Taco day is now every day with Cochrane’s newest food truck hitting the streets.
Awko Taco opened the windows earlier this month, offering a variety of tacos, street corn and homemade desserts. Family owned and operated, Brian Gebbie said he is excited to finally be up and running.
“This has been in the plan for a while … everyone thought it was a good idea, no one said ‘dad is crazy,’” Gebbie said with a laugh.
Gebbie was a cook for 20 years before working in the oilfield in pipe recovery, “when the rigs got stuck, I was the guy who would get them unstuck.” Gebbie said.
But when the economy took a downturn and workers were starting to get laid off, Gebbie said he knew it was time to make his dream become a reality.
“That was it, I put the plan in full gear, so bye bye savings and let’s try it,” Gebbie said.
After two months of getting the truck ready to run and up to code, the Gebbie family had been perfecting their street food menu, while also coming up with some new taco twists, such as their Chawkotaco – a chocolate waffle filled with vanilla ice cream sealed with chocolate and topped with peanuts.
“It has been a lot of time and a lot of prep, we are definitely figuring it out and trying our best to figure it out,” Gebbie said.
As the only business in town offering Mexican street food, the owner said they are focused on providing customers with fresh food that has fresh ingredients.
“It is amazing food and very good music, something that will make you enjoy yourself while you are standing there,” said Brian’s son, Andrew Gebbie, who also helps with the truck.
Awko Taco is licensed under Cochrane’s pilot mobile food vendor program. The pilot program was launched last fall and town administration has been working with the two vendors in attempts to create fair regulations, most recently approving the parking of food trucks on business streets.
The mobile food vendor program was initially going to run until December – as it currently states on the Town of Cochrane website – but both vendors were previously told the program will now wrap up in the fall with the official bylaw to follow.
Gebbie shares the food truck streets with Grilled, a grilled cheese food truck operated by Darcy Scott since last fall. The two often park in the same area encouraging residents and visitors to try their menus while engaging in some friendly competition.
“So far everyone has been positive and the feedback has been great,” Gebbie said.
For more information on the Awko Taco food truck and where it will be parked, follow their official Facebook account at “Awko Taco Food Truck.”
