Satisfying Korean Kravings at Kim Jong Grillin'

I've had my eye on a new food truck in our neighborhood and as it happens, it has one of the most amusing names I've heard of in a while.  Kim Jong Grillin' offers up delicious Korean street food, including all the staples such as bibimbap, bulgogi, Korean hot dogs and more!

Location:
Situated on the corner of 42nd Avenue near Killingsworth Street, you'll find Kim Jong Grillin' in the parking lot of the popular Pollo Norte.  The latter is also very good and it's nice to see they have outdoor seating (even despite the current heatwave it's still a pleasant place to hang out).  The truck is the first occupant of what will become a more extensive food truck/pod destination in the future, and I can't wait to see the others tenants that move in.

Food:
While the menu is simple, it offers enough variety for any kind of meat lover - but I must warn my veggie friends that the meatless options are limited.  Lucky for us, we're all meat lovers in our party so we had no problems choosing something that suited our tastes.

Bibim Box - Since I haven't had bibimbap in a while, I was excited to try Kim Jong Grillin's version with kimchi, a choice of your favorite grilled meat (in my case pork) and a fried egg on top.  I loved the combination of white rice and noodles that nested this thing and soaked up all that delicious spicy BBQ sauce.  The pork was the winner of the night, as Dan and our friends Oscar and Beth also loved it and I think secretly wished they got it too.  

Bulgogi - Dan also went with a classic bulgogi, which traditionally consists of marinated beef with sesame on top.  Incorporating other fixins such as kimchi, a tasty carrot slaw and white rice, it was also a nice way to go but Dan said that the beef was a little chewy.  There's something to be said for the fact that he kept asking for my pork - just sayin'.

Service and Cost:
It took a few minutes to get our food but not too long, so no real complaints there.  While they don't serve any alcoholic drinks, the guys got a few beers at Pollo Norte, which went perfectly with this hearty food.

Costs are a little pricey for a food truck averaging out at $10 per plate, but they sure were tasty and the portions generous.

3 Mmmms

Kim Jong Grillin' - 5427 NE 42nd Avenue, Portland OR 97218
kimjonggrillin.tumblr.com

Home Run at Division Food Trucks with Pyro Pizza and The Dog House

Capping this week off with a fabulous food truck experience, Dan and I visited the Division St. food trucks this past Friday eve.  Never disappointed by their bounty, we were on the prowl for fresh wood fired pizza we noticed last time we were there.  

Pyro Pizza - Taking note of their fresh wood fired pizza oven and the beautiful, crusty pies they turn out, Dan and I had our eye on the prize.  It's great to see that the pizza is made to order, of course, so it takes a few minutes to cook but it's all worth it.  There's plenty of other things to get at nearby food carts that you can snack on in the meantime, which is what we did.

Fennel Sausage - Dan got us a fennel sausage pie to share and it more than delivered both on appearance and taste. Boasting a beautiful blistery crust and thoughtfully composed toppings of homemade tomato sauce, spicy local fennel sausage and thin slivers of red onion, the flavors in this pizza shone bright.  We loved how light and airy it was, the dough bejeweled with air bubbles that made it fluffy like a cloud, allowing us to eat lots of it.  In terms of portion size, it was perfect--filling us up but saving room for dessert at the same time.

The Dog House - Specializing in hot dogs, sliders and tater tots, The Dog House will tickle your comfort food bone and then some.  The tater tot offering is simply amazing, as besides the classics, you can top your tots with virtually anything from a fried egg to avocado.  Their creations offer up a new take on an old favorite, which is enjoyed by kids and adults alike.

Sweet Potato Tater Tots - Getting a side of sweet potato tater tots was a good idea, especially since they were homemade and double fried.  I loved the size of these things, as they offered up the perfect little bite and were highly poppable.  Biting into one revealed a bright orange middle, showing off some hand grated deliciousness.

Service and Cost:
As I already mentioned, both foods I just described were made to order and therefore entailed a bit of wait time, but it was all worth it.  It behooves you to stay close to both carts, as they shout people's names out when the food is ready, so you want to make sure you don't miss it.

Costs are affordable for both things and you can walk out of there full for under $20!

3 Mmmms

Pyro Pizza & Dog House PDX - SE 28th Avenue and Division Street, Portland OR 97202
pyropizzacart.com

facebook.com/timbersdoghousepdx

Smaaken Waffle Sandwiches had me at Hallo

Being that it was such a gorgeous day today and also because we were watching Mo & So's dog, Bond, we decided to hit the food trucks on Division street.  Knowing it'd be a busy time, we still decided to go for it, as it's a great place to come and enjoy a lot of exciting food with a dog in tow.

After circling around the hefty food truck lot on Division St. and 28th Avenue, we got a good sense of the yummies offered that day - and there were plenty.  After spotting a Korean food truck, Dan quickly chose a bulgogi beef platter for his lunch while I went for Smaaken, the Dutch waffle truck.  I'm about to spill the deets about the latter, which I thought was a fabulous choice I'd like to have again.

