Barcelona on the Go: Lentil soup, Sirloin tacos, and Shephard’s Pie

October 27, 2011September 18, 2015Leave a comment

My sister and guest blogger Becky underestimates Esteban from Barcelona on the Go….

Shephards Pie

Esteban from Barcelona on the Go really knows what his customers want to eat. That shouldn’t be much of a surprise considering he’s got a successful food truck cranking out consistent and amazing food.

Two weeks ago, he served a Spanish Shepherd’s Pie. It was served piping hot in its own individual container filled generously with a mixture of ground beef/lamb, peas, carrots and topped with mashed sweet potatoes and diced pancetta. I really hope he will serve it again because that dish easily ranked as one of my favorites on his menu (see photo above). At the time, he claimed he knew I was going to order it. I brushed his prediction aside, thinking that he could not possibly know me well enough.

This time around, I was about to place my order when he said, “I know what you are going to order.”

I paused for a moment and stared at him.
“Really?” I asked skeptically.
“Yes,” he grinned.
“Okay,” I challenged, “What am I going to order?”
“You’re going to order the soup,” he answered without a hint of hesitation in his voice.

He tweeted earlier that he was serving his chorizo and lentil soup for lunch. He doesn’t serve soup too often, but when he does, it’s always worth ordering.

Generous chunks of chorizo simmered with perfectly cooked lentils made this soup hearty and satisfying enough to get through any cold, dreary day. The soup was served with two pieces of garlic toast to complete the dish.

“Could I also add a sirloin taco to my order?” I asked.
His sirloin tacos with roasted corn salsa are one of his staple items that is another favorite of mine.
“Absolutely,” he said.
I bet he didn’t think I was going to order that.
On second thought, I bet he did.

Chorizo & Lentil Soup

Sirloin Steak Taco

TropShaveIce creates "brick and mortar" with Shrimp Guys

October 23, 2011Leave a comment

There’s a new restaurant in West Covina that should look very familiar to Gourmet Food Truck fans. Orange County’s Tropical Shave Ice and LA’s Shrimp Guys joined forces and opened a “brick and mortar” with two restaurants under one roof.

I tracked down the restaurant, located in a busy strip mall near the 10 freeway in a prime location right next to the street. The menu for Tropical Shave Ice is more extensive than the truck’s menu, with a lot more syrup flavors, more “Fusion” choices, and more fruit selection. Rick also added frequent “punch cards” which are also valid on the Tropical Shave Ice truck.

The night we arrived, they were revealing the menu for Rich’s Shrimp Shack, the co-business at the location. The shrimp menu was similar to the Food Truck, but the Hawaiian menu added the touch to make the restaurant very island-friendly.

They are still touching up the place, but the restaurant is open for business. The neon sign is still being made, so look for the “Now Open” banner and anticipated the completion to be in November.

Fans will be happy that food prices are also similar to the food truck, except tax is added at the register. Find Tropical Shave Ice/ Rich’s Shrimp Shack at 1001 S. Glendora in West Covina. It’s two restaurants sharing one roof, so operating hours will vary.

Rick Kukahiko helping a customer with their shave ice purchase

Unveiling of the new menu

Rich’s Shrimp Shack menu

Tropical Shave Ice menu

An 808 Shave Ice with azuki red beans and “snow cap”

Follow Tropical Shave Ice on Twitter at @Tropshaveice

Garlicscape at Sinister Pointe on Saturday nights

October 21, 2011September 18, 2015Leave a comment

Garlicscape is another new food truck that have hit the streets of LA and OC. They were recently at South Bay Din Din on Thursday. GFT foodie David found out on Saturday nights you can find them at Sinister Pointe in Brea, an independent “haunted house” attraction located at 195 Arovista Circle in Brea, CA.

