Food Truck Fans Flood Ho-Ho-Kus Festival

HO-HO-KUS, N.J. — Some 1,200 people were eating and relaxing at The Hermitage Food Truck Festival in Ho-Ho-Kus by midafternoon in Ho-Ho-Kus Saturday.

Juliana Mercurio, left, and her mom, Tish Mercurio, both of Allendale, enjoying a Thai combo platter from the Aroy-D truck.
Photo Credit: *Lorraine Ash*

Debbie Fearon of Waldwick and Norman Levine of Ramsey lay out their feast atop a stroller.
Photo Credit: *Lorraine Ash*

Waiting on line is part of the experience at The Hermitage Food Truck Festival.
Photo Credit: *Lorraine Ash*

A Thai food combo platter from Aroy-D, The Thai Elephant Truck.
Photo Credit: *Lorraine Ash*

A moment in the beer garden.
Photo Credit: *Lorraine Ash*

Joan Guerrero, 4, of Ridgewood, getting to the bottom of her Kona Ice treat.
Photo Credit: *Lorraine Ash*

Meghan Brown of Ridgewood loving the cooking of the Empanada Lady.
Photo Credit: *Lorraine Ash*

The line at the Kona Ice truck never lets up.
Photo Credit: *Lorraine Ash*

Centuries-old trees at The Hermitage historic site help cool off food truck fans.
Photo Credit: *Lorraine Ash*

Katelyn Kakolewsk of Midland Park digs in.
Photo Credit: *Lorraine Ash*

Lorraine Ash

07/23/2016 6:02 p.m.

“This is exceeding our expectations,” said Michael Orbe of Ho-Ho-Kus, president of the Friends of the Hermitage, which runs The Hermitage Museum, a Victorian Gothic house.

Amid the picturesque backdrop of the five-acre Revolutionary War-era site, the food truck aficionados enjoyed the shade of centuries-old trees.

They listened to live music as they waited, sometimes for more than an hour, to get their goodies at some of the most popular food trucks around.

These included the Empanada Lady; Aroy-D, The Thai Elephant Truck; Hola Paella; Tony’s Traveling Trattoria; The Angry Crab; The Cow and the Curd, and many more.

“This is a strawberry smoothie from the paella truck,” said Ellen Tabin of Saddle River. “It’s very delicious and fresh, sans liquor. They have them in pina colada, too.”

Others relished the garlic truffle fries from Tony’s Traveling Trattoria, the combo platters from Aroy-D, and lobster rolls from The Angry Crab.

There was plenty for dessert, too, with Kona Ice being a hit with the kids.

Four-year-old Jacob Beser of Ridgewood enjoyed a rainbow colored ice treat from Kona.

“I got all the flavors,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Orbe and Richard Brahs, managing director of the Friends of the Hermitage, looked over the whole scene with satisfaction.

“We are creating new events like this in the hope that people will rediscover us,” Orbe said.

Because of “Hamilton: An American Musical,” now on Broadway, there’s been a renewed interest in The Hermitage, where patriot Aaron Burr met and married Theodosia Prevost.

Hamilton did not survive his famous 1804 duel with Burr, then the sitting third vice president of the U.S.

“Burr is pretty much the second main character in the show,” Orbe said.

To continue the attention the state-owned Hermitage is getting these days, the Friends are opening an exhibit in October that will focus on the love story of Burr and Prevost.

The Hermitage is for the public, Orbe said. It’s a place for them to enjoy even as they learn about New Jersey history.

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