The above video is a time-lapse I recorded from the Masa window. It's a good representation of how it feels to work at Bleu Garten on a Saturday. It's hundreds of people coming and going non-stop for 14 hours.
You get to talk to a lot of people, but it's brief. Sometimes when it's slow (or when you need to slow down the intake of tickets) you get to have a conversation that lasts two minutes, maybe three max. The conversations become a lot more entertaining around midnight. There are people who will share a lot of information about themselves if they've had some drinks.
A panoramic I took from the trailer entrance around 1:30 on Saturday. I had planned to do another later that night, but I never got the chance.
I ran the window for the first half the day then switched to cooking for the dinner rush. For a few hours the only thing I saw were the empanada inventory depleting at a rapid rate. Occasionally when handing off an order I glanced out the window at the line and the capacity crowd surrounding it. (Friday was steady and Sunday was slower, but still solid.)
We opened at 5 pm Friday then closed around midnight and were back at 10 am and didn't leave again until 2 am Sunday morning. Then we returned at 10 am and only had to work until 9 pm. I just realized I spent like 25 of 34 hours inside the food truck, and I don't even want to do the math by including Sunday. Not complaining. Just damn.
Mid afternoon Saturday.
For the first day and a half, it was just Robert and I. On Sunday morning, Chad drove down to bring more food and supplies and provide some support for a few hours. It also allowed us to take a short break and walk a block over to Fassler Hall and enjoy a few mimosas. I'm guessing it was the sugar that helped give me new life, because I returned to the truck invigorated and also ready to call it a day.
The final hour before Bleu Garten closed Sunday.
It had been all work and no play. When 9 pm hit Sunday, it was time to celebrate a heck of a weekend.
We parked the truck and trailer at the Airbnb and then walked the short distance to The Pump, which we tend to visit every time we're in OKC.
The Pump was packed. I was surprised at how big the crowd was for a Sunday night. I can't think of a place in Tulsa that gets full during the Sunday late night hours. Robert and I spent time talking to the GM and a bartender about business and the local food and bar scene. A couple hours later we were doing the same thing at The Other Room, which is located in the Paseo Arts District. At both places we had great conversations. Also, I have to give a shoutout to The Pump for charging $6 for a beer and a shot of Espolon Blanco.
For the last three days, I started each morning at Holey Rollers. They have great coffee and the breakfast tacos are bomb. This morning before leaving town, we visited with the manager about her business and then discussed how they do their farmer's market.
It was really impressive how open and friendly the folks were at all those businesses, as well as the staff at Bleu Garten.
Speaking of open and friendly, the food truck community in Oklahoma City is really cool. All the workers seem to love what they do, and they really enjoy their work. One of the perks of working alongside other food trucks is you often swap food, or sample new items. I had a couple pieces of a Smoke and Oak pizza on Friday evening and half a pizza roll up from Turkish Delight. Both were good.
On Sunday evening Robert and I shared The Mundo from Yum Pig. My goodness. The corn fry bread and pork were so good. I've thought about it a few times today. I'll definitely be eating that again down the road.
Yum Pig's The Mundo.
I always enjoy my time in OKC, but this one was the best yet.
We don't return until June 1, and I'm already looking forward to it.
But now it's time to go cuddle with the dogs and sleep.