For info on the event go to http://www.sinisterpointe.com/

Follow them on twitter at @Garlicscape

Photo courtesy of David Fernandez

Fullerton: Lime Truck, Dos Chinos and more on Wed nites

October 19, 2011September 18, 2015Leave a comment

Curbside Bites

October 19, 2011September 18, 2015Leave a comment

Follow @CurbsideBites for Food Trucks at various LA and Orange County High Schools: WhitneyHS, CharterOakHS, LoaraHS, TroyHS, CerritosHS, DowneyHS, SunnyHillsHS

MONDAY
Whitney High School
16800 Shoemaker Ave
Cerritos, CA 90703

TUESDAY
Charter Oak High School
1430 East Covina Blvd
Covina, CA 91724

WEDNESDAY
Loara High School
1765 W Cerritos Ave
Anaheim, CA 92804

WEDNESDAY
Troy High School
2200 E Dorothy Lane
Fullerton, CA 92831

THURSDAY
Cerritos High School
12500 183rd St
Cerritos, CA 90703

FRIDAY
Downey High School
11040 Brookshire Ave
Downey, CA 90241

The Lime Truck

October 18, 2011Leave a comment

Bok Choy and Pork Belly Parmesan sandwich

Street Food Alliance: Tasty Tuesday

October 18, 2011September 18, 2015Leave a comment

The Lime Truck 101 for newbies

October 17, 2011September 18, 2015Leave a comment

It’s not a secret that I have eaten at the Lime Truck more times than I can count. I’ve been following them almost right from the start.. some may say that I have given new meaning to “chasing a food truck” when I followed them to Las Vegas, Salt Lake City and Miami.

Thanks to their much deserved success of winning the Great Food Truck Race 2, I forget that there are now a lot of people who are discovering the Lime Truck for the first time.

Ok newbies…. Here’s a brief description on some of their popular menu items. I won’t tell you which one to try, but if you have a friends… I suggest getting one of each and sharing!

Lamb Sandwich – This lamb sandwich was one of the original items on their ever changing menu. Though other items have since came and went, the lamb sandwich is here to stay. Also known as “Slammin’ Lambing Sandwich” and “Yum Yum Lamb Sandwich” (in addition to other creative names), one thing that never changes is that it is always listed at the top of their menu.

Carnitas Taco – Another original item on the Lime Truck menu that, like the lamb sandwich, will always be on the menu. This taco was one of the first dishes I had ever tried from them. The minute I took my first bite, I was an instant fan. The pork is slow roasted for several hours so that it is tender, succulent and full of flavor. The tortilla holds itself well against the mountain of pork that is stuffed inside, ready to burst from the seam. One of these tacos are filling enough to serve as a meal, though, there’s always room for something else!

Carnitas taco

Lamb Sandwich

Ahi Poke Nachos

Carnitas Fries – Another original item on the menu that will never go away, it’s essentially carnitas from the taco over a bed of fries. It’s awesome. It’s always a crowd favorite. Enough said!

Ceviche – It initially debut as just blue crab ceviche. Each bite was loaded with so much crab, that it was worth paying a little more for this dish compared to their other items. At the time, I think this dish was supposed to be a seasonal item because it wasn’t always available after it initially debut. Though it now seems to have a regular spot on their menu, it is also never prepared exactly the same each time I order it. Depending on the season/availability, it may also include scallops and shrimp. Once you try it, you will understand why it is consistently titled, “Award Winning Ceviche.”

Ahi Poke Nachos – This dish debut shortly after the ceviche. I remember first eating this dish around the summertime because I thought it was such a perfect summer dish. Like the ceviche, this dish wasn’t always available, but has now gained enough followers to earn a well deserved regular spot on their menu. It is also never prepared exactly the same each week. Other variations in the past have included the addition of edamame, diced avocados, and chopped peppers. Sometimes it does not include the pickled vegetables.

Roasted Corn – The newest item that debut during the Great Food Truck Race now appears to be a regular on the menu. This dish seems deceptively simple (come on, it’s just corn, right?), however, once you try it, you will realize it is anything but that. The combination of the roasted corn with the cheese and sauce makes it one dish that is worth the mess it causes all over your hands and around your mouth.

Roasted corn

The Lime Aid – Any newbie to Lime Truck has to complement their meal with one of these. The selection changes daily, and depending on the season. Note: If you get to the truck too late, they will sell out!!