60+ food trucks to compete in major cook-off

WINDERMERE — It’s billed as Central Florida’s largest, single-day food truck congregation and culinary cook-off.

And, along with an anticipated turnout of thousands of foodies, it’s coming to Windermere.

The inaugural “Hula-licious” event will fill the air with tantalizing aromas of barbecue, lobster rolls and other fare from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, at the Pines of Windermere, 8409 Maguire Road, next to Lake Down.

From fast food to four-star cuisine, Hula-licious will feature more than 60 food trucks, which will compete in 22 “Best Of” categories. And the public will have the opportunity to vote for the best overall food truck, which will receive the “Grand People’s Choice Award.”

The event is spearheaded by Doug Trovillion, founder of Hula-licious and owner of Trovillion Construction, of Winter Park.

At the culinary cook-off, notable chefs, food and beverage professionals and food editors will judge the contestants during blind taste tests in the various categories, according to information from Trovillion. The National Association of Catering Executives at the University of Central Florida (Student Chapter) will host the event.

Hula-licious also will include musical performances by Ricky Vazquez, The Downs Brothers and Men With Mortgages. A supervised “Kids Zone” play area will be set up for children younger than 13, with a $10 wristband purchase.

In addition, beverage tents will sell soda, water, Gatorade, and Kona beer and Budweiser beer on draft. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to the festivities.

Hula-licious is a private event, not a town-sponsored one, Town Manager Robert Smith said. The town-sponsored Family Food Truck Night takes place from 5-9:30 p.m. on the fourth Friday of each month next to Town Hall, 520 Main St.

Family Food Truck Night usually features about 16 food trucks and has an average attendance of more than 2,000 people, Smith said.