From the Skillet Airstream Trailer in Seattle, WA to Torchy’s Tacos in Austin, TX and from Jin’s Chicken and Fish in Madison, WI to the Jamaican Dutchy in New York City, the prized “food truck” is the hot (semi) new way to experience great cuisine. It seems like every day a new one is popping up on a different corner in New York City; pizza, dumplings, Taiwanese fried chicken, tacos, cupcakes…you name it, trucks are putting out our favorite foods. But is the food really up to par? Or is it just “cool” that the food is coming out of a truck and I never know what block it will be parked at? Has the curiosity hit me so deep that it leaves me chasing these trucks around the city?
I thought of many different directions to take this post, such as the geographic locations of trucks, the variety of foods they offer, the lines that wrap around the block, the Wall Street worker turned truck owner, etc. My point is this: trucks should not overlook the importance of quality and consistency. To any future “Truckapreneurs,” I don’t mean to sound bitter, but here’s the thing: if you plan on starting a truck, please give us something a little better than average, at least. You go through this whole process, blogs hear about you, you hit the streets, and all of a sudden a sub-par product is all the rage.
Please tell me you agree with me. If you go to a truck that sells one item such as, oh let’s say, a cupcake – am I wrong to say that it better be a damn good cupcake? In fact, I think it should be one of the best cupcakes I have ever eaten. After all, you don’t have a whole bakery and multiple items to maintain, you have one thing to excel at, and that is a cupcake. Are my expectations too high? If you’re going to prep and cook an item and sell it for a few hours or more a day, don’t we as customers have the right to get a tasty, delicious, and well thought out item? Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had my fair share of darn good food from a truck, but I’ve also had below average as well. Is a quality cupcake too much to ask for?
Now, part of my commitment to writing about food overall is that I don’t like to dwell on the negatives; rather I like to shed light on the positives. After all, I’m a product of the restaurant industry and I only wish it great success. On that note, it seems the next truck on my radar is the La Cense Beef Burger Truck. The burgers are made from all grass-fed beef and I can confidently say that with Adam Perry Lang developing the burger recipe, mark my words, they will be putting out a tried and true good quality burger. So on that note, get ready to hit that “follow” button on Twitter to see exactly where it’s parked.
Truck off!
Skillet: http://skilletstreetfood.com
Torchy’s Tacos: www.torchystacos.com
Jin’s Chicken and Fish: http://jinschickenandfish.com
The Jamaican Dutchy: www.midtownlunch.com/2007/06/13/the-jamaican-dutchy-a-midtown-cart-on-island-time
La Cense Beef Burger Truck: www.thrillist.com/new-york/burger-truck
