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Monday, May 18, 2009

Geek / Food Twittering Trucks

Posted by Patrick Alan Coleman on Mon, May 18, 2009 at 3:41 PM

No good has ever come of me posting about Twitter. And I understand why. Twitter is currently the subject of so much slathering media coverage (yes, I am aware that I'm part of the media) that it’s almost impossible to not be cynical about the precious micro-blogging website. I am normally a highly cynical person. It’s not a trait I’m proud of, but if I curb my cynicism I become an over earnest hippy who farts sunshine and finds no fault in anything. These are my two gears. I much prefer the cynicism.

Never-the-less, I’m having a hard time remaining truly cynical about Twitter. It’s fucking useful, requires about zero effort, and no real commitment. I enjoy using it. I enjoy deluding myself into thinking that anyone might give two shits about the fact that I enjoyed a bag of microwave pork rinds. I enjoy that sometimes, people do give two shits. Or at least half a shit. And that’s good enough. Even if Stephanie Stricklen isn’t following me.

(pssst, Stephanie, remember that time when we talked at the Tillamook Mac and Cheese contest that we were both judging and I was all like “you’re my favorite news caster” and you were like “who the hell are you?” I’m that guy!)

Anyway, imagine how vindicated I felt when C-Net dropped this little article about Twitter and Food Carts:

Cooper Square is a local hot spot for gourmet food trucks, a phenomenon that's been making headlines in cities like New York and Los Angeles for about two years now. And more recently, these roving food outlets found a promotional niche on the Web thanks to the rise of Twitter, which lets them broadcast their changing location, advertise deals, and keep up a customer base. It fits: were there a culinary embodiment of short-and-sweet Twitter, it would be the food truck, mobile and ultra-niche and in the midst of broad yuppie popularity that some say will be a lasting cult following and some are still pegging as a fad. Plus, at least in certain U.S. cities, they're pretty much unavoidable.

One of those “certain U.S. cities” just happens to be Portland. Author Caroline McCarthy makes a point to mention Koi Fusion, our own version of LA’s beloved Korean taco truck, Kogi BBQ, that has a strong Twitter presence with 20,000 followers.

Just as Kogi uses Twitter to announce each day's locations, Koi Fusion has been using tweets to document their progress towards opening day, as well as where they’re parked for soft openings leading up to their official launch this week.

The recent soft opening was well documented on twitter, causing one attendee to tweet:

Anyone else in the really fucking big line at koi fusion right now?

The line isn’t that surprising, considering the truck has 823 followers (and counting) and a verbose booster in PDXFoodcarts for whom Koi Fusion has been a popular subject of tweets as of late.

As noted in the C-NET piece, it only seems logical that such a mobile business would use such a nimble marketing tool. But unlike LA and New York, many of Portland’s food carts and trucks remain planted throughout the year, making it less of a necessity to keep track of where they might pop-up at any given moment. The less mobile Portland cart or truck essentially uses Twitter the way most restaurants do: to update users about specials and menu items. Take the cart Savor Soup House for instance, that commonly tweets the day's selection:

Posole today! Mexican stew w/ succulent pulled pork & hominy topped w/sour cream, cilantro, scallions and lime. Could be perfect w/margarita

I like the twittering restaurant trend. I’d be more apt to stop into a favorite bar or eatery if I knew one of my favorite dishes was on special, or a much anticipated beer was on tap. I like it even better when linked to carts like Koi Fusion, which plans on being one of the more highly traveled trucks in the area.

I’m not sure what a Korean taco is. But lord knows I want to know where I can find one. Twitter lets me do that. How can I remain cynical?

For a compilation of twittering carts and restaurants check out PDX Plate, where you never need a Twitter account to be cool.

 

Comments (16) RSS

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1
Blah Blah Blah....

You self-obsessed writers will never shut up about your precious twitters will you?