Smaaken Waffle Sandwiches - Located in a little pod, resembling a quaint Dutch cottage, Smaaken sandwiches are the real deal.  Immediately drawn to its eclectic menu that boasts not only sweet but savory sandwiches as well, there was lots to choose from.  I also liked the pod's location, which is strategically set near the communal tables in the middle so if you are with dog, like we were, it's easy to just hang out there until your name is called.

Sardou Waffle - After much deliberation, I selected a brunchie type of waffle with eggs, gouda cheese, artichokes, steamed spinach and lemon aioli to tie it all together.  The combination was fabulous and unlike any breakfast sandwich I've had--the eggs being perfectly fluffy, complemented by the tangy gouda and the soft lemon artichokes.  Even if you're not a vegetarian, I think you'll appreciate the sophistication and bright flavors in this sandwich.  But before I wrap this up, I must also talk about the excellence of the crispy waffle itself, which served as the sandwich part of this meal.  Not only was it cooked to perfection, boasting a beautifully golden exterior, the interior was airy and light, and didn't weigh you down at all.

Service and Cost:
Compared to some of the other waiting times in the food truck lot today, I think Smaaken surpassed expectations and expedited their orders pretty quickly.  Since everything is made to order, I was impressed by the 5-7 minute completion time for each order.

Costs are inexpensive and include anywhere from $4.50 - $8.50 for a waffle sandwich, depending on the ingredients.

3 Mmmms

Smaaken Waffle Sandwiches - SE 28th Avenue and Division Street, Portland OR 97202
smaaken.com

KOi Fusion - Portland's Version of Korean Mexi BBQ

This week was a lot of fun, as we had our first out of town visitor come see our new home in Portland.  My adventurous, awesome friend Kimberly was that guest, and together with Dan, we showed her all around town, taking her to some of the best Portland haunts.  One of our first stops was Mississippi's well known food truck lot, where I had the pleasure of trying KOi Fusion - Korean Mexi-BBQ cuisine.

The Truck:

Known for its bright blue, green and white exterior, I'm always attracted to this truck's cheery look.  Aside from three food trucks that circulate around Portland, KOi also boasts two brick and mortar locations as well as a whole catering division.  Founded on deeply seated Korean family recipes that are re-mixed with BBQ and Mexican flavors, KOi offers a great lunch option in the middle of the day, especially if you happen to be on a shopping excursion with an out of town guest.   

Food:

While the menu is simple and consists of a few options such as tacos, burritos, sliders, k-dogs, rice bowls and quesadillas, there's a plethora of combinations you can create by choosing a protein of your choice.

Bulgogi Beef Slider - As you can see above, the slider is substantial in size and packed to the gills with ingredients such as tender, marinated beef, crunchy nappa cabbage, bean sprouts, and Tillamook cheddar cheese.  I loved the freshness of the veggies and how they complemented the slightly sweet and tangy beef.  Since this is a generously beefy sandwich, you'll get a few pieces falling out of the fluffy bun they use, but it's fun to scoop them up with a fork and devour as a last bite.

Spicy Tofu Taco - If I had to do this one over again, I'd fill it with a different protein, as the tofu created something a little too watery for my taste.  The actual tofu was seasoned well and packed a punch in terms of spice, but paired with the slaw, cucumbers and bean sprouts, the texture left something to be desired.  I'll definitely give it another chance though and try the pork instead.

Service and Cost:

When compared to the trucks in this lot, KOi Fusion far outperformed the others in terms of speed of service.  While a few of the other vendors can have a bit of an edge to them, the folks at KOi are super nice and courteous.

Costs are super cheap and set me back just $6 for the two aforementioned items, which were quite filling.

2.5 Mmmms

KOi Fusion Truck - 4233 N. Mississippi Avenue, Portland OR 97217

koifusionpdx.com

Trying the Blend LIC Food Truck

A few weeks ago, I noticed the Blend LIC food truck parked just a few blocks away from my day gig.  Happy to discover this little piece of LIC in downtown Manhattan made me excited to try it for lunch one day.  

The Truck:
Clearly recognizing the Blend brick-and-mortar influences in the truck motif, it boasts the same color profile and a similar menu, although obviously simplified for mobile service.  The truck itself is pretty tricked out, as it comes with a fancy sound system that blasts beats during lunch as well as a built in ATM machine.  There's about 3 people that work inside the truck, including someone taking orders and two folks who cook and serve up the food.

Arepas:
Because I wasn't overly hungry, I went with an order of the crispy arepas with slow cooked pork and all the fixins such as guacamole, pico de gallo, lettuce and white sauce.  The portion was small but surprisingly filling, especially due to the hearty arepas, which had a nice crispy texture on the outside.  The whole dish oozed freshness and looked gorgeous with all those bright colors.

Service and Cost:
Unfortunately, the service at the truck was a total bust.  What I thought would take about 10 minutes to serve up took nearly 25, which I think is unacceptable (especially for lunch).  Even though the staff was nice, they didn't acknowledge the situation and that didn't sit well with me.

Costs are inexpensive and included $5 for those 2 little arepas, $6 for 3 tacos, $7 burritos, $3 empanadas and so forth.

