Set the DVRs, Eat St Episodes are Airing

In October 2012, which feels like eons ago, Eat St. crews came to Dallas to film five food trucks.  The Cooking Channel has the rights to air Eat St in the US and finally, after months of waiting the Dallas truck segments have begun airing and will continue airing through January 2014.

Green House Truck's segment on the episode entitled "The Bee's Knee's"  first aired on November 7.  If you missed it, I am sure The Cooking Channel will rerun it many times over during the coming months.

On Thursday, December 5 at 7:00 pm CST and again at 11:00 CST, Three Lion's segment will air as part of the "Tick, Tick, Kaboom!" episode. If you miss this episode, you can catch it again on December 8 at 6:00 pm CST and December 9 at 5:00 pm.

In a bit of scheduling irony, neither Green House nor Three Lions are currently running trucks. But no worries, the final three Dallas trucks that filmed for Eat St. are still operating daily.

Jack's Chowhound's segment will air on the "Hot, Haute Cuisine" episode on December 19 at 8:00 p.m CST, and again on December 22 at 6:00 pm CST and December 23 at 5:00. I recommend double checking all of these times with your own cable provider or the Cooking Channel schedule.

In another bit of irony, the two episodes where I was interviewed will air in back to back weeks. Both these segments were fun to be a part of....if you like eating and talking with a camera and microphone inches from your face. You can read about that in a prior post, found here.

On Thursday, December 26, the Nammi segment will air on the "Jamaican Me Hungry" episode at 7:00 pm CST and again on December 29 at 6:00 pm CST and again on December 30 at 5:00 pm CST.

And finally, start off 2014 with healthy eating on the "Local, Fresh, Wild" episode with Good Karma Kitchen. You can catch this episode on Thursday, January 2 at 7:00 pm CST and again on January 5 at 6:00 pm CS and January 6 at 5:00 pm CST.

I'm anxious to see these episodes. The Green House segment as a fun look at a truck that had great food. I have a feeling the other segments will be just as entertaining!

I can't stress enough that you should check with your cable provider to confirm these dates and times. I am going off the Cooking Channel schedule that is out weeks in advance and subject to change. If I hear of a change, I will post the information, but I may very well miss it.

Second Visit With All Of The Above Radio

On Tuesday I had my second interview with All of The Above Radio. Hank and I had a great visit about The Truck Yard, trucks that give back, some of my favorite trucks and the Texas Food Truckin' Festival.  Check out the podcast....

http://alloftheaboveradio.podomatic.com/entry/2013-10-22T22_24_03-07_00

The whole show is great so listen to all of it.  Or if you just have a couple of minutes, start around the 47 minute mark for my segment. 

Thanks for having me back Hank, it is always fun!

Irving's Food Truck Trend Via City of Irving TV

For those who don't know, I have a full-time job and this blog is a side hobby. My office is in Irving, which means the trucks that come to Irving get my attention first. (It's all about convenience.)  Irving has been an interesting case study for food trucks. When the food truck trend first started, Irving was front and center on the rotation and there was a loyal group of followers that would visit the trucks.  After just a few months, the restaurants on MacArthur began to complain about the competition and they had to find new places to set up.

Now, the food trucks cover to Irving less; generally only at lunch or at a special event on the weekend. The lunch service is always at an office building and there is usually only one truck serving.  However, several times a year you can find a mini-food truck festival in Irving when a corporation sponsors food truck day for their employees.

This past spring the City of Irving TV station contacted me, wanting to do a segment on the food trucks and their experiences in Irving. In talking to the producer, we decided it was best to film at one of these larger events so that they could show the variety of trucks with Irving permits.  Several weeks ago, LaQuinta Corporation hosted an event and we scheduled to have the TV station cameras come to film.




I am so appreciative of the City of Irving's TV station coming out to talk to the truck owners and also to me. I do have to confess, this interview was probably the most selfish food truck thing I have done; the more businesses in Irving that invite the trucks out and the more Irving consumers that eat at the trucks increases the trucks that I get to visit, eat from and blog about.  A huge thanks to Miley from Easy Slider, who is always willing to talk on camera and make it look easy to sling sliders while being filmed. 
 

