Glimpse into the UAE's food truck culture

Mobile cuisines in the country now serve delicious global fare, but did you know that the concept of meals on wheels first originated in the U.S.?

Food trucks have become a common sight in the UAE, marking its presence as a regular attraction on public beaches and various hotspots during citywide festivities and occasions.
The concept of meals on wheels has its roots set in the U.S. where the late 1600s saw dedicated food vendors give out hearty meals to feed labourers and travellers. But it wasn't until the late 1800s when horse-drawn carriages emerged. Food trucks took on their final form when the automobile industry propelled the switch from wagons to steam and gas-powered engines. The modern food truck features a mini kitchen for food preparation, fridges for storage, a sink, stove, grill, deep fryer, and counter to serve customers. Additionally, they are fitted with ventilation decks and equipped with fire extinguishers and other necessities as a safety precaution. 
One of the earliest dishes served was a hot dog, followed by ice-cream and tacos. Soon, food trucks began to adopt variations and catchy concepts to draw in customers. Grease trucks, for instance, served sandwiches fused with ingredients not native to a regular sandwich filling. These included mozzarella sticks, chicken fingers, French fries, cheesesteak, fried eggs, etc. 
To date, there are around 60 food trucks listed in Dubai alone, each serving unique dishes to the city's foodie population, and the fusion of popular treats spread like wildfire. Some interesting variations can also be found in food trucks in the UAE, if not already present in neighbourhood cafeterias. Examples of sandwich/burger fillings include spicy potato or corn chips such as Cheetos, Doritos or Oman Chips; grilled eggplant, falafel, truffle oil and laban, or hummus-based sauces, to name a few. Desserts such as cakes, puddings and milkshakes also incorporate popular local favourites such as dates and lotus biscuits as part of its offerings.
The UAE greatly embraces street food culture and has combined it with the great outdoors to establish family-friendly areas. SALT, for example, is known to be the first-of-its-kind to take inspiration from U.S.' food trailer culture in Dubai, and parked its wheels on Kite Beach, Umm Suqeim. The pop-up initiative of two Emirati women has won the hearts of the local community with its selection of breakfast sliders, wagyu beef and Cheetos-filled chicken burgers, and offers shaded outdoor seating areas, as well as a small play area to keep young ones engaged.
The popularity of the American concept is best noted with the Last Exit, an ideal example of a dedicated food truck park, set along Dubai's notable highways - E11 Sheikh Zayed Road, D63 Al Qudra and D89 Al Khawaneej. Complete with lush lawns and a western vintage look, the Last Exit is one of the city's latest hotspots away from the hustle and bustle of shopping malls serving delicious bites of Emirati, American, Latin American and Indian fare. Options range from paratha wraps, burritos, burgers and veggie meals, to pizza, gyros, ice-cream, cupcakes and countess beverages, including karak chai and bubble tea.
The sweltering heat of UAE's summer months has also given rise to innovative solutions that help food lovers enjoy the outdoor American concept away in comfortable setting indoors. For instance, Hangry Hangar in Al Quoz (set to run until September 2) and Truckers DXB (Truckers Summer Warehouse) host independent food caravans inside massive halls. In the cooler months, pop-ups such as the Food Truck Yard in the Dubai Garden Centre on Sheikh Zayed Road attracted a number of visitors with an eclectic mix of food, music and family-centric activities.
With unlimited creative potential and offerings, the culture of food trucks is here to stay.
- farhana@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE