs run by Lake County organizations. The approximately $5,000 raised last year benefited Mano a Mano, A Safe Place and other groups. The group expected to raise more this year with its early bird tickets.
The exchange club needed a new fundraiser – and with food trucks becoming more popular, it decided to start one in Lake County, said member Wendy Petera.
“People like the variety of being able to visit one location and try several different food trucks, and to be able to follow them in the future,” she said. “People are so excited about it. They think it’s a great idea having food trucks all in one place in Lake County.”
Sheryl DeVore is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.