2 Mmmms

Follow Blend on the Go on Twitter to learn about their weekly locations

Back in Portland and Loving the Food Trucks

Dan and I are back in Portland this week, visiting friends, Moses and Sonya and we're loving every minute of it.  Being in this awesome foodie town last year as well, I always look forward to exploring new culinary delights and returning to old favorites.

Our first foodie encounter was of the latter, as we headed to a small food truck spot in the North East neighborhood of Portland on North Mississippi Avenue.  Dan was after one thing and one thing only, which was Miss Kate's Southern Kitchen Truck's fried chicken and waffles.  I on the other hand wanted to try something new and went with a Native Bowl vegan creation, which satisfied my hunger and nurtured my soul.  

Miss Kate's Southern Kitchen Truck - Paying homage to talented female cooks everywhere, Miss Kate's serves up classic Southern dishes with a Portlandian twist.  I love that it serves up comfort food with fresh, local ingredients such as arugula, purple onions, local cheese and the like.  

Dan and I have tried it last summer as well and fell in love with their chicken and waffles as well as the chicken and biscuits.  The former made a huge imprint on our tastebuds, and Dan ordered it not long after we got to the truck.  I'm happy to report that it was as delicious as we remember it, if not more.  The waffle was buttery and moist and slathered with sweet maple syrup.  But the piece-de-resistance was the fried chicken, which was seasoned beautifully and tasted like high quality, juicy chicken that's on the bone, but surprisingly actually boneless.  While the whole thing went down easily, it was really filling and definitely conducive to sharing with a dining companion.

Native Bowl - I love the motto of Native Bowl, which stands for healthy, fresh vegetarian food made with love.  Headed up by Julie and Jay Hasson, they're no strangers to the Portland food scene, as they're often featured in local food media from digital publications to television.

Immediately attracted by their cheery, red truck, I appreciated their simple menu of bowls, which all contain some form of tofu.  After chatting up one of their employees, I inquired about the Couch Bowl (pronounced "cooch"), which was rumored to be very spicy.  Despite some reservations, I went for it and loved every bite, including layers of garlic tofu, spinach, carrots, scallions and toasted sesame seeds.  All the ingredients were then enveloped by the spicy/sweet gochujang sauce, which rocked my world.  Even though it had quite a kick, the spice dissipated quickly and kept you reaching for more.  Dan tried it too and loved the flavor profile.

After ordering these yummies, we popped a squat at Prost! beer garden for a pint of lager.  Loving the convenience of it all, we noticed other patrons that had the same idea and enjoyed the diversity of the street food with high quality European-style beer.  Prost to all that and to more good eating in Portland!

3 Mmmms

Mississippi Marketplace - 4233 N. Mississippi Ave, Portland OR 97217
missmarketplace.com

East Side King Paints the Town Yummy!

A week out of SXSW now feels like ancient history, but my delicious food memories remain.  Here, I wanted to shine a light on yet another awesome food truck experience I had at Paul Qui's and Moto Utsunomiya's East Side King, which came highly recommended.  In addition to the high praises sang by Austinites, I was also lucky to sit in on one of Paul's SX panels, further inspiring me to get a bite out of his cooking.

About East Side King:
For those of you not familiar with Chef Paul Qui, who's something of a local celebrity in Austin, the fact that he's also a Top Chef winner alum during season 9 may ring a bell.  Known for his adventurous cooking style, including winning a quickfire by incorporating the hottest ghost chili pepper there is, Chef Paul is always up for mixing things up and keeping it interesting.

While he owns a few upscale restaurants in Austin such as Uchi, Uchiko and Qui, Chef Paul puts just as much emphasis and attention into his street style mobile restaurant, East Side King.  Boasting a unique spin on Asian street food, East Side King's 5 locations deliver a funky Japanese street vibe in Austin's hippest neighborhoods.  Lucky enough to experience his pop-up locale downtown, especially positioned for SXSW, I got to see what the fuss is all about.

Food:
Admiring the many vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options, East Side King is a great choice if you're specific about the way you eat, but still want to enjoy great flavor.  Dan would be in heaven to see all that gluten free menu items, and I'm going to have to take him there next time we're in town.

Brussels Sprouts Salad - This dish came highly recommended, and wasn't a tough sell for me, as I always love to eat Brussels Sprouts.  It helped that most of the week was spent eating really rich foods, so some hearty veggies were certainly in order.  

While I can't say this salad was light, given the fried preparation of the Brussels Sprouts, it was flavorful as hell!  Coated in a sweet/tangy/spicy sauce, each bite gave your tastebuds a run for their money.  A sprinkling of fragrant herbs such as basil, cilantro and mint helped to freshen things up in the midst of all that fried deliciousness, including pieces of a deep fried bun.  When in Austin...

 
Beet Home Fries - I've never had deep fried beets before, but when I saw these babies included virtually in everyone's order, I knew I had to try them.  Happy to see I chose wisely, I enjoyed the beets' crispy exterior, which was fun to dunk into a creamy Kewpie Mayo (a popular Japanese mayo) further seasoned with spicy shichimi.  I've never had beets prepared in this way, which made the experience that much more unique and memorable.  

