This week, Madison officials announced that the Meet and Eat food cart program will be expanding to serve more of the city’s neighborhoods. The program, which brings food carts to vacant lots in residential neighborhoods, became very popular last summer. Beginning in July, it will expand to host food carts in the Villager Mall, at St. Paul Lutheran Church and at the Meadowood Shopping Center.

Katie Crawley, spokesperson for the Mayor Paul Soglin, said that officials expanded the program because of positive feedback from community members. She added that Soglin is an avid supporter of the program because, “it’s a great opportunity to get people out.” According to Alcohol and Food Policy Coordinator Mark Woulf, vendors like the program because it brings them additional business.

Not too much explaining to do here – a city program that brings food carts and communities together in impromptu block parties of sorts is pretty damn cool. Bringing communities together around local food, Meet and Eat is a Madison idea through and through, in the best way possible.