There has been a bit of controversy raging among the world of foodies in Boston due to comments made by Dave Andelman from the Phantom Gourmet. Last week Andelman told BostonInno all food trucks should be 1,000′ from brick and mortar restaurants. He has since said 500′ would be sufficient, but I find his entire argument inane.
The basis of Andelman’s argument (as I understand it) is that the less costly business model for food trucks puts traditional restaurants at a disadvantage so food trucks may charge a lower price. While this is true, I wonder if Andelman has lost his mind entirely since he is essentially saying dining from a food truck is the equivalent of dining at a restaurant, which last time I checked came with perks like: tables, chairs, climate control, wait staff, bathrooms, etc… Never mind the fact that when the mercury has risen (or more likely in the months to come plummets) food trucks in Boston are at a distinct disadvantage.
Whoever handles The Phantom Gourmet’s PR should be fired for allowing this discussion to take place and Andelman should be muzzled.
BosGuy 
Well, agree with Andelman or not, I don’t think censorship is the right solution. He’s making this argument on behalf of the members of the lobbying organization he heads, the Boston Restaurant and Business alliance. To me, his argument smells like crony capitalism, trying to use selective government regulation to protect an established segment of the industry (his dues-paying friends who own brick-and-mortar restaurants) from innovative new entrants (the food trucks). It’s kind of an odd position for an allegedly free-market Republican like Dave to make. But let him make his case; there are plenty of folks like me who are happy to point out the obvious flaws in his argument.
(By the way, the picture above is of Dan Andelman, not Dave.)
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Thanks for the insightful comments.
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I have never liked the guy. I think he is an idiot and this just proves my point.
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