Service and Cost:
Due to the popularity of this truck, there's a bit of a wait (about 15-20 minutes), but I promise it's worth it.  The ladies who worked the truck were pleasant and totally accommodating, especially when it came to splitting up our payment into thirds.  It was also great that they accepted credit cards in addition to cash.

Lunch for two people, including drinks and a shared app set us back about $24 in total.

3 Mmmms

East Side King - 4 mobile locations and 1 brick-and-mortar location
Austin, TX
eskaustin.com

SXSW Food Highlights – Gourdough’s Doughnuts

Currently at SXSW Interactive Festival in Austin, I always look forward to the bodacious food that’s always a big highlight during my visit. In my typical, type A fashion, I pre-planned a few exciting food escapades to disrupt my busy conference agenda.

To no one’s surprise, food trucks took the front seat, as Austin is known for their creative mobile eats, and the Gourdough’s Doughnuts truck made a particularly sweet (and savory) impression on me. 


About Gourdough’s:
Specializing in larger than life, sweet and savory specialty doughnuts, I got the recommendation to visit Gourdough’s from my cousins Vicky and Eric. The vivid description of their recent experience sent me on a rampage to locate their funky little Airstream trailer and experience it first-hand.

Boasting two mobile locations in Downtown Austin, as well as a brick-and-mortar locale in South Austin, Gourdough’s is known for its unapologetically gluttonous menu. With up to 23 varieties of doughnuts (both sweet and savory), it’s hard to settle on just one - but you’re guaranteed to see something that tugs at your tummy strings. For me, it was the Fat Elvis donut that had me jonesin’.


Fat Elvis Donut:
Before I get into the actual taste of this monstrosity, I must mention that each oversized donut is made fresh to order, which doesn’t go unnoticed. The Fat Elvis is a very special doughnut, as it’s part of Gourdough’s secret menu, so cool kids, please advise!

Combining four of my favorite ingredients, such as grilled bananas, peanut butter, honey and bacon, this oversized doughnut was legit. The latter ingredient sealed the deal for me, especially when I saw how generous they were with it. Loving the peanut butter base, it tasted almost mousse-like, and I adored how the slightly tender bananas stuck to it. While the bacon was positioned in a rustic fashion, it fit the bill perfectly and juxtaposed beautifully with the otherwise sweet ingredients.

The actual doughnut didn’t suck either, as the dough was vibrant, airy and surprisingly light.

Service and Cost:
Since Gourdough’s is a food truck, there’s nothing fancy about its service, except that it’s relatively fast and the people are friendly. They’re happy to go over the menu with you, give you their recommendations and build your confidence (and excitement) about their big, fat donuts. Costs are expensive for a dougnut, however a steal when compared to the Cronut.

The aforementioned Fat Elvis rendition set me back a whopping $7. One thing’s for sure – I can’t wait to try more!

3 Mmmms

Gourdough’s – 604 Driskill Street, Austin TX 78701
gourdoughs.com

Trusty Burgers & Bites Truck Scores Big

I love having the chance to explore a new food truck and the great part about working in downtown Manhattan is that there's tons of them nearby.  Around lunchtime, my co-workers and I sometimes walk down Varick street (aka the food truck runway) to see what's in store, and last week, my friend Lara and I did just that.  We had a hard time choosing our mobile treat of choice, but after shopping around a bit we each chose something different.  

Deciding to try the inviting Trusty Burgers & Bites truck, I was curious as to how their burgers would measure up to something like a GoBurger per se, which is what Lara got.

The Truck:
Being drawn in by its inviting blue exterior with a slightly cheesy looking picture of a stereotypical chef, clad with a toque and all, I was curious to see what this was all about.  I did some research and learned that the truck used to be called simply the Trusty Truck but they changed their name earlier this year.

Serving a mix of specialty burgers and other "bites" such as jalapeno poppers, meatballs, mac 'n cheese, etc , the dishes served at Trusty are meant to satisfy your comfort food craving.  I decided to go for the burger myself, no bites this time, and thought highly of it.

Holy Chipotle Burger - First off, I really loved this burger's name, which goes without saying.  And since I'm a big fan of spicy things, the mention of chipotle was a big draw.  Besides this obvious ingredient, the burger packed a mean punch with other sharp flavors that came from pepperjack cheese and jalapeno peppers.  The beef patty was cooked nicely, and I thought its presentation was interesting, served in a baguette roll instead of a traditional round one.  A helping of guac and chipotle mayo tied the whole thing together and provided that South of the border flavor.

Service and Cost:
The staff at Tasty Burgers & Bites was cheery, pleasant and really speedy.  The order process took just two short minutes and my burger was ready not long after - maybe 5 minutes, which was awesome for a busy food truck.

Costs are moderate at $8/burger and $2.50 - $4 for other bites.