New Trucks and Established Concepts Rolling in to DFW this Fall

As the weather cools off we should start to see more new trucks hitting the road. New truck roll outs started in September and October will bring a few more to the streets.

In a reopening of sorts, Rockstar Bakeshop is rocking again, under new owners.  The previous owners, Denver and Kristin Leonard closed the truck in May. In July it was purchased by a new owner, Craig Garza who spent the summer recreating the whoopie pies that we all had come to love. I was fortunate to try a taste test of the pies of the new owner and found them to be very good. You can follow Rockstar on Facebook and Twitter to find out where you can get whoopie pies again.

Picture from Taco Bueno's Facebook Page

I mentioned a few posts ago that I expected to start seeing more restaurants opening food trucks.  This will be not only local mom & pop restaurants but franchised trucks of established chain restaurants. Taco Bueno is one of the established brands that had opened a food truck in DFW. I had hoped to speak to someone at Taco Bueno about the truck but other than exchanging a few emails never was able to get full information. From the truck's Twitter account it looks like it will serve in both North Texas and South Oklahoma.  You can follow the truck on Twitter at TaGo Bueno Truck to find out where they will be serving.

And just as a note,  I have heard rumors that Chick Fil-A applied for a food truck permit in Fort Worth last month. I have tried to reach out to Chick Fil A but they haven't been forthcoming with their response. I know there is a Chick Fil-A truck in Washington DC, looks like DFW could be next on the list for a mobile restaurant.

Another truck that rolled out in September is Woké. This wok truck has a build your own dish menu where you choose your own type of noodle, vegetables, meat and sauce and they will wok it for you.  I am excited about this truck, which brings a style of cooking that has been lacking in the DFW streets. Woké has already served in Dallas and I am sure it won't take them long to get to Fort Worth. You can find them on Facebook and Twitter for specific locations.

Top Nosh is a truck that has set up in Fort Worth.  The menu is Asian fusion with tacos, banh mis and sloppy joes. You can find Top Nosh on Facebook and Twitter to get exact locations for this truck.

Speaking of restaurants opening food trucks, Fort Worth's Smokey's Barbecue has opened a food truck called The Q.   The Q will feature "Q Tips" as well as the meats currently served at the restaurant. You can get more details about the truck and where they will be operating on their Twitter page.

Mo Joe A Go Go will be the Metroplex's first full size coffee truck. In addition to serving fresh drip coffee the truck will serve lattes, mochas, loose leaf teas, espressos, and smoothies, along with fresh pastries.  Everything served is fresh including sustainable, organic coffees and there will not be GMO, high fructose corn syrup, or anything artificial served from the truck. Also, Mo Joe A Go-Go has partnered with Heifer International and will be donating a portion of ever sale to purchase farm animals for families and educate them on best methods of care for these animals in developing countries.  The truck should be rolling by the end of September and will first focus on the areas around the colleges in  Denton and Grayson Counties and South Oklahoma. You can follow Mo Joe A Go Go on Facebook and Twitter for more information on their opening date.

Photo from Mischa's Kitchen Facebook Page

Misha's Kitchen is DFW's first Russian food truck.  Their menu shows items such as pierogies, caviar sandwiches and crepes, Russian dumplings, cabbage rolls, Chicken Kiev and several other items.  I don't know the background of the owners of this truck, I am hoping they are Russian emmigrants and this food is true Russian style. Follow Misha's on Facebook and Twitter to find out when they open.

Flatlanders Taco Company  is the next taco truck to hit the streets of DFW.  The owners of this truck, Ashley and Ty grew up in the restaurant business. While living in Colorado they acquired the nickname "Flatlanders" which has been carried over to the truck name.  The tacos served off this truck will have a unique twist, with selections of crawfish, pork, avocado, chicken or pork serving as the base.  Each taco has its own accompanying salsa made of poblano cream or pineapple-habanero. The truck will also serve sides of street corn, avocado fries and avocado salsa. Flatlanders Taco Company is based in Grapevine and is working on service in that area and will also be at the Texas Food Truckin' Festival at the end of October. You can follow Flatlanders Taco Company on Facebook and Twitter for more information.

I am looking forward to trying these trucks and seeing what each brings to the streets of DFW.