Off the Grid Ft. Mason Center Says Farewell for the Season

Chris MacArthur

Off the Grid launched at Fort Mason Center in late June.

​When it launched in late June, Off the Grid Fort Mason Center was San Francisco's first weekly food pod. On Friday, it says farewell to the 2010 season (it'll return in March 2011). Organized by Matt Cohen and La Cocina, OTG Fort Mason paved the way for the four other Off the Grids that set up weekly on swaths of city parks, and those cleared the way for city officials to reform the city's street-food permitting rules, making it even more likely that other street-food entrepreneurs will roll out in 2011. It's been a hell of a ride.

"We've been overwhelmed by the positive feedback that we've experienced so far," Cohen tells SFoodie. "We all knew we loved the food. The surprising thing was the really amazing community support everyone's shown us here, especially at Fort Mason."

Friday's seasonal good-bye rolls out surprises of its own: An extra hour of operation (it closes at 10 p.m.), continuous live music, and 27 food vendors. Debuts include the Japanese curry truck JapaCurry, and a new Vietnamese vendor, Tasty Foods by Hotch-San, operating out of a tent.

Go. Eat. And reflect on the momentous changes to mobile vending the 5 months of OTG Fort Mason Center witnessed.

Off the Grid Fort Mason Center's Winter Farewell
When: Fri., Nov. 19, 5-10 p.m.
Where: Fort Mason Center Parking Lot
Cost: Free; bring cash for food