3 Mmmms

Trusty Burgers & Bites - check schedule

Celebrating our Awesome Food Trucks Right in LIC

Sure I love to indulge in some of New York's mobile treats, and we have a whole food truck lot right outside of my building at work, but why should it be only for Manhattanites?  For those of you who love the food truck scene (and Astoria/LIC of course) will know that since last year, we've set up a food truck lot on Crescent Street, near 44th Road.  Just like a lot of the lots in the city, the Long Island City Food Truck Lot operates in a similar fashion, where they get a steady rotation of the NYC's most famous gourmet food trucks.  Taking place each Thursday and Friday from 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. you can catch anything there, from Asian Fusion, Mexican, good ol' American comfort food and of course desserts.

I wanted to shout-out one dessert truck in particular that's a favorite of mine that'll be at the lot tomorrow.  The one, the only Treats Truck will be present in full-on sweet glory serving up their signature treats such their sandwich cookies, brownies and crispy squares.  My personal favorites are their oatmeal jammy cookies, stuffed with raspberry jam, as well as their crunchy and slightly crumbly peanut butter sandwich cookies.

Don't forget to bring a bottle of water (or milk) with you to wash down all that goodness.
The Treats Truck will be at the lot tomorrow from 11:00 a.m. - 3 p.m. 

LIC Food Truck Lot - 43-29 Crescent Street, LIC NY 11101
N/Q Train to Queensboro Plaza
www.nycfoodtrucks.org

More Fun at the NYC Food Trucks

This past week, I had the great fun to once again indulge in some of our best gourmet food trucks that are parked outside of my building at work.  Trying two new vendors, including the Palenque Colombian food truck and the Green Pirate food truck, I was duly impressed and so was my friend Lara who came along to keep me company.

Palenque:
Immediately drawn to its gorgeous looking truck, decked with blue and red tropical parrots, I walked over and peeked at the menu.  It sounded lovely, boasting different types of arepas, which I'm a big fan of.  I loved that you can add different toppings to it including meat and veggies, but what I found particularly neat is that not all the arepas were made with corn, but some also with quinoa, brown rice and flax seed.  Because we wandered over on the late side (after 2 p.m.) there was no line, but Lara informed me that during peak hours, it's always busy.

Original Arepa with Frijoles Macerados - Deciding to keep things on the light side, I chose to go with an all veggie option with mushed red beans as the topping.  I thought this was the only topping at first, but shortly found out that this arepa comes with the works such as arugula, cheese, chipotle mayo, cilantro, butter and guacamole.  I omitted the butter and cheese but kept on everything else.

First off, it looked beautifully colorful and came in a white box with a sticker that showcased the same bird design of the outside of the food truck.  I thought that was pretty neat and appreciated the attention to detail.

The arepa itself was really tasty, the dough slightly sweet but also savory was the perfect vehicle for the beans and the veggies I just mentioned.  Although it was a bit unwieldy (you had to use a fork and knife to eat it), each bite offered nice earthiness from the veggies but also a comforting bite from the arepa and the soft beans.  The mayo was great too, as it provided that pop of flavor to an otherwise mild mix of ingredients.  Overall, it was really filling and just one can definitely tide you over for the afternoon.

Green Pirate Juice Truck:
Seeing this truck on the streets of Soho, I've been meaning to try it and get a refreshing juice or smoothie.  Since it was super hot and humid on the day we went, I was in the mood for a smoothie and got the tropicolada with banana, pineapple, coconut milk and OJ.  It was a little creamy but still light and refreshing, tasting like a virgin pina colada.  I wish I got a little more banana in there, but overall it was pretty tasty, but definitely not worth $6 for a 12 oz drink.

Lara got an interesting juice called The McCarrot Park with carrot, apples and ginger too.  The latter ingredient was really pronounced and added something special to this already vibrant concoction.  I'd definitely get this over the smoothie next time, as it had more depth and was a step up from the somewhat ordinary tropicolada.

Service and Cost:
The service at both trucks varied greatly, as we had a wonderful experience at Palenque and quite an awful one at the Green Pirate Juice truck.  The staff at the former was full of smiles and an overall bright and cheery attitude, while the employees at the latter were surly and unpleasant.  Maybe it was just a fluke, but it left Lara and me with a bad impression.

Costs were fair at Palenque at just $7 for the hearty arepa I described, and quite steep at the Green Pirate, at $6 for a small drink that wasn't a stand-out.

Palenque - 3 Mmmms
Green Pirate- 2 Mmmms

Palenque Food Truck 

Green Pirate Juice Truck

Cheesin' It Up with Gorilla Cheese NYC Food Truck

Totally excited by the fact that a food truck lot has set up right outside of my office building during lunch, I'm always looking out the window to check out the different food trucks that have landed there each day.  I love that they alternate constantly, giving people the opportunity to try a variety of things at once, and it also defeats the sometimes arduous activity of actually locating these mobile kitchens.

I headed down for lunch with a co-worker of mine yesterday, and given that the weather was actually good, we decided to hang.  At first, we checked out the offerings at each truck, starting with Munchie Mobile and working our way eventually to the Bongo Brothers Cuban food truck.  And somewhere in between that was the Gorilla Cheese NYC truck, which I've always been dying to try.  After taking one look at their menu, both my co-worker Rusty and I were all about it.

