A picnic in the shade at the Dixon Gallery & Gardens prepared by a food truck chef: Sounds pretty fabulous doesn’t it?
Co-workers Connie Thielecke, Justin Suiter, and Parrish Oglesby (pictured to the left) certainly thought so when they stopped by the Dixon for Food Truck Fridays, a weekly event through June featuring different trucks for lunch from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Last week’s menu offered snow cones from Kona Ice and quarter-pound Nathan hotdogs from Memphis Dawgs, a cart operated by Todd Bourne with a choice of 14 toppings. Oglesby opted for kraut and mustard. “Is there any other way?” he asked, laughing.
Well, yes, and here were a few of the cart’s additional toppings: jalapenos, ketchup, coleslaw, dill pickles, diced onions, spicy pickle relish, Todd’s secret BBQ sauce, and celery salt (my favorite).
This Friday, Rock ‘n Dough Pizza Co. will be parked on the circular driveway near the gallery entrance, offering slices and sandwiches prepared in the truck’s wood-burning oven. The rest of the summer lineup for Food Truck Fridays looks equally good: Mark’s Grille and Healthylicious on June 7; Pop’s Smokehouse and Manny’s Italian Ice on June 14; Tamale Trolley on June 21; and Hunger Monkey on June 28.
Easy parking at the venue helps workers slip in and out quickly, but why hurry, especially when admission to the gardens is free. The Dixon’s sun-filled formal gardens are resplendent with early-bloomers, and the woodland gardens are lush, quiet, and still colorful thanks to the city’s wet and cool spring.
