By Karina Hans, Jordin Barnes and Lena Choi.

Information Note: Food Truck Tuesday happens weekly at the Trades District from May 6 to Dec. 30 at 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The deep sizzle of fresh meat hitting the grill fills the air as the aroma of barbecue becomes intertwined with countless other cultures filling the air of Food Truck Tuesday in Bloomington, IN. Lively chatter takes over the streets as customers sit down to bite into their juicy burgers or chewy churros.

Food Truck Tuesday is a weekly event that brings together people from all over Bloomington through a love for food, a celebration of community, and by teaching students to follow their dreams. 

Mayor Kerry Thomson says the food trucks allow people from all over the city to come together, highlighting the beauty of what makes Bloomington, Bloomington. 

“It provides a space for many different people and many different kinds of people to hang out with a diversity of food options. That’s all Bloomington,” she said. 

Rose Smith has lived in Bloomington her whole life, describing that she’s been to every restaurant here multiple times. She says the food trucks offer a unique new experience, with the diversity being what makes it particularly special.  

“It’s very vibrant usually and very packed with a lot of different demographics and it’s really fun,” Smith said. 

Smith has been going to food trucks for over six years now and remembers fondly going with her best friend and both of their kids a few years ago and being able to spend the day with people she normally wouldn’t have had time with.

Smith explained that the food trucks help foster a community through the bubbly energy, uplifting both consumers and producers alike. 

“I just love the whole concept of food trucks in general because it’s a really great way to support some of the smaller businesses,” she said. 

Ken Csillag is the owner of one of these businesses. Csillag has been in the restaurant industry for over 35 years and owns “Elli-May’s Smoke BBQ,” which he started with his late wife.

“We have students that come in town, you know freshman, and then throughout the years, throughout their college career they come to the truck and ‘hey remember me, hey remember me!’ and of course we do,” he said with a smile, adding that he loves watching them grow but hates when they eventually leave. 

Csillag has formed connections with many students, teaching them to take inspiration from his story to use hard work and dedication to follow their own dreams. He added on by saying that many food trucks have started as a result of him. 

“There was “Grandma’s Goodies,” that was in Bloomington. He was a finance major and we developed a great relationship,” Csillag said. “He graduated, went to Denver, Colorado and took his business with him and we still communicate and talk.” 

Csillag said he finds it incredibly rewarding to watch students follow their own passions as he has been for so long. Food is in his blood as he’s been cooking for his entire life. Csillang said he loves being able to share his culture with others. 

“It gives me the opportunity to tell young kids coming up that you know, go for your passion, fight for your dream. The harder you work, the easier it will be once everything is in place and developed,” he said. “It’s nice to let kids see that hey this is a possibility.”

Csillang explained that this journey hasn’t been easy. He works 80 to 90 hours a week in a hot truck with no air conditioning. When he started out he didn’t know what he was doing and figured out quickly that it wouldn’t be easy money.

But now, Csillang has come a long way. Him and his wife were on national television for the truck and this year he’s doing Taste of Bloomington. He said there is nothing he would rather be doing and that this work truly is his passion.

“Fight for your dream cause dreams do come true,” he said. “It does take work, a lot of work, but if it’s what you want to do and it’s your passion, fight for it cause once it materializes and happens there’s no greater feeling. That would be my advice to anybody.” 

The chatter begins to quiet as the trucks close up shop, leaving an air of grease and whiffs of spices as crumpled up wrappers line the floor. People walk away laughing with full stomachs as they talk to old friends. The sun fades as the streets become empty until next week for another Food Truck Tuesday.