Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Get ready to saddle up — Food Truck Rodeo, on Friday nights, is another reason for Malverne residents, and visitors, to get involved in the activities at Crossroads Farm at Grossmann’s.
Known for sourcing and supplying organic produce for decades, the Hempstead Avenue farm also hosts a variety of community events. Now, Friday nights feature a Food Truck Rodeo.
The farm hosted the rodeo years ago, but under different management. This year, it started as a bi-weekly event in June, which turned weekly as popularity grew after community members said they loved it and kept calling to make sure it was still happening.
“We had our four bases covered,” produce store manager Sara Santora, who has worked at the farm for just over a year, said. “You need the food trucks, you got live music, usually we have mini-golf for the kids. Barrier Brewery is a really big part of the event planning. Gabby, from Barrier Brewery, works closely with Michael D’Angelo and I to plan this whole thing,” Santora added, referring to another member of the farm’s management team.
Stephanie Fitzpatrick, owner of the Rare Treats Baking Company in Malverne is one of the rodeo’s vendors, selling her baked goods there every week.
“My son, Logan, has a rare gastrointestinal disease and a full dietary restriction,” Fitzpatrick said. “After his diagnosis at age 5, I realized he was unable to eat many things — birthday cake, cupcakes, pizza, etcetera. Parties were hard — all events were, because you want to have fun but you can’t eat anything. At that time, I told my son, ‘I’m going to make you something that looks amazing and everyone else is going to want.’”
Logan, who’s now 10 is her official taste-tester as well as her biggest fan, Fitzpatrick added, and he enthusiastically answered some of his mom’s interview questions.
“I would rate her treats a 10 out of 10,” Logan said. “My favorites are the cookies-and-cream brownie and the apple cider donut. She’s really good at what she does.”
“I have a few secret ingredients that I put into everything,” said Fitzpatrick, who recently joined the Malverne Chamber of Commerce. “Aside from just removing the dairy aspect, I look at other people’s recipes and find a way to make them my own. I make desserts with the intent that everybody would want to try it.”
Other vendors at the Rodeo include the Coal House Grill, a Caribbean fusion truck; Frank’s 54 Steakhouse & Catering, which was on the grounds for the first time last month catering to the red meat lovers; and Mr. Flavors, an ice cream truck that never misses the event and is a favorite among the attendees. The musical performers last week were Debra Lynne and John D’aurio.
Usually there are about five trucks — four that serve food (one vegan), and a dessert truck. Though certain trucks and bands are regulars, Crossroads is always looking for new partners, to offer visitors variety.
The Food Truck Rodeo is one of the farm’s biggest events, along with its annual benefit dinner and fundraiser. The Rodeo was initially advertised as ending in September, and then in October, but it has become so popular that management now plans to continue it until the weather turns too cold.
“As long as people are still excited and attending, we’ll still be aiming to do it,” Santora said.