About the Truck
A lot of you may be familiar with this truck, as it's quite emblematic, with a picture of a large King Kong-esque gorilla holding a melted grilled cheese in one hand and the Empire State Building in the other.  I love its whimsy design and bright yellow color, which automatically makes me think of cheesy goodness.  In truth, I've seen this truck floating around quite a bit on Varick Street (and other locations around the city) but the sometimes long lines have turned me off.  

Even though we found ourselves waiting in line here too, it went fast and we also didn't feel awkward standing on the street, as we were in a nice park that was enclosed and where we felt we could stay a while.

Grilled Cheese
Although there are many tantalizing options on the menu, my choice became very clear immediately, as I went for the #8 or the Spicy Buffalo Chicken grilled cheese.  Besides the buffalo treatment, which always makes me think of Monday Night Football, I was sold by the fact that it incorporated smoked mozzarella on French bread.  By the latter, I was expecting something crusty and substantial however, I was slightly disappointed by the ordinary white bread that encased the delightful contents of chicken and cheese.

Loving the filling of this sandwich, I appreciated the spice in the tender chicken chunks and the cheese was indeed quite smoky and out of this world.  It went down easy, and despite it being a heaping, hearty sandwich, it didn't weigh you down, which was great.

Rusty got the smoked gouda with BBQ pulled pork creation and while I didn't try it, he assured me it was delicious.  Next time!

Service and Cost
The service was very quick and efficient, as we waited for just 5 minutes before receiving our piping hot sandwiches.  I have no complaints and overall the truck seems to run pretty efficiently.

Each sandwich set us back $8, which is pricey for just simple meat and cheese, but I have to say that it's doable once in a while and that the quality is very good.

3 Mmmms

www.gorillacheesenyc.com
Twitter: gcnyc1
646.538.1838

LIC Food Truck Lot is Bumpin'

Image by LIC Food Truck Lot

Some of you may have been hearing about the mysteriously awesome LIC Food Truck Lot that opened up earlier this month.  Still technically in its soft opening, this fantastic lot, located on Crescent street and 43rd Avenue is open each and every day from 11:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. on weekdays and from 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on weekends.  What a perfect opportunity for you Queens workers on the weekdays and a nice way for us Manhattan workers to reap the benefits too!

The great thing about this space is that by nature, the offering is...well, mobile.  Trucks vary daily and there's a steady update of each day's truck supply that goes out via Facebook, so you can check out the offering before you venture out.  Here are some of the exciting food trucks that have been featured thus far:

Coolhaus Ice Cream
Red Hook Lobster Truck
Korilla BBQ
CupcakeStop
Eddie's Pizza
Frites n' Meats
Frying Dutchmen
The Treats Truck
Desi
Andy's Ice and more...

What a great opportunity to take advantage of the goods food entrepreneurs bring to the streets of Manhattan, but not as often to Queens.  So glad this has changed, and I can't wait to experience it.  Have you been yet?

LIC Food Truck Lot - 43-29 Crescent Street, LIC NY 11101
7  Train to 45th Road/Courthouse Square
Check out their Facebook page for daily updates

Mexicue - Mexican Food Meets Smoky BBQ Flava

Mexicue Truck - Click here for locations in NYC
917.568.8922
Twitter
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www.mexicueny.com

I've heard about Mexicue in passing from my friends at epicurious, and after some rants and raves, I knew I had to give it a try.  Problem was that they're never in a location that's convenient for my daily life that revolves mostly around Union Square.  But last Friday changed that, as my friend Bo and I saw the truck parked at 18th st and 5th avenue.  We of course jumped on the chance to try their much-talked-about grub, and I'm happy to report that we were far from disappointed.

Mexicue's Philosophy:

As its name suggests, Mexicue combines the flavors of Mexican cooking with the smokiness of the great American BBQ.  A non-traditional combination for sure, but the flavors in their food work beautifully to create a comforting and tastebud-stimulating experience.

Food:
Bo and I were immediately intrigued by their concise but enticing menu of sliders and tacos.  We ordered one of each option, both of us selecting the pulled pork slider and two different tacos, including the BBQ beet and the short rib.

Pulled Pork Slider - We were both drawn to this and from a personal perspective, I love me some tender, slow-cooked pork in a smoky bbq sauce.  I loved the size of this thing - small but stuffed to the gills with amazing toppings such as pickled red onions, sliced avocado and slightly spicy arbol BBQ sauce.  It left a little tingle on your lips, which was just perfect.  The only complaint I had was that the pork was a bit on the dry side - I would've loved more sauce next time, but overall it was a solid little mouth popper.

Tacos - I went for the BBQ beet taco, which I thought was imaginative and different. It was a great choice, in my opinion, and I loved the way the earthy, juicy beats enveloped a double dose of fresh flour tortillas.  My favorite aspect however, was the spiced goat cheese, which melted into the beets, creating an ooey-gooey combination of earthy goodness.

