Council whets Sydney’s app-etite

A new, free smartphone app has been launched to help residents of Inner Sydney keep in touch with the city’s burgeoning food truck scene.

The City of Sydney Council app – available for iPhone and Android mobile phone devices – gives real-time information about food truck locations, operating times and menus, and draws on the social media feeds of the trucks and their followers.

Each food truck appears as an icon on a map of the inner city, and is shown as either ‘serving’ or ‘sleeping’.

Users can zoom into the exact location of the truck, and quickly access the truck’s menu, Twitter feed and other information.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the initiative was launched in response to the wishes of residents.

“When we asked people what they wanted to make Sydney’s nightlife more dynamic and diverse, they told us they wanted food trucks and we are delivering,” she said.

“Our new app will tell you how long a food truck will be in a particular location, what the specials of the day are, and it will give you ideas on the best way to get to your chosen food truck.”

There are currently five food trucks operating within the Sydney council boundaries, with dishes on offer including gourmet pizza, nachos, tofu burgers and vegetarian fare, Japanese and organic meals.

The trucks will come together this Saturday, October 20 when Art and About event ‘A Moveable Feast’ takes over part of George Street in the CBD for an evening of food, film and music.

A further five food trucks will start operating soon, offering Maltese food, nachos, Yum Cha, pasta and other dishes.

The year-long food truck trial aims to diversify Sydney’s late-night food offerings, while encouraging new small businesses.

The operators were chosen on the basis of their business plans, health and safety requirements, and their menu, service and presentation concepts.

Food trucks have become popular in a number of international cities, particularly in the US, where New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and St Louis are among the cities plied by food trucks.

Local food pundits have hailed them as boon to Sydney’s culinary landscape, with the initiative winning this year’s Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide award for innovation.

More information can be found at www.sydneyfoodtrucks.com.au while the app is downloadable from Apple’s App Store and Google Play.