Torontonians line up for their favourite food trucks. Image courtesy of torontofoodtrucks.ca

Toronto’s food truck scene has become a festival in its own right, boasting loudly designed trucks with equally boisterous menus to match. Over the past year we have watched lobster rolls and maple beef bacon doughnuts roll down our roads, leaving aromas of smoked meat hanging in our air. We’ve not only submitted to their inviting smells, but eagerly seeked out their arrival, at times even going as far as taking the TTC to our favourite meal on wheels. This year TIFF, like many Torontonians, is standing in line for a serving of Ensenada-style fish tacos. The film festival is welcoming food trucks as part of its glitzy, red carpet landscape.

With operating hours from 7 p.m. till midnight, it appears the main intention of the trucks is to allow movie goers to pick up a snack on their way out of a screening, much like a late night “After Theatre” restaurant menu. The undisputed appeal of the new “gourmet” food truck rests in the fact that customers can find a restaurant quality meal, without paying many of the hidden fees restaurants charge in order to pay for issues like rent, an issue food trucks aren’t burdened by.

While diving into a fried calamari pita behind a parking lot may not have the same sparkle as falling into a plush leather chair for a serving of beef bourgignon fondue, perhaps it’s what we need in our current economy. With the average food truck meal standing steady at about $8.00, the fare is accessible to both student and CEO alike. The food trucks will allow TIFF attendees to discuss Ben Affleck’s performance in “Argo” and Robert Redford’s “The Company You Keep” while happily munching on honey and pita sticks, without putting a dent in their wallets.

For a full schedule of TIFF’s food truck scene click here.

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Claudia McNeilly is an editorial intern at the Toronto Standard. You can follow her on twitter at @claudiamcneilly