Tavern on the Green Food Truck Terrace's Re-Opening Celebration Featuring Free Food and Live Music: April 16, 2011

To launch their first Spring / Summer season the four food trucks – Ladle of Love, Pera Turkish Tacos, Rickshaw Dumplings and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream – at Tavern on the Green in Central Park will treat New Yorkers to an afternoon of lively music and free food on Saturday April 16th, 2011 (rain date Sunday, April 17th). From 2pm - 4pm, the public is invited to explore the international culinary diversity of the Tavern on the Green Food Truck Terrace with complimentary menu items from each truck – one free dish per person per truck. To make waiting in any lines as diners move from truck to truck more palatable, The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn will entertain with their signature upbeat jazz, swing and blues.

The event will signal the extension of the Tavern on the Green Food Truck Terrace's hours of operation to seven days a week from 11am until dusk. It will also be the first in a series of entertaining programs the trucks' operators are planning for the Park-going season, including cooking demonstrations featuring celebrity chefs, live performances by a variety of entertainers and family-oriented activities.

The Tavern on the Green Food Truck Terrace is situated in the courtyard of Central Park's newly remodeled Tavern on the Green Visitor Center & Gift Shop (67th Street and Central Park West). Located directly across Park Drive from Sheep's Meadow, the Food Truck Terrace, with seating for more than 200 in a lushly landscaped garden setting, is expected to become one of Central Park's must-visit destinations all summer long.

For more information on the trucks and upcoming events, please visit their respective websites, or www.centralpark.com/events.

Ladle of Love

Ladle of Love is an award-winning, farm-to-table food shop that has been serving up locally-sourced, gourmet take-out food since 2003. In October, 2010, the Ladle of Love Food Truck--an electric hybrid truck that emits zero fuel emissions--has been serving its low-and-slow-cooked soups and stews plus fresh-made salads and sandwiches to delighted Central Park goers. www.ladleoflove.com/tavern.html

Pera Turkish Tacos

Located exclusively at the Tavern on the Green Food Truck Terrace, Pera Turkish Tacos is an extension of the highly acclaimed midtown restaurant Pera Mediterranean Brasserie. The concept takes its inspiration from the centuries old Turkish tradition of the roadside sale of savory crepes, while paying homage to the Mexican heritage of the owner's wife's. Smoked Lamb, Lavender-Honey Chicken and Spicy Shrimp wrapped in flour or zucchini pancakes are taco staples, complemented by a selection of sides, desserts and Turkish coffee. www.peranyc.com/tacosatcentralpark.html

Rickshaw Dumplings

The Rickshaw Dumpling Truck has been on the streets of NYC since 2008. Rickshaw has a rotating menu of nine healthy and flavorful dumplings each paired with its own unique dipping sauce. Rickshaw has won numerous accolades including Top 10 Street Food in the world, Travel+Leisure; Top 20 Food Trucks in the USA, QSR Weekly; Nine Most Eye Catching Trucks in America, Elle Décor. www.rickshawdumplings.com

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream

Ben Van Leeuwen, wife Laura O'Neill and brother Pete Van Leeuwen launched their first buttery yellow truck in the Spring of 2008. They make their ice cream in upstate New York using only fresh hormone and antibiotic free milk and cream cane sugar, egg yolks and the finest flavor ingredients from small producers around the world. Serving 15 flavors, banana splits, root beer floats, hot fudge sundaes, house- made pastries, Organic Rishi Teas and Intelligentsia Coffee and expresso drinks. www.vanleeuwenicecream.com