Its back, Nov 19…. Farm to Food Truck Challenge II

November 19, 2011Leave a comment

Farm to Food Truck Challenge II

On Saturday, November 19, SoCo Certified Farmers’ Market will host its Farm to Food Truck Challenge II.

The event is a farmers’ market inspired cooking competition pitting top Gourmet Food Truck chefs against each other to create the best dish using locally grown farm fresh ingredients. Over 15 gourmet food trucks will be hosted during the weekly farmers’ market from 9am-2pm with selected trucks competing.

Food truck chefs will have only 60 minutes to shop the farmers’ market for its pre-determined seasonal ingredients and then whip up a culinary masterpiece. The dish will be served to a panel of top foodie judges to be judged on creativity, taste and presentation.

The winner will be crowned the ‘Top Chop’ Truck! The Challenge kicks off at 12pm, judging begins at 1pm and the Winner announced at 1:30pm. The festivities will also feature live music, kid-friendly activities and plenty of free parking. The event is held in conjunction with the SoCo Certified Farmers’ Market, which is held every Saturday at South Coast Collection (“SoCo”) (the 3300 block of Hyland Ave) in Costa Mesa from 9am-2pm.

Our first Farm to Food Truck Challenge witnessed Bacon Mania being crowned ‘Top Chop’ Truck. The event had over 3,500 people in attendance with over 20 farmers’ market foodies, bloggers, photographers and volunteers capturing all the action.

Schedule

9:00 The SoCo Farmers’ Market opens!
11:00 Judges arrive
12:00-1:00 Chefs dash, grab, plan, & cook! (60 minutes allotted)
1:00 Judging begins
1:30 Winner crowned Top Chop Truck

Competition Trucks (subject to change without notice)
Home Skillet
Piaggio
Seabirds
The Flip Truck
Taco Maria
SlapFish

Farm to food truck 1 winner: Baconmania

About SoCo Certified Farmers’ Market

SoCo Certified Farmers’ Market is held every Saturday at South Coast Collection (3315 Hyland Avenue, Costa Mesa) from 9am-2pm and features the best fruits and vegetables that California farmers’ have to offer along with a rotation of top gourmet food trucks and other traditional farmer market fare. For more info, please visit: http://www.socofm.com/

Nov 18:Lake Forest, Habitat for Humanity

November 18, 2011September 18, 2015Leave a comment

Just added: Tamarindo, BaconMania and the Viking truck.

Santa Ana: Taco Maria

November 18, 2011September 18, 2015Leave a comment

Hanger Steak taco

Grilled corn

Santa Ana: Rancho a Go Go

November 18, 2011September 18, 2015Leave a comment

Pulled Pork Sliders

Chef Jason’s Playground is now open

November 17, 2011Leave a comment

Chef Jason Quinn, formerly from the Lime Truck, opened his own restaurant called Playground located at 220 E. Fourth Street in downtown Santa Ana.

I was invited to the soft opening on Wednesday, November 16, and my friends and I decided to order everything from the menu and share.

The menu looked like a flashback of all the favorites that the Lime Truck once served. To me, the food that Jason created is why I became such a fan of the Lime Truck!

The food is made fresh, by hand, and based on seasonal availability. Melissa Produce is the main produce supplier, Blackmarket Bakery does their desserts, and portions are tapas style, easy for sharing with friends. In fact, its best if you bring a group of friends so you CAN try everything! It truly is a feast for the eyes and palate.

The restaurant has a full bar, with beers on tap from the local breweries.

The official opening date is Friday, November 18. There’s 2-hour meter parking around the area (free after 8pm) and a parking garage a block away. Playground is opened at 11:00 am and closes when the last customer leaves (that’s what Jason said!). They are closed on Mondays.

Follow them on twitter at @PlaygroundDTSA

Welcome to Playground

The list of beers on tap

Brussel sprouts with country ham

Butternut squash with Duck Confit

Tandori chicken

The dining area is communal style

The Playground Burger

Blistered shishito peppers with edamame

Duck fat fries

Pork bellies in a steamed bun

Handmade buccatini

Homemade pickles

Chopped salad

Our bread, your butter

PEI Steamed Mussels

Risotto with fresh moscovy duck

Queso Fundido with House goat chorizo, ghost chili, queso chihuahua & corn chips

Homemade gnocchi

Chef Jason saying hello

Hangar steak with creamed spinach

Farmer Daughter’s pudding

Thanksgiving woopie pie

Nov 20: Irvine Food and Music Festival

November 10, 2011September 18, 2015Leave a comment

Fullerton: Slummin Gourmet

November 3, 2011September 18, 2015Leave a comment

On Wednesday nights, you can find a token LA food truck at Troy High School. I caught up with the Slummin’ Gourmet and tried their “Warrior special” the steamed mussels, and Karen had the walnut shrimp tacos.

Steamed black mussels with chorizo, saffron broth

Honey Walnut Shrimp tacos

Irvine: Taco Maria

November 3, 2011September 18, 2015Leave a comment

Taco Maria certainly does not serve your average, run of the mill street food tacos and burritos.

Aracherra taco is marinated hanger steak, grilled with a charred shisito pepper, bacon and onions. The carnitas a la naranja taco is tender pork that is slow roasted with a dash of cinnamon and orange and topped with avocado, radish and cilantro.

For dessert, the flan de queso, made with farmer’s cheese in a luscious caramel sauce with raspberries.