Louis -
For the "ballpark" variety, melt some sliced processed American cheese with a little milk in the microwave. Better is to use some grated cheddar with some cream. Experiment a little to get the ratios right.
Taco trucks (and other food trucks) here in Texas are tightly regulated and taxed just like a normal food joint. There's a rigorous health inspection permitting process as well. Most cities also regulate where they can park, usually on a private lot or designated area on a city street.
"The city is no place for food trucks". Tell that to the workers on a construction site and see how far that goes!
Willie, thank you for the nacho cheese recipe. I'll have to experiment with it. I can buy the same brand we used at Memorial Stadium, "Rico's", family owned since 1909 of San Antonio, TX in the grocery store and I just did.
It has more to it than just cheese. It has cheese whey, vegetable oil, cheddar cheese, jalapenos, milk, vinegar, salt and lots of other stuff I doubt is any good for me. I'll start with grated cheddar and cream as you suggested. Then add some jalapenos and vinegar. Might take me a few tries, but I should come up with something I like. Now that I have read the ingredients, my home made nacho cheese will probably be better for me, thank you again.
I make my own salsa, why not nacho cheese? Only problem with my salsa is nobody else eats it, they say I use too many jalapenos. It will probably be the same with my nacho cheese, but I'll enjoy it as I'm watching a ball game.
We have food truck regulations, the food trucks buy licenses, every business pays taxes, especially in the city. Food trucks don't pay property tax and Baltimore City property tax is expensive, 2.248% of assessed value. We do have a personal property tax business owners pay of 5.62% on equipment, inventory and other things, but according to the Baltimore Sun very few food trucks are domiciled in the city and therefore the owners are not subject to the personal property tax. Most other jurisdictions in Maryland don't have the personal property tax the city does.
Food Trucks are also inspected by the city health department. They are not supposed to set up within 500' of a "brick and mortar" food place, but they do and nobody does anything about it. Unless you get a city councilmen involved. My wife had to do that when a food truck setup on the street in front of her store. It took a week, but they finally moved on and set up a 1/4 mile away in front of a 7-Eleven. There is one nasty looking Spanish food truck that sets up everyday right across the street from a dinner several blocks from me. There is also a MacDonald's, Wendy's, Subway and 3 convince stores in walking distance of the food truck. They feed the workers waiting outside of home depot, among others. It's bad enough the contractors are getting over by hiring those laborers and not paying income tax. Now the food truck is stealing business from established places.
I understand food trucks have become a recent phenomenon and many serve high quality foods. I would not have a problem with food trucks if they followed the rules There are not many places with customers in the city that are 500' away from a brick and mortar food place. I know from doing mobile service and other outside contracting for many years, food trucks are important in rural areas and other places where there are no food places. Many mechanical shops and other places have food trucks that make daily stops.
Personally speaking, I'm not buying anything from a food truck that does not come in a factory sealed container. I have always referred to them as a "roach coach", but that's just me. As you know, I'm a little on the crazy side.
