Tickets Selling Fast for Food Cart Fete in Albany

A scarce dozen tickets remain to Albany's first food cart party, coming to .

The event, called Behind the Cart, started in May. It's the brainchild of Berkeley native Michael Davidson, who is also known as the "GrilledCheezGuy."

Davidson said he came up with the idea for Behind the Cart after realizing how many people want to know how the  got started.

"People come to us and will wait in 45-minute lines just to try what we have. This gives them a chance to sit down and eat without having to fight [about restaurant choices]," he said. "When they do come, they love to ask us questions. 'Behind the Cart' is a way for them to try this food and find out more."

Sunday's event will give people the chance to learn how this group of vendors got started.

"It takes a special person to come out and sell chicken and waffles on the streets," Davidson said. "These are special people with interesting stories. A lot of them have full time jobs too."

Davidson first connected with Sam's Log Cabin manager Rhasaan Fernandez at the Oakland Art Murmur. Fernandez offered Davidson the option of using the restaurant to host a special night bringing cart vendors together to cook and share stories.

Some foodie events come with $200 price tags; Davidson said he wanted to create a more intimate affair that was accessible to a broader audience. Tickets for Behind the Cart cost $45 per person.

, from 7-9 p.m., will include dinner, dessert and coffee followed by a discussion about how the evening's chefs got into the business.

"Then they'll grab their jerky and they'll go home," he said. 

Sunday's event will feature nine vendors:

* GrilledCheezGuy (Amuse)
* A Humble Plate (Sloppy Joe slider with homemade potato chips)
* Boffo Cart (Vermont forest cheddar mac 'n cheese)
* Guerrilla Grub (Pulled pork slider with two sauces and slaw)
* Angry Man Eats (Chicken and waffles)
* Cibo Per Strada + Three Twins Ice Cream (Naughty donuts and ice cream)
* One Ninety Seven Coffee (Fresh roasted coffee)
* Oaktown Jerk (Take-home jerky bag)

There will be live music by The Sam Chase.

The carts themselves won't be present Sunday, as the chefs will use the Sam's Log Cabin kitchen to prepare their food. Davidson said he looks forward to the challenge of trying to coordinate the meal and having the experience of running a restaurant for an evening.

"It'll take some crazy logistics," he said. "Food carts have not done this kind of thing before."

His first Behind the Cart event, earlier this year in the Mission, sold out and "went off without a hitch." He said initially he was scared by the prospect of needing to sell 50 tickets for the event.

"It takes a lot of faith," he said. After selling out, however, "I was shocked. I'm a little more confident this time around."

He said Albany is known "for being a cute little town" that may not always get credit for its restaurants.

"I think most people think of Solano and they think it's Berkeley," he said. "Solano's just one big food street for Berkeley."

Davidson has a science background and describes himself as "not a real chef." He has, however, won acclaim for his culinary skills and was featured in May in the Wall Street Journal.

He said Behind the Cart brings him into close contact with chefs who may have more training than he does. He added that he likes seeing the "passion they have for food and their understanding of the kitchen. It's inspiring to me. I enjoy being in the role of coordinating the meal, just running things behind the scenes and letting the other chefs work their magic."

Find ticketing information for Sunday's event  or at .

Find Behind the Cart on Facebook.

Everybody makes mistakes ... ! If there's something in this article you think should be corrected, or if something else is amiss, call editor Emilie Raguso at 510-459-8325 or email her at emilier@patch.com.