Can You Call It A Food Truck...When It's A Bus...And It Doesn't Move?

 For some strange reason, there are more food trucks in our little town than in the much larger city from which we moved. I don't know why--maybe there are fewer government restrictions up here. For whatever reason, we're not complaining.

Then, there's the Taqueria El Cazador.

It's not a food truck, but a food bus.

And I don't think it's going anywhere anytime soon.

But, it serves up some mighty fine food.

When we drive into town, we pass this bus restaurant almost every time. Last spring when we were putting in our sprinklers, I asked Mark, the sprinkler guy we hired, where the good places to eat in town were. He named several, then he named the Taqueria El Cazador. "The bus?" I said. "Yes," he said. 

It took us a year to finally stop and try it. Mark was right--good food.

Yes, we have a McDonalds and a Wendys and a Burger King and a Taco Time and an Arctic Circle...the same fast food places you can find in many other towns, and in some cases in other countries. But, this fine establishment is unique. You can search high and low and you'll most likely never find another one quite like it.

Still...can it be considered a food truck? Probably doesn't matter, anyway.

Who's Hungry? Basmati Indian Street Tacos Can Help You With That...

I have amazing friends. I don't know how I became so fortunate to be associated with so many incredible people I call friends. So, what do several of my friends do during a worldwide pandemic?

They start a food truck.

A few years ago, I was cast in a local production of You Can't Take It With You. I got to share the stage with two actors with whom I'd done shows before, and another with whom I had not. The performance talent in Amanda, Jared, and Jennie is staggering. Add Amanda's amazing photography skills, Jared's technical--including sound design and furniture/food truck construction--skills, and Jennie's directing and costuming skills, and you've got three performers that can carry any show. Now, they've turned their attention of the culinary arts.

This afternoon my wife and I watched the three of them working away in an incredibly hot, custom-built/painted food truck serving up delicious Indian tacos.

And it was GOOD!!

This week is the truck's maiden voyage. Why they decided to attempt such a leap of faith at a time like this is beyond me. But, upon further thought, it makes sense. Tell any of these amazing people they can't (or should't...) do something, it makes them work even harder. The show that had all of us together ran into so many problems--If you're familiar with community theater, you know what I'm talking about--the show almost didn't go on. But it did, and it was incredible.

I snapped a few pictures of the truck, then took the food home. I wanted to take a picture of the tacos before I started eating, but I was so hungry, I dug right in. So, the photo of food is not a true representation of the full meal I had.

If you'd like to follow Basmati on Facebook, click the link: HERE. If you'd like to try the food for yourself, I posted earlier where Basmati was going to be from 5pm - 8pm on Saturday, 7/18/20, but that's not going to happen. They had to cancel.    :(

However, you can always check on their Facebook page for future events.

Yes, the food at Basmati Indian Street Tacos is fantastic...

Almost as much as those running it.

Well Played Best Buy...Well Played

We don't go to too many grand openings. I mean, what's the point, really? We aren't big shoppers and the usual trinkets businesses dangle in front of the public whenever a new store opens don't entice us. But a new store opened up at our local shopping center and last Saturday, I thought we ought to check it out.

I believe the Best Buy opened the day before. I saw a sign announcing its grand opening earlier in the month. We had a few minutes to kill Saturday morning and I suggested we go. We got in the van, drove the few miles separating us from the store and went inside. Before we did, we noticed not one, but two Cupbop Korean BBQ in a Cup food trucks parked outside.

"Make sure you pick up lunch on your way out," a Best Buy employee in a blue shirt said to us as we crossed the street to enter the store. We waved and nodded. Then he added, "It's free--lunch on Best Buy."

Um...that's the kind of grand opening trinket we love. We went inside and the store was beautiful. There's a temporary store a few doors down that sells Halloween costumes, displays, make-up, and anything associated with scaring people. Best Buy is a much scarier store than that one. It's got electronics, games, cameras, computers--basically, all the adult toys I love.

We didn't buy anything--as per our usual shopping pattern at a new store. But we did take advantage of the free lunch special from Cupbop. I've never had Korean BBQ before. I'll have it again, if given the chance, and I'll pay for it, too.

I didn't see any blockbuster deals inside the store. If they were there, we missed them. But we did have lunch on Best Buy. For us, it was a good way to introduce us to our new neighbors. Well played, Best Buy...well played.

How Much Is That Cupcake In The Window...?

On Wednesdays, at one of our local government buildings, food trucks gather to feed the masses, or  if not masses, then to those who come to eat. Because I've worked away for the last couple of decades, I've missed my chance to enjoy the mobile delicacies.

Things have changed lately.

At lunchtime I came upstairs to see what was in the house. Oh, I could have found something to eat, but my wife suggested I go check out the food truck options just down the hill.

And I did.

