“Foodie” Fridays in Austin
Often our weekends are extra busy with chores, shopping, sports and family activities. You want to eat out but can’t find the time to make a reservation or even decide where to eat. How about something different while you’re out and about – a food truck!
Austin is becoming known for its variety of food trucks – everything from breakfast to dessert and you can find one operating almost any time of the day or night! In fact, it’s become so popular, there is now a website called foodtrailersaustin.com that was created as a guide to track Austin’s delicious food trailers, food carts and mobile vendors. The site is organized by types of food and location. Most are on twitter making it easy to send a tweet and find out where your favorite truck is! Here is a sampling of food trucks serving Asian style food that I know you’ll enjoy!
1. ME SO HUNGRY http://mesohungryaustin.com/ @mesohungry
Christina Alfonso, who grew up here in Austin, decided it was time to take her passion and desire for food to a new degree. She wanted to perfect Asian cuisine by giving Austinites the taste of fresh, delicious dishes that her mom made for her as she was growing up. She worked for others for a number of years, but, needing more of a challenge she thought of running her own mobile vending catering truck. Using nothing but the best ingredients and flavors, she started creating dishes that would leave Austinites mouths watering for more of her food. In March of 2009, “Me So Hungry” was born serving a fusion of Mexican/Asian food and Vietnamese/French ingredients. The highlight of their menu is the “Banh Mi” sandwich which is Asian BBQ pork or chicken (also comes in a vegan version) with sliced cucumbers, jalapeno peppers, pickled carrots, cilantro topped with their signature sweet cilantro mayo on toasted French bread that is baked perfectly – crusty outside, soft on the inside. You might also like to try cucumber sashimi with slices of cucumber that are drizzled with lightly spiced ginger peanut sauce, toasted sesame seeds, a little lime and cilantro. For something on the sweet side try the “fat elvis rolls” which is rice paper rolled & lightly pan fried with a slice of caramelized banana and candied ginger topped with sweet peanut sauce, toasted black sesame seeds, honey and brown sugar. Yumm!! Whatever you order, you’re sure to enjoy it. According to Christine, “You’ve got to stick with what you know and just perfect it.” She’s done just that.2. CHI’LANTRO BBQ http://www.chilantrobbq.com/ @chilantrobbq
Tacos, burritos, quesadillas with french fries, hot dogs and hamburgers all in one place with a Korean slant. Where can that be? Welcome to Chi’Lantro, Austin’s own BBQ-to-go taco trailer ~ a Korean/Mexican fusion food truck and catering service. Among their favorites is the Chi’Lantro Korean burger – stacked high with Bulgogi [a Korean dish of grilled marinated beef, chicken or pork], grilled onions, cheese, soy vinaigrette salad and their orange sauce on a homemade bun. Or how about some Kimchi fries that consist of caramelized kimchi [which is a seasoned Korean vegetable dish], a mound of Korean BBQ, chopped grilled onions, cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese, cilantro, magic sauce, sriracha [made from sun ripened chilis that are ground into a smooth paste with garlic] and sesame seeds. All of that is sitting on top of crispy French fries. For something a little lighter, there is the Rice Bowl that is lime-buttered rice, soy vinaigrette salad, cilantro, onion, cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese with an option of a fried egg. Their quesadilla is large, filled with meat, kimchi, onions, cheese and the works on a tortilla that almost has a green onion pancake texture. 3. THE PEACHED TORTILLA http://thepeachedtortilla.com/ @peachedtortilla
The Peached Tortilla, founded by Eric Silverstein, is another mobile food truck which started operating back in September, 2010. Eric was born in Tokyo where he was influenced by Japanese, Chinese and Malayasian foods. He moved to Atlanta when he was 10 and was introduced to traditional southern “soul food”. That combination of food styles and his love for street food is what makes up The Peached Tortilla. Some of what you’ll find at the Peached truck is the Banh Mi Taco: On top of a flour tortilla is tender chunks of pork belly, crisp daikon (large Asian white radish) and carrot salad, creamy sriracha mayonnaise and fresh cilantro. All of that gives you a sweet & spicy taco. Or how about the Pad Thai Taco: Chicken or Tofu in Pad Thai sauce with bean sprouts, peanuts and lime. There’s also the BBQ brisket-dry rubbed brisket with creamy apple slaw and a smoky roasted BBQ sauce. If you’re not in the mood for meat, try the crunchy fish – southern spiced deep fried whitefish with the creamy apple slaw and some spicy mayo. For dessert, try the banana nutella wontons which are wontons stuffed with bananas and nutella deep fried and topped with a Mexican caramel cream sauce. Catering director Mark Tamiso, a professionally trained chef, says that “Tasting street food of local cuisines, no matter where in the world you might be, is a reflection of that culture’s spirit.” And, the spirit at The Peached Tortilla is doing just fine. The truck even shows up in front of our office!
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As always, local events and information are brought to you as a courtesy of Dorie Dillard,Coldwell Banker United Realtors, your NW Austin Real Estate Consultant. Please watch for future Dorie picks for Austin dining experiences!
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