Another summer, another brand-new batch of new food trucks making a name for themselves in Leelanau County.

While any instance of a restaurant opening, closing, or changing hands tends to spark a lot of local attention, food trucks have a mysterious way of flying under the radar and becoming best-kept secrets – at least for a little while. Perhaps it’s their roving nature – their ability to be one place one season and another place the next. Take Fried, a beloved Leelanau food truck that got its start two summers ago at the Short’s Brewing production facility in Elk Rapids, moved to Glen Arbor’s Crystal River Outfitters Recreation District last summer, and then moved again to 45 North Vineyard & Winery in Lake Leelanau for the 2023 season.

Whatever the reason, it’s all too easy to miss a great food truck’s freshman season until it’s too late. So, in the spirit of seizing the day (and the food), the Leelanau Ticker has your guide to a few local food trucks that are currently in the midst of their debut summer seasons.

2nd Fiddle, Lake Leelanau

The Fiddleheads family of restaurants has a brand-new member: The restaurant quietly launched its new food truck, called 2nd Fiddle (pictured), in late June, announcing on social media that it was “only telling our great friends and family” about the fledgling days of the new truck.

2nd Fiddle, which is situated in the outdoor beer garden area at Fiddleheads in Lake Leelanau, serves a menu of smash burgers, sandwiches, and other pub-friendly fare like quesadillas, BBQ ribs, tater tots, and salads. While Fiddleheads itself has always been known mostly as a breakfast and lunch restaurant, 2nd Fiddle expands the establishment’s menu with more dinner-oriented options, as well as later hours; the truck is open 12-9pm Thursday through Sunday, compared to the 8am-3pm daily hours that are typical for Fiddleheads proper. Fiddleheads remains open for bar service during the food truck's afternoon and evening hours. 2nd Fiddle also hosts a weekly Sunday morning brunch, from 10am to noon.

The introduction of 2nd Fiddle comes a few months after restaurant proprietor Josh Deters bought out his former partner, Richard Roberts. Deters and Roberts were partners in both Fiddleheads and the VI Grill in Suttons Bay, both of which Deters now owns solo.

The arrival of the 2nd Fiddle food truck has also marked the start of a new weekly “Sunday Evening Social” at Fiddleheads. Each Sunday evening through the end of August, DJ Ras Marco D is spinning vinyl records for the food truck crowd starting at 7pm. A popular northern Michigan DJ who regularly entertains at spots like 7 Monks and Workshop Brewing Company, DJ Ras Marco D is known for his vinyl-only sets and promises “genre-fluid sounds” and “good vibes only.”

Taqueria Mosqueda, Northport

Though this Mexican-themed food truck has a home base in Traverse City (at 404 North Division Street, right across the street from Tilley’s Party Store), you have likelu spotted it roaming through Leelanau County this summer.

A family-run business that touts “authentic Mexican recipes from our family to yours,” Taqueria Mosqueda officially introduced itself on social media in April, writing that it was booking venues for the 2023 season and would consider “the possibility of partnering with a business to operate from a few times a week.” Since then, Taqueria Mosqueda has struck up multiple partnerships in Leelanau County, popping up at Two K Farms Cidery & Winery in Suttons Bay on numerous occasions and slinging tacos at events like the Northport Car Show in late May or the Suttons Bay PTO Family Fun Night in early June.

In the past month, Taqueria Mosqueda has become a staple at Yard & Lake’s newly-launched beer-and-cocktail garden in Northport. Every Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday from “noon - night,” Taqueria Mosqueda will be on hand at Yard & Lake, serving tacos, fajitas, tortas, quesadillas, burritos, and more. Food service usually lasts until the truck runs out of food to serve.

The Corn Dog Company, Glen Arbor

Talk about a young entrepreneur: Nick Jakary, the owner of the new Corn Dog Company food truck in Glen Arbor, is 19 years old and just recently finished high school. Jakary, who also works as an eFoiling instructor at Lake Life Efoils in Lake Leelanau, is a Grand Rapids native who graduated from the Sacredt Heart Academy last spring. He’s currently working toward his bachelor’s of business administration from Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio, but is summering with his family in Leland and has taken the opportunity to put his burgeoning business education to the test.

The Corn Dog Company is actually a chain of food trucks known for its “hand-dipped, honey-glazed corndogs” and deep-fried Oreos. According to the chain’s website, the Corn Dog Company currently has locations in 18 states; Jakary’s franchise is listed as the only Corn Dog Company truck operating in Michigan and one of the only ones in the Midwest. Most locations are scattered throughout the southwestern United States.

Jakary got started with his Corn Dog Company truck last summer, but spent that season doing business in Ludington. This summer, he’s brought the business to Glen Arbor, where you’ll find it situated at the Crystal River Outfitters Recreational District food truck lot.

Mi Pets Treat Truck, all over

Why should humans have all the food truck fun? Thanks to the brand-new Mi Pets Treat Truck, our four-legged friends have a food truck option this summer, too. Boasting the tagline “Making tails wag wherever we go,” the Mi Pets Treat Truck is essentially an ice cream truck for pets, rolling around local neighborhoods and playing music to attract customers. Instead of serving ice cream, though, the truck is stocked with treats and chewing toys for dogs.

Beyond its neighborhood rounds, the Mi Pets Treat Truck often posts up at one location for hours at a time, from St. Ambrose Cellars in Beulah to Cherry Bend Animal Hospital here in Leelanau County. Keep an eye on Facebook or Instagram for the truck’s next location.