On a constant quest for great donuts, yesterday, my co-workers and I headed over to the Donut Byte Labs food truck in search of some mini deliciousness. Needless to say, the experience more than delivered, reminding me of the yummy mini donuts found at Pip's - only these were even fancier.
About Donut Byte Labs:Opened just a few months ago, Donut Byte Labs is still new on the Portland donut scene, but is quickly making a statement. Located not far from the Burnside Bridge on SW 4th Avenue and Burnside Street, you can't possibly miss this royal blue truck with a deliciously sweet smell emanating from it.
Two mad scientist type dudes work inside the truck to concoct some really fancy mini donut toppings such as bacon maple, salted caramel, Burnside cream, peanut butter cup and more. The atmosphere outside of the truck is lovely too, as there's a little blue patio table and chairs where you can relax and chow down on your donuts while they're still fresh.
Donuts:
Opting for the fanciest of donut flavors, my compadres and I ordered a dozen fun flavors including bacon maple, Burnside cream, Peanut Butter cup, chocolate sprinkle, creme brulee and more. While the donuts were teeny tiny, they made for a hefty bite once dressed with all those toppings, and were even sharable - allowing us to try a few.
Peanut Butter Cup - My all around favorite donut consisted of a (surprise, surprise) dark chocolate and peanut butter combination. I loved it so much because not only did you find peanut butter on top, but also in the center, and it was ooey gooey. The dark chocolate frosting was like a ganache, bringing a gourmet touch to this comfort food treat.
Salted Caramel - Another favorite combination of sweet and salty flavors, this one also delivered, especially on the salty part. Using both delicate salt flakes and a dusting of salted caramel sugar, this donut gave your tastebuds a run for their money. If you're a savory foods lover, you'll appreciate it, but all of you donut purists may not fully approve.
Service and Cost:
Because the donuts are all made to order and then dressed individually by the guys I mentioned above, we waited for about 10 minutes for them to be done. One way to avoid this is by choosing more simple/classic flavors, but we went for the gold.
Costs are dependent on the complexity of flavors you get and range from:
$1.25 for 6 minis or $2.50 for 12 minis - plain
$2.50 for 6 minis or $4 for 12 minis - powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar
$7 - $10 for 12 minis - advanced flavors
3 Mmmms
Donut Byte Labs - 12 SW 4th Avenue, Portland OR 97204
503.801.7321
donutbytelabs.com
Even though good food at the US Open is certainly hard to come by, as over-eager tourists bum rush the Food Village, devouring sub-par food, there are a few things worth writing home about. If you’re at the Open this year, I highly encourage you check them out:
Morris Food Truck – Known for their grilled cheese sandwiches, the Morris Food truck comes to the Open by way of Brooklyn. I loved this cheery addition to the day’s festivities, and I must say that it’s run really well. There’s a separate area where you get a good view of the menu and actually place your order. After just a few short minutes your name gets called at the actual truck and you get your perfectly melted cheese beauty.
There’s four different grilled cheese sandwiches to choose from and they all sound great. Sure they’re expensive (you’re at the US Open after all), but comparatively speaking, the prices are okay.
After some consideration, I went for the Gouda sandwich with thick pieces of smoky bacon that were nestled inside. Overall, it was a total home run, as the cheese was perfectly gooey, tangy and just generally tasty. I appreciated the well done exterior on the bread, as I like my grilled cheese on the darker side too. It made for some attractive photos to boot!
You can find the Morris Food truck in front of Court 17 at the stadium or on the streets of Manhattan and Brooklyn on most days.
Sandwiches by Parm at the Heineken House – At first, I can’t say I was totally enthused about checking out a branded environment in an already commercialized sporting event, but the Heineken house won me over. Located also right outside of Court 17 on the rooftop of a nearby building, the Heineken house offers a welcome respite for visitors, during this over-crowded event.
A nice, spacious bar welcomes you as you walk in, complete with a picnic table area, a mini pro shop with Heineken swag as well as some games and a cute photo booth. The Parm sandwich area was easy to spot, and similar to the food truck I just described, you first put in your order at the counter and wait a few short minutes for your food to come out.
It didn’t take me long to decide on the Godfather sandwich, which boasted a few generous hunks of fresh mozzarella, basil and tomato on pressed garlic bread. A bright green jalapeno found itself wedged in between the two halves of the sandwich, decorating it beautifully. Overall, the sandwich was delicious, fresh-tasting and made of good quality ingredients that’s a rarity at this event. Kudos Heineken!
I hope you get to visit these two eateries while the Open is still going on til this coming Monday, September 8th.
On my way home from an awesome Queens Salon networking event hosted by Mackenzi, I was in the mood for something hearty that would satisfy my dinner craving. Immediately thinking to visit the King of Falafel, I was sadly discouraged after seeing the long line.
Saved by a friendly taco truck called Tacos Jalisco, an awesomely serendipitous experience followed.
