Thousands Of Foodies Gather At Baltimore's Annual Food Truck Rally

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Foodie face-off. Dozens of food trucks roll into the parking lot at M&T Bank Stadium. Their goal--to find out which one has the best grub.

As Gigi Barnett explains, the trucks traveled from near and far.

This food truck rally was a tale of two cities. Chefs from Baltimore and Washington, D.C. in tight, mobile spaces battling it out to find out which foodie has the fare.

"We went to the cheese curd truck. Amazing," one visitor said.

"It's not a diet day," said another.

"We're going to be running around the gym tomorrow. Catch me at Druid Hill Park tomorrow," another said.

But this year, another city wanted in on the action. Foodies from Philly joined the fray, making Baltimore's annual food truck rally at M&T Bank Stadium a bigger face-off.

"I'll put my crab cake up against any crab cake," said George Mamalis.

Mamalis drove his Crab Cakes truck down from the City of Brotherly Love. He says it's just not true what they say about out-of-state crab cakes.

"We're from Baltimore. We live in Philly now. I want to prove that you can bring a good crab cake from another state," he said.

Trucks are judged on several qualities, including presentation, creativity and taste. For the last two years, the Gypsy Queen Cafe has been the truck to beat.

"We've got all our aces in our places," said Jeffrey Cahill, Gypsy Queen Cafe.

That means "game on" for the Gypsy Queen. Their crowd-pleasing favorite is the crab cone.

"It's a big waffle cone filled with garlic, Old Bay fries. We put a crab cake on top and a red chili aioli," said Cahill.

"Most of the food served out of these trucks are as good, if not better, than what you find in a brick and mortar establishment," said Damian Bohager, Taste of Three Cities promoter.

That may be why more than 20,000 people are expected this weekend.

More than 50 food trucks participated in this year's rally. Some of the proceeds will go to the United Way and Moveable Feasts, which delivers meals to the terminally ill.

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