Foodies ‘Come Together’ for Brunch with The Beatles (santa cruz sentinel, author Ryan Masters)
SCOTTS VALLEY >> Seminal grunge rocker Kurt Cobain once said that it all begins and ends with The Beatles.
Such was the case with Food Trucks A Go Go’s “Brunch with the Beatles” event in Skypark, which occupied a brisk, sunny window of time between El Niño storm systems Sunday.
Although organizer Lali Kates, who operates the food truck Aunt Lali’s Treats, said The Beatles were chosen for alliterative reasons, she also pointed out that “you can’t really go wrong” with the Fab Four.
“Brunch with The Beatles rolls off the tongue nicely,” she said. “Plus, everyone loves the music.”
According to Kates, “Brunch with The Beatles” marked Food Trucks A Go Gos’ first foray into the breakfast realm and participating trucks designed special menus for the occasion.
As John Lennon crooned “Good Morning, Good Morning” from a nearby speaker, Kasia Maslanka Smith of Ate3One wrote out the morning’s menu on her food truck’s board.
“Norwegian Wood Wild Salmon” included dill, Dijon, aioli, cucumber scale, heirloom tomatos, caviar and champagne dill sauce on a bed of local arugula, greens and grapes.
“Everyone loves breakfast but only when others cook it for us,” said Maslanka-Smith who began implementing a brunch menu at Ate3one’s home base at Corralitos Brewing Company in December 2015.
Yet Maslanka-Smith is no stranger to cooking breakfast. She was a pastry chef at Google for years and has also appeared on the Food Network show “Cupcake Wars.”
And as for The Beatles?
“I’m more of a brunch with 2 Chainz girl,” she said.
Juan Garcia is the proprietor of G’s Tacos. Sunday’s brunch marked the first time he would sell breakfast burritos from his truck.
“The Beatles? Yes, but I like Elvis more,” Garcia said. “I am an Elvis guy.”
Aunt Lali’s Treats prepared served espresso drinks, açaí cups and affogato, a coffee-based dessert.
“Brunch with The Beatles came together because of a need,” said Kates. “Great food trucks needed a place to serve together and the community was hungry. We also wanted to do something during the day. Most of the time we’re serving after dark.”
Tyler and Danielle Turner of Aptos were walking through Skypark with their son Urijah when they detoured over to the food trucks.
“I like brunch but not The Beatles,” Tyler Turner said. “How about Brunch with The Beastie Boys?”
Although Sunday’s turnout fell a little short of expectations due, in part, with the public’s trepidation about the weather, Kates said Brunch with The Beatles was a success.
The next Food Trucks A Go Go brunch at Skypark is Feb. 21. For more information, visit foodtrucksagogo.com.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ryan Masters is an award-winning journalist with over a decade of experience reporting on both sides of the Monterey Bay. His primary beats at the Santa Cruz Sentinel include South County and higher education. Reach the author at rmasters@santacruzsentinel.comor follow Ryan on Twitter: @RyanMasters831.