Gourmet Food Trucks may sound like an oxymoron, especially being that less than three years ago these food trucks were affectionately referred to as Roach Coaches to us local Angelenos. However, if you live or work in Los Angeles, you may have seen an increase in the number of food trucks that are parked in front of your workplace or favorite bar/club. In fact, food trucks are so popular that The Food Network has a new reality show called, The Great Food Truck Race w/Tyler Florence, which airs on Sunday nights at 9pm/8c. Seven Roach Coach teams…er, huh, I mean, "Gourmet Food Truck" teams drive cross country and compete to sell the most food in hopes of winning the $50,000 prize at the end of the road trip. The team that makes the least profit in each episode is eliminated. The seven food trucks that are showcased in this "Amazing Race on Wheels" serve foods ranging from banana pudding to escargot! Yes, folks, I said escargot, or for those of you who slept during French class, SNAILS!
I must admit I was very apprehensive about eating from a food truck, because the food trucks that I recall from my childhood days were old, broke down and just looked downright nasty. "Was I going to bite into a roach?" "Do they even wash their hands before they cook the food?" "Do they serve their customers real beef or jackass meat?" These were the thoughts that crept through my mind whenever I saw a food truck. That was until one of my co-workers convinced me to buy breakfast from the food truck that was always parked in front of our office building. She said that she bought breakfast from this same truck every Friday and that they have the best breakfast burrito in Los Angeles, GUARANTEED. "The BEST breakfast burrito in Los Angeles?," I asked, "Yeah right!" That was a bold statement being that there is a hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant on every corner claiming to have the "best" breakfast burrito in Los Angeles. And trust me; we Angelenos know our breakfast burritos. Nevertheless, I was up for the challenge and decided to try the combo breakfast burrito, which consisted of eggs, bacon, chorizo, cheese, and freshly homemade salsa all wrapped up in a warm flour tortilla. "It looks and smells good," I thought to myself, "but, does this bad boy taste as good as it looks and smells?" I bit into the burrito and my taste buds began doing the cabbage patch dance as they begged me for more! OMG, this was the best darn breakfast burrito in Los Angeles and to my surprise, it came from a freakin' Roach Coach!!!
I have been sold on food trucks ever since that warm winter Southern California day! I now consider myself to be a food truck foodie and it is my mission to try every single food truck that roams the streets of Los Angeles. So far my favorite food truck to date is Longboards Ice Cream Truck, which is the uber-chic adult version of the ice cream trucks of our youth. Okay, ya'll get this…the ice cream is shaped like a surfboard on a stick, which is then dipped in your choice of Ghirardelli chocolate (milk chocolate or dark chocolate), and then dipped in your choice of toppings that include almonds, crushed oreos, sprinkles, etc. My favorite flavor is the O.G. (strawberry ice cream bar drizzled with caramel, dipped in milk chocolate, and dipped w/almonds on one side and crushed waffle cones on the other). All of this deliciousness for only $3.00!!! Can't beat that folks! If you are a local and would like to find out when Longboards will be surfing through a neighborhood near you, make sure you follow them on twitter or "like" 'em on Facebook. Until next time, have a FABULOUS evening and I'll talk to you tomorrow!
Ciao,
Simply & Naturally Nikki
**Follow me on Twitter at naturally_nikki**
