Published: June 25, 2009 11:58 pm      

Food vendors provide a taste of the region

Food ... food ... more food ... and just a little bit more food.

With Thunder in the Valley in full swing, the smell of delicious eats is filling the air in downtown Johnstown.

Whether you’re looking for ethic food such as Mexican or Greek, or just a slice of pizza, it’s here.

At the Knights of Columbus booth on Main Street you have only three choices, but all are local favorites: Gobs, haluski and pigs in the blanket.

“If you have a good product like we do, you don’t need to change and make other things,” said Andy Solomon, president of the Columbian Home Association of KOC Council 467. “We make the best gobs in town.”

This year the group made 3,200 pigs and 3,500 gobs. The haluski is prepared daily.

The Knights have been serving food every year since the rally began.

Solomon said it’s quite profitable and enjoyable at the same time.

“The comradery is great, and the bikers are a great bunch of people,” he said.

Food will be served from 10 a.m. to midnight today and Saturday and until 5 p.m. Sunday.

“Sometimes we run out of food, so get here before it’s all gone,” Solomon advised.

Over at the Train Station you can find the Pepper Wagon featuring stuffed hot peppers.

“This is our sixth year here at Thunder, and it’s one of our better events,” said owner Georgine Suder of Jennerstown.

The wagon sells a variety of ethic foods including hot pepper sandwiches, kielbasa sandwiches, haluski and pierogies.

“Everyone says they enjoy the the change of pace with the food and like that it’s not something you have every day,” Suder said. “Everyone is here to have a good time, and we’ve met some nice people.”

With temperatures expected to soar into the 80s throughout the weekend, many people will be looking to cool off.

They need look no farther than Woody’s Ice Wagon in the Train Station lot. You can’t miss it because it’s a remodeled school bus.

“We have all types of frozen novelties, slushes and snow cones,” said Betty Hutzell, who was working in the wagon Thursday afternoon.

The concession wagon is owned by Ray and Dorothy Truscott of Johns-town’s Moxham section.

“We’re also selling a lot of water, but our most popular items are the slushes and snow cones,” Hutzell said.

This is the first year the wagon is at Thunder, and Hutzell expects a heavy flow of people throughout the weekend.

“This is a nice event,” she said. “The city needs stuff like this to boost our economy.”