Bo ordered the oak smoked short rib tacos, which were also very good but pretty messy and globby.  Dressed with salsa verde, aged white cheddar and salsa fresca, they packed a mean punch and are not for the faint of heart.

Service and Cost:
Although there was a relatively long line at the Mexicue Truck, orders were expedited efficiently and with precision.  Each patron is asked his or her name and then called when their order is ready - picking up their delicious Mexicue treats in a biodegradable container that not only looks attractive, but keeps the food warm.

Prices are very competitive and include:

Tacos - $3 -$4

Sliders - $3

Mexicue is currently competing in Food Network's Great Food Truck Race. You can vote for them here.

3 Smoky & Spicy Mmmmms

Go Burger Experience Rocked My World

The other day, I read about a new food truck coming to the City streets called Go Burger.  But with so many food trucks out there already, what makes this one special and interesting? Well, I think the secret lies in its brand - it's part of the BLT restaurant chain, which includes BLT Prime, BLT Fish, BLT Steak, BLT Market and BLT Burger.  I've now been to 3 out of 5 of these and I'm a certifiable fan.  So much so that when I saw that Go Burger was giving away free burgers today from 1 p.m. until supplies lasted, I just had to get myself over to 22nd and Park and check it out.

The Experience:
The entire experience of waiting on line, talking with other people and just standing there, anticipating that burger goodness was really exciting.  It was encouraging when we saw people walk away smiling with generous-sized hamburgers in hand and even fries to boot.  The line got progressively longer as I waited and eventually it went to the end of the block, as you can see in the picture above.  I waited about 25 minutes for my burger but it was well worth it.

The Burger:
I promised myself that since I waited so long for this burger, I had to devour it properly.  That meant bringing it back to my desk at work and taking nice, slow, indulgent bites instead of haughtily scarfing it down on the street.  I did sneak some fries in on the way back to work, and they were really awesome, and so crispy.

So once I got back to my desk and unwrapped the burger, I was immediately impressed.  The bun was big and fluffy and covered generously with sesame seeds.  And the inside contents were just as wonderful: bright green lettuce, sweet red onions, a tomato and of course that delicious juicy Black Angus Beef patty.  I loved that it wasn't well done and therefore it was still very moist and flavorful.  You could taste the quality of the meat, which I later found out was made up of a combination of sirloin, short rib, chuck and brisket.  I'm happy to say that it's on the level BLT Burger, which is pretty darn excellent.

The Menu:

I grabbed a full menu of course, for when I'd like to come back and explore some other options.  Here it is in its entirety - enjoy and I highly encourage you to try it.

Burgers:
Hamburger - 5 oz. grilled certified Black Angus Beef...$4 single...$7 double
Cheeseburger...$4 single...$7 double
The Classic - 5 oz. grilled certified Black Angus Beef, tomato, red onion, iceburg lettuce & pickles...$5 single...$8 double
The Classic With Cheese...$6 single...$9 double
Turkey - All natural turkey breast ground with fresh herbs...$6
Lamb Merguez - Colorado lamb, mint-cilantro yogurt sauce, cucumber, olives, red onion, tomato...$10
Salmon - Atlantic salmon, avocado, cucumber, red onion, baby arugula, zesty-cayenne tartar sauce...$11

Hot Dogs:
Kobe Dog - Apple cole slaw, spicy German mustard, pickled jalapenos...$6...$10 footlong

Fries:
Skinny fries...$3

Cheese fries...$4

Morning Quickie (available until 11 a.m.)

Eggs...traordinary - Maple sausage, egg bacon & cheddar frittata, English muffin...$6

Salads:
Farmer's Salad - Iceburg, radicchio, chopped vegetables, onion with feta and oregano dressing...$9

Sweets:
Dark chocolate and walnut brownie...$3
Oatmeal-chocolate chip cookie...$3

Shakes:
Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry or Coffee...$4 each

Drinks:
Fresh squeezed lemonade...$3
Fresh brewed iced tea...$3
Coffee...$2
Boylan's Bottled Sodas...$3

Go Burger - 646.479.6027

Twitter: @goburger

www.goburger.com

Van Leeuwen Truck - Artisans Scream for Ice Cream

Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream - Various locations around Manhattan
www.vanleeuwenicecream.com

I've been keeping a close eye on this gourmand ice cream truck, and when it acquired a new location near my office, I became intrigued. The lemony-yellow truck just screams of fun and delight--so when Leann, Vicky, Gina and I found out they'd be giving out free ice cream at yesterday's Lucky Boutique Crawl, we had a clear and unflinching mission to accomplish - to taste it.

Some Background...
Before I get into our experience and the flavors we chose to devour, I want to give a bit of context as to why this ice cream truck is different from others.

In a nutshell (pun intended), their philosophy is "fresh. local. pure. simple." They use fresh, local-sourced ingredients that are environmentally friendly and body friendly - meaning that you won't find any chemicals or preservatives in these cones.

They're so proud of this philosophy, that they display it on the outside of their truck for everyone see "we make our ice cream with fresh, hormone free milk and cream from local farms, cane sugar and eggs. Our flavors come from the finest small producers all over the world."

