Magic Bus Cafe at Midtown Farmers Market

Article by: Rick Nelson , Star Tribune
Updated: June 24, 2009 - 12:30 PM

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Magic Bus Cafe, at the Midtown Farmers Market

Photo: Rick Nelson, Star Tribune

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A 1978 Chevrolet school bus had already been outfitted for cooking when street-food enthusiasts Chris and Cathy Lockyear bought it last fall. Add an excursion to Maaco for a shiny new purple paint job, toss in a stack of Summer of Love-inspired decals and before you can say "the Grateful Dead," the Magic Bus Cafe was rolling into the Midtown Farmers Market.

"I've wanted to do a hot dog stand for a long time," said Chris. The Lockyears are no strangers to the food business; Chris has been a key player in the D'Amico culinary empire for years, and Cathy has worked at the Wedge Co-op for more than a decade. Inside the bus -- which also features some highly sought-after seating -- it's all about hot dogs: long, slender, all-beef-ers made with natural casings (there's also a popular tofu version), split lengthwise, grilled to a tasty caramelized finish and garnished with a bevy of brightly flavored toppings: mango-curry chutney, an excellent adzuki bean chili, sauerkraut dressed up with freshly grated beets and garlic, scrambled eggs with bacon.

And no, customers are not seeing tie-dyed, flowers-in-their-hair double: Chrissy Russell, Cathy's twin sister, assists the couple. "Their identical twinness and cuteness is a big part of our marketing," said Chris, sounding like a devoted husband and brother-in-law. "They'll dress alike, just like their mom periodically made them dress in their childhood."

RICK NELSON

Magic Bus Cafe (www.magicbuscafe.com), Midtown Farmers Market, Lake St. and 22nd Av. S., Minneapolis, 612-724-7457, www.midtownfarmersmarket.org. Open 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.

Find a complete list of metro-area farmers markets at startribune.com/taste.