About Tacos Jalisco:
On most days, this cheery red taco truck is located on the corner of 31st Street and Broadway. Headed up by a two person team, it's great to see that food is made to order, exemplifying also that they use fresh, quality ingredients. I was pleasantly surprised that you can order from them on Seamless and that unlike at other food trucks, you can also pay with your credit card.
Tacos - Aside from all the taco options, there were tons of other enticing things on the menu such as enchiladas, quesadillas, nachos, tortas, cemitas and various platters. However, I still chose to go with the truck's namesake specialty and got two tacos, including the pescado with fried tilapia and the carbon with beef. Both were awesome and very different, the fish taco enveloped in two soft corn tortillas, while the carbon was served on a white flour tortilla.
In terms of flavor, both of these delivered but in very different ways. The carbon was more hearty, evoking a comfort food quality while the fish tacos were light, fresh and also packed generously with lots of fish. They smelled absolutely delicious on my ride home, making it hard to resist devouring them then and there on the subway.
Service and Cost
Loving the simplicity and transparency of the service, I was once again impressed. As mentioned, everything is cooked on the spot, which helps to instill confidence in the food.
Prices are competitive at just $2.50-$3 per taco, and for quite a generous portion too. I was full after polishing two off.
3 Mmmms
Tacos Jalisco - 31st Street and Broadway, Astoria.
347.744.0774
N/Q Train to Broadway
I was on my way to the new MP Taverna last week, getting ready for a fabulous press dinner when I ran into this Mexico Blvd truck right outside of the Ditmars Blvd stop. It looked so inviting and like a legit food truck that I walked by and looked at what it had to offer. The menu was simple yet intriguing and the prices are fantastic - especially for the tacos. I like that their meat is sustainable and they carry most gluten free products, which is nice for friends with food allergies. Take a look at their menu and do check them out next time you seem them in the nabe.
Guacamole - made fresh daily and paired with chips
Chico (small)...$3.25
Grande (big)...$4.50
Tacos
Adobo - Pork loin marinated for 24 hours in their great grandmother's adobo...$3
Pastor - Pork tenderloin marinated in 3 chiles sauce, served with cilantro, onion & a pineapple slice...$3
Bistec - Top round steak in a drunken sauce, served with cilantro and onion...$3
Tinga - Shredded chicken in a tomato and chipotle sauce...$3
Tortas (Mexico City sandwiches)
Adobo...$8
Pastor...$8
Bistec...$8
Tinga...$8
Find this truck here.
I was at the IMS summit last week for work, which was a tad underwhelming, so I didn't have high hopes when it came for lunchtime. However, I must say that I was more than pleasantly surprised when I found out that Korilla BBQ was in my future that day. That's right...everyone at the conference had the opportunity to get the Korean BBQ specialty of their dreams from this fabulous truck. I instantly fell in love.
The Concept:
Started by Edward "3D" Song, a Columbia graduate who just couldn't face the corporate world, the Korilla BBQ truck was born. Wanting to spread the amazingness of Korean BBQ cuisine with others, and to also break the perception that this cuisine is only for carnivores, "3D" started his first truck with three other cohorts.
Since then, they're all over the NYC map (and even Jersey), as well as doing private events such as the one from last week. I really loved the idea behind this, as it added a level of coolness to the event. It was fun watching the guys behind the truck's window, having a good time and serving up some amazing, piping hot Korean yums. All I can say is that it was a great intro, and I'll certainly be back for more.
Food:
Lucky for us, we got to choose whatever we wanted on their menu, so I went for the Chosun bowl. First you pick a protein such as the ribeye (bulgogi), pulled pork, chicken thighs, or tofu; then you go for the rice (they even have bacon, kimchi fried rice!), and then additional fixins such as kimchi, slaw, cucumber, etc.
I got the bulgogi, as I typically love this tender, marinated beef that's oh so flavorful. Korilla's was even better than others I've had - it was incredibly easy to break down, no knife required. Pairing this with the bacon, kimchi fried rice and a topping of mild tomato salsa, crunchy slaw and cucumber, was a hearty, smoky combination. The smokiness came from the Korean BBQ sauce they put on top, that was slightly sweet, and a little tangy. The differing textures were just fabulous and the whole thing made for a colorful and a very exciting lunch. While I could imagine eating these ingredients in burrito form, I much rather enjoyed seeing it all shine in front of me inside a bowl. Who'd want all that beauty to be hidden inside a flour wrap?!
Service and Cost:
Amazed at how quickly each order got expedited, the line moved quickly and it was fun watching the guys serving everyone. It's clear that they enjoy what they do, each with a big smile on their face, cracking some jokes along the way too.
Prices range between $7-$8/serving, depending on whether you get a taco set, a burrito or the bowl I just mentioned.
3 Mmmms
Korilla BBQ - truck locations
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