Thursday, December 2, 2010

An Open Letter to Food Trucks (Monkey Goggles)

Hi there. I really like the idea behind what you do — a literal movable feast. Thing is, the movable part seems to be a bit broken. Sure, your modded-out old school bus has a kitchen big enough for you to make some red velvet pad thai sliders, and I’m sure they are quite delicious, but can it bring them to me? No. I didn’t think so.

Your creativeness in the kitchen is not being taken to task here, just your mobility. I know that if challenged, you can come up with wonderful things to whip up and dole out on the fly. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Mini doughnuts. There really is no excuse for the non-existence of mini doughnut trucks. They could patrol schoolyards at recess, downtown offices in the afternoons, college campuses at happy hour and make a run by concert venues and hipster bars in the evening. A last-call stop at my favorite dive pub would certainly be appreciated.

Pho. I’m picturing insulated containers of beef, chicken, and veggie both and bowls pre-loaded with noodles. Let the patrons add their broth from spigots on the outside of the truck. So quick, so easy, you could patrol an entire neighborhood, dispensing tasty and healthful soup to the work-a-day masses, in less than 30 minutes.

Mashed potatoes. These could, would, and should look exactly like old school ice cream trucks. Instead of chocolate and vanilla ice creams, there would be traditional Yukon Gold, roasted garlic, and broccoli cheddar taters. Instead of cones, there would be savory rosemary waffles. Instead of chocolate and butterscotch sauces, there would be gravies of all sorts. One scoop or two?
Deli sandwiches. I mean really good deli sandwiches. Starting with the basics – roast beef with horseradish sour cream; turkey and cranberry sauce; bacon, lettuce, and avocado; peanut butter and jelly with the crusts cut off – and moving on to the truly remarkable. The aforementioned red velvet pad thai sliders… Why not? Or how about a grilled tempeh with sprouts and tarragon? Ham with apple butter, honey, and mixed greens? Just please nothing resembling a caprese. Those are so last year.

Fruits and vegetables. A mobile fruit stand. A salad bar. Something healthy for those times when you just really want an apple and the closest thing you can find to a piece of produce in the vending machine at work is a bag of Fudge Stripe cookies.

Waffles and coffee. Really. On any given Saturday morning, the dulcet tones of the neighborhood waffle truck would be the most welcome sound in the world. I’d put on some slippers, don a ratty robe, and run out to greet it, eyes full of hope and a fistful of crumpled $5 bills in my hand.
This is my wish, oh food trucksters. Thank you for your consideration.

No comments:

Post a Comment