AND FOOD?!?! Who give a fuck? Real Portlanders who've lived here their wholes lives don't shit two shits about your fusion taco trucks. Get a life.

Ok, I think I've summed up all the arguments and discussions now.

LastSup, when are you going to follow me back on the twitts? I say funny stuff and everyone thinks I dress very well.
Posted by Graham on May 18, 2009 at 4:03 PM · Report
2
Ptrick, yes follow Graham on the Twatter. He's the best.

Also, Stephanie Stricklen is not following me either and I'm like besties with Melissa Lion and also hello...queen of something or other.

You know who is following me, though? CLIVE BARKER.

IN YOUR FACE STRICKLEN.
Posted by kiala on May 18, 2009 at 4:29 PM · Report
3
Patrick you are SHAMELESS. #followme@alisonhallett
Posted by Alison Hallett on May 18, 2009 at 5:15 PM · Report
4
Voodoo doughnut will have a mobile food cart running around starting late june. Locations will be announced through twitter. First event will be Sunday parkways...
Posted by Lobster on May 18, 2009 at 6:18 PM · Report
5
You were making such progress Coleman. I was beginning to respect your writing.............
and Lobster go back to hanging out with girls on rollerskates
Posted by Abusive on May 18, 2009 at 7:18 PM · Report
6
Patrick. I looked for your damn account when you said you were signing up and couldn't find it. What is it? Did I miss it? Admittedly I just skimmed this post.

Also, guess who Steph does follow! ME! So BOOYAH! That means I get extra points or... I dunno. Wtf. Maybe I can get a banner like Steven's.

Or just add me. I'll follow you. @willradik
Posted by Will Radik on May 18, 2009 at 7:18 PM · Report
7
OH. Also. Steph is putting me in charge of the imaginary karaoke in her imaginary dive bar, too. So suck it.
Posted by Will Radik on May 18, 2009 at 7:24 PM · Report
8
Will, PAC's twitter name is LastSup.
Posted by Graham on May 18, 2009 at 8:06 PM · Report
9
SPITTER

Spam on twitter. But ya'll eat it up, I guess.
Posted by NIG GER on May 18, 2009 at 8:55 PM · Report
10
Perfect example of doing it right:Bailey's Taproom. New post for each new beer that goes on tap. Nothing else. Perfect. http://twitter.com/baileystaproom/
Posted by robotadam on May 18, 2009 at 10:07 PM · Report
11
Steph follows me. AND I'm besties with Kiala Kazebee.

Basically I am a goddess on the internets.

Yours,

Melissa Lion
The Empress of Social Mediocrity
Posted by melissalion on May 19, 2009 at 8:36 AM · Report
12
Also, you must all come to What the Shit, a dramatic twitter reading series. People will read six tweets, in poetry voice. All tweets are up for grabs. Tentative debut: June 5th. Details coming soon.
Posted by melissalion on May 19, 2009 at 8:45 AM · Report
13
Steph doesnt follow me... but she is really nice to me when we do chat on Twitter. Hey wait a minute @melissalion doesnt follow me either.
Posted by Locket2you on May 19, 2009 at 9:21 AM · Report
14
Steph doesn't follow me, and I have the pulse of this town.
Posted by fnb on May 19, 2009 at 1:35 PM · Report
15
The recent soft opening was well documented on twitter, causing one attendee to tweet:

Anyone else in the really fucking big line at koi fusion right now?


For more witty repartee*, follow me @extramsg.









* Warning: by "witty repartee" I mean 140 character rants, vulgarities, and discussions of where I itch and what foods give me gas. (Widely known answer: all of them.)
Posted by extramsg on May 19, 2009 at 6:23 PM · Report
16
Melissa Lion follows me, too. Ahem. And she has pictures of me shirtless on her blog. So yeah. You could pretty much juice oranges on my pecs, I'm that awesome.
Posted by Will Radik on May 20, 2009 at 4:47 AM · Report

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