The Experience
When we walked up to the truck, long lines were already forming. It was such a nice, mild night that we happily waited along with 50+ enthusiastic women and maybe 1 equally delighted man. The line was progressing quickly and after about 10 minutes, we reached our turn.

The truck was serviced by two guys, dressed in casual, hipster garb and longish, scraggly hair. One of them acted a little too cool for school but we just went with it. I asked them for a scoop of pistachio and a scoop of chocolate ice cream in a cup. My friends also tried strawberry and hazelnut flavors.

The Ice Cream
The best part about this ice cream was the consistency - creamy and decadent but not so much that it was impossible to finish. On the contrary, it went down easily and melted at a good pace - when I reached the end, I got a nice semi-liquidy concoction that I mixed together. It was delightful to taste the chocolate/pistachio mix--although the chocolate was the more prominent flavor, there was a nutty finish at the end.

Between the pistachio and the chocolate, I'd recommend the latter. It was incredibly intense but not overly sweet. Made with Michel Cluizel chocolate, you immediately tasted the purity of this product as opposed to mass produced chocolate made with preservatives.

The pistachio was more gentle, with a buttery aftertaste that was quite pleasing. One thing missing were the actual pistachio chunks but I think that purity and creamy texture is what Van Leeuwen was striving for - and that they got.

Another stand-out was the hazelnut that was also buttery and smooth but had a tangier aftertaste. Coupled with a scoop of gentle wild strawberry ice cream, it brought out a pronounced flavor on your tongue. I'd recommend getting the hazelnut with a mild flavor or on its own for this exact reason - to make it stand out.

Unfortunately, Van Leeuwen ran out of their most popular flavor, the Giandujia, which combines chocolate and hazelnut. I think this presents a perfect excuse for my next visit.

Other Products
Besides the amazing ice cream, Van Leeuwen also serves Chicago based, Intelligentsia coffee. I tried it when I was there last spring and absolutely loved it. Note to self - it's a big step up from Starbucks.

Where to Find Them
You can follow Van Leeuwen on Twitter to see where their trucks are roaming. They also have a couple of distributors in which you could buy their stuff by the pint (look on their site under Locations & Stockists). One of them is LIC's very own Food Cellar.

3 Mouth Watering Mmmms

The New Truck on the Block - Moshe's Falafel

Moshe's Falafel - b/w 27th & 28th on Park, New York NY 10016
6 Train to 28th Street

I only had a few dollars in my wallet and no packed lunch, so I figured my best bet would be to stop by a food truck--preferably for falafel--during my lunch break. I had noticed a week or so ago that Moshe's Falafel was a new rolling establishment in the area, so I decided to give it a shot. Moshe's is already a recognized, and reputable, entity around the city, so my expectations were kind of high.

Experience

Stopping at the truck was actually pretty fun. The guys working there were so friendly and seemed like they were having a good time serving the lunch crowd. They were even offering free falafel samples to some loiterers and really anyone who stopped to ask for one.

Food

I wasn't too hungry, so I went with a half pita, filled with about 3 falafel balls, lettuce, tomato, tahini, a little bit of hot sauce, and a spicy pickle on top. This may have been half a pita, but it was pretty filling. Though I have to say, I was kind of disappointed with the falafel. It was definitely fresh and crispy on the outside, but it was lacking the flavoring and spice that I was hoping for. And, unfortunately the pita itself was drenched with tahini, which I wasn't too fond of. Overall, it was fresh, kind of sloppy, and maybe a little bland for me. But the price was definitely right--you can't beat a $3.25 lunch.

Moshe's Falafel truck has a few other food options to offer, including fries, which I think I will definitely sample at some point over the summer. The service at the truck is so great, I have faith that another go around might prove more satisfying!

Oh, and for those readers who might be interested, I'm pretty sure Moshe's is strictly parve. If I'm wrong on that, let me know.

2 Mmmms

Sugar is Hurting but I Still Got Some...

The Treats Truck - Various Locations in NYC and B'klyn (check website for schedule)

212.691.5226

www.treatstruck.com

I love the Treats Truck and its name is "Sugar." In case you haven't heard of it, this mobile company, founded by Kim Ima is sensational. They serve comfort-desserts with flare--and even have wonderfully endearing names for them. Think traditional cookies no more! Instead you'll find creative options like the chocolate chipper, the oatmeal jammy and their newest chocolate sandwich cookie, dubbed the chocolate trucker.

I'm sad to say Kim's beloved "Sugar" has been in the operating room for over a week--undergoing technical repairs. But the Treats Truck team did not despair and worked with admirable gusto to fulfill their Valentine's Day orders. I was among one of their customers and was greeted by a friendly Treats Truck delivery ambassador--Michael. Doesn't he look delightful and cheery? A big kudos to the Treats Truck team for their relentless drive and superb determination to serve that sugah. Keep on, keepin' on.

One burning question remains: When are you coming to Astoria, Sugar?!?

Check their site for an up-to-date schedule.

Feel better soon Sugar. We want you back!

Oh and PS...The Treats were delicious.

3 Mmmms