I pulled up and saw only two vehicles.  I had hoped there would be more, but the last--and only--time I got lunch from the food trucks, there was only one and the food turned out really good, so I thought I'd give them a shot. The yellow truck looked interesting, but what really caught my eye was the pink RV. They were selling cupcakes. I've seen those mini-RVs driving around every once in while. I think painting it pink, gutting the trailer, and filling it with sugary treats is a great use for an old Toyota. I especially liked the eyelashes over the headlights.

I ordered a quesadilla from Just In Ques. It was good, but we were having quesadillas at home and I could have had one of our own. I suppose the indulgence for my lunch was the cupcake. They had several, but the chocolate drew me like a sailor to the siren's song.

I brought home the lunch, sat down and ate at my desk. A few years ago, cupcakes were all the rage, at least, that's what the cooking shows wanted you to believe. They may not be as big as they once were, but a good dessert is always welcomed.

Yes, the cupcake was delicious. It's not something I think I'm going to get every time--too much of a good thing and all that, but maybe more Wednesdays will be like this. Time will tell.

Oh, and since I brought it up, the chocolate cheesecake--as well as all their cupcakes from Heidi Cakes--cost three bucks.

Fry Me To The Moon...An Awesome Food Truck!

I had to leave work early due to previously arranged engagements. And because of this, I was able to stop and pick up lunch at the Fry Me to the Moon food truck.

To quote Joey from Friends, "Fried stuff with cheese!"

I know there's a ton of food trucks out there. The problem is, I never seem to be in the same place as them. I work in an industrial part of town. I doubt, if I ran a food truck, I'd park at my work--just not enough earning potential. And we live in a smaller somewhat sleepy suburb where food trucks don't frequent. But on Wednesdays, at the old county courthouse, food trucks gather and the intoxicating smell of their goods wafts in the air.

Today, a lone truck parked outside so we didn't have a choice. It was okay by me. 

Several months ago, I spoke with a neighbor who was a co-owner in a food truck. I asked him why we didn't see more of them around our little town. I thought he might say something about having not enough people, but he surprised me by saying the hoops the mobile restaurant must jump through are unbelievable. They must adhere to different city/county/state codes just to be able to set up shop and sell food. Some cities require a public restroom must be within so many feet of the truck and they must have permission of the restroom owner so the truck patrons can use their restroom.

And that's just one restriction from one city. After talking to my friend, I found it astonishing that the trucks even exist at all.

If you like fried food, Fry me to the Moon will hit the spot. Plus--they offer free doughnuts. I know I can't eat at a place like that every day, but every once in a while, when I leave work early to run errands, it's great. If you happen to be where this truck has set up shop, and you've got a hankering for some good fried food, give them a try. You'll be helping out an industry that has a lot of hoops through which to jump.

Thursday Is Food Truck Day...

I was going to pick up a burrito from the corner cart when I remembered it was Thursday. And on Thursdays the food trucks roll into the neighborhood and park about a block from my building.

I ran into my good friend Chantryce (who works even closer to the gathering spot than I do...) and since I hadn't visited the great Food Truck rodeo, I asked which one she recommended. They all looked SO good and I was very hungry. She suggested the Mongolian BBQ truck. I ran into another friend, BJ (he offered no suggestions...then again, I don't think I asked him, either).

I decided on the BBQ for a couple of reasons. First, because I trust my friend, and second, they had a huge line. The people had spoken! I ordered the pork bowl with Mongolian sauce, took it back to work and wolfed it down.

Now, I have to give two Mongolian sauce-covered thumbs up for the food. It was delicious! The only negative for me was the price. It looked like every truck's basic meal began at $8.00. This isn't necessarily bad, but that's too pricey for me for lunch. I live more in the $2-$4 per meal neighborhood.

So, if you find yourself near the tallest building in Utah around noon, look for the trucks, and enjoy!

Battle Creek BBQ And Gourmet Chuckwagon...Great Eats!

Yesterday my co-worker Troy and I went for an afternoon walk around the building where we work. As we came to a big parking lot that's just south of our building we saw a foot truck (more like a food trailer...) parked there so we thought we'd get a closer look.

And it smelled delicious!

We started chatting with the proprietors of Battle Creek BBQ & Gourmet Chuckwagon. Nice guys. We asked them when we might see their food truck in SLC. Every Thursday the food trucks gather about a block from where we work. I haven't yet participated in the food truck party (I hear it's kind of pricy...), but I'd like to.

The guys were in SLC trying to get their business permits so they could do business up north. It's funny because as they talked about all the hoops they needed to jump through with city and county governments, I wondered if they knew my friend and I were government workers. If so, they didn't let on. In fact, they had some food left over from their lunch service so they gave it to us.

Oh, MAN! It was SO good!

I'm here to say that if you ever get a chance to get some BBQ ribs from Battle Creek BBQ & Gourmet Chuckwagon, do not turn it down! I sure hope they can get their permits. It may just force me to participate in the food truck party.