As the recession claims more and more restaurants, and makes it increasingly difficult for new restaurateurs to break into the business the old-fashioned way, the nascent truck trend has provided a less expensive way to break into the city’s always-expanding food culture. This month alone, several new trucks have popped up on the streets, ideal for outdoor summer enjoyment! We haven’t had a chance to try all of these yet, so if you have, let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Schnitzel & Things: Schnitzel may sound simple, just a hand-pounded, fried cutlet of meat, but since the Germans and Austrians have loved it for centuries, you might as well see what all the fuss is about. This truck has chicken, pork, and cod schnitzel on hand, which can be served as a sandwich on ciabatta bread for $4-$7 or as a platter with two sides for $6-$10. These sides are no french fries and mac ‘n cheese, I’ll have you know. Offerings include a roasted beet and feta salad, a green lentil salad, and an Austrian potato salad, among others. Your sandwich or platter also comes with one condiment, which can range from such staples as ketchup and mustard to the more adventurous options like lemon caper emulsion or ginger, scallion, and garlic relish.
Tripie Crêpe & Coffee Cart: Sure, you’ve seen crêpe carts all over the city and at every street fair you’ve stumbled upon. But have you ever come across one that stocks guacamole or melted Milky Way as possible fillings? The folks behind Tripie, whose deceptively simple name means “chocolate” in Hebrew, have come up with 8 crêpe filling combinations ($4.99 each) using their arsenal of fillings both conventional and unconventional, savory and sweet. Or, for $2.50 plus $0.75 per topping, you can create your own. Who knows? Maybe yours will be the next added to the menu.
Bistro Truck: This French-Moroccan food truck hasn’t even started serving yet, but with a mention on Serious Eats and other food blogs to its name, the food’s certainly got some buzz to live up to. No official word yet on when Bistro Truck will be open for business, but we’re expecting to see it hit the streets any day now. The ambitious menu offers “hors d’oeuvres,” entrées, and desserts. Highlights include lamb and chicken “cigar” appetizers, a merguez sandwich that’s sure to please, and for the veggies out there, a vegetable tagine. That’s right, a tagine served from a truck. Times really are changing.
Posted by: Kim Partrick
Schnitzel & Things
Price: $
Location: Varies. For updates, follow the truck on Twitter.
Veggie Friendly? N
www.schnitzelandthings.com
Tripie Crêpe & Coffee Cart
Price: $
Location: 8th Street and 4th Avenue
Veggie Friendly? Y
Tripie’s Facebook
Bistro Truck
Price: $
Location: Varies. For updates, follow the truck on Twitter.
Veggie Friendly? Y
