Apparently, food trucks just got sexy. One night last week, this truck was on the corner of 19th St and 6th Ave in Manhattan. It looks like an ad for a strip club, but it’s seemingly a regular food truck that sells chicken or beef with rice platters and also blitzes. I couldn’t see what the food looked like, just the sodas in the glass case. I tried to go back the next day, but it was gone.
I’m happy to have Tio Wally (long-time Me So Hungry reader) aboard to send in his eating adventures from across America. Here he is in Andover, Massachusetts.
Greetings from Andover, Massachusetts
N 42° 36.3908’ W 071° 9.7237’ Elev. 118 ft.
A siren wailed when the vehicle arrived. I thought it was the cops or EMTs. Either would’ve explained the crowd that quickly surrounded the vehicle. Everybody wants to gawk. It turned out the vehicle that announced its arrival with an adrenalin-inducing clarion call was the Ballardvale Catering truck. Welcome to an early morning wake-up call in Andover.
I’ve delivered to too many places to recount and over the years I’ve seen and heard a lot of catering trucks. But I’ve never heard one with a freakin’ siren for a horn. I’ve heard regular horns, La Cucaracha (Spanish for “The Cockroachâ€) horns, and train horns, but never a freakin’ siren. If nothing else it gets your attention.
It turned out the Ballardvale Catering truck and its operator, Mark, embodied a classic Northeast tradition: Catering trucks that truly fulfill the needs of its customers. Because not only does he provide them with food, he also extends informal credit to patrons who are short on cash. This is a uniquely Northeast thing. I’ve never seen credit extended by catering trucks to its customers anywhere else.
Mark extends the credit and his customers always pay him the total amount they owe. No records are kept. It’s on the honor system. It works out well. After all, he knows where they work and, if they don’t pay their tab or try to short him, they get cut off and go hungry. It’s the perfect symbiotic relationship.
Besides the freakin’ siren, Mark’s truck was unusual as it contained something I’ve never seen on one: a pizza oven. In addition to fresh-baked pizzas, he also made fresh-baked chocolate chip and sugar cookies.
As is normal for catering trucks — affectionately called “roach coaches†by truck drivers — they carry a little bit of everything. In the hot case I noticed a bunch of grilled sausages. They turned out to be bratwursts, hot dogs, and hot and mild Italian sausages resting on a bed of grilled red and green bell peppers and onion.
I got a hot Italian sausage sandwich on a hoagie roll ($4). The sandwich consisted of two sausage links about 4 inches long, and had great flavor and a really, really nice “crunch.†Because I got to build the sandwich myself I loaded it up with plenty of those wonderful grilled peppers and onions. It turned out to be one of the most delicious, satisfying breakfasts I’d had in a long time.
I really failed myself at the Ballardvale Catering truck though. As I was taking pictures I noticed what looked like pierogies or empanadas in the hot case. I made a mental note to ask Mark what they were and then get one before I left. As per normal, I forgot and by the time I’d rushed back around the building he’d already rolled away. And so it goes.
And so we roll.
Ballardvale Catering, here and there in Andover, Massachusetts
Tio Wally pilots the 75-foot, 40-ton(max) land yacht SS Me So Hungry. He reports on road food from around the country whenever parking and InterTube connections permit.
Yesterday, Sam and I walked by this new Meatball food truck parked behind our office (near Madison Square Park & Eataly). It’s Marky Ramone’s (of The Ramones!) food truck, serving meatballs… head by this accomplished chef.
We were headed somewhere else to get food and I asked them when they’ll be back. They said tomorrow (which is today). I thought, “Oh shit. They are going to come back to this shitty spot because they think we are going to come back to get two meatballs?” I walk by this spot everyday and have seen so many lonely food trucks (with the exeption of Kimchi Taco Truck). When we walked back with our lunches, there was no one in line. I said hi. One guy smiled at me, then he saw my food and his smiled dipped. I was thinking, “Shit.” …and they did come back today.
I was pretty surprised that they were men of their word. Were they coming back to this shitty spot because now we were obligated to buy two meatballs? Luckily, there were a few people there in line. I felt relieved.
Sam got the Italian Original (beef balls) with Marky Ramone’s Marinara Sauce and I got the Asian (Pork), since Sam and I are both Asian. We swapped balls to taste each others. You can get them on a roll or with crisps (toasted bread chips or Fried Chinese Noodles for the Asian ones). The meatballs look good in the basket (as in the display), but they put them in plastic containers to go. See the last four photos.
Overall, they were pretty good. But I expected more from such a fiery looking truck with Marky Ramone’s name on it. I was expecting bold flavors or a kicked up spicy meatball that punched me in the face. They were quality balls, but not so rock n roll. Plus, are they worth $7?
I think this Meatball truck will fare better in Midtown or at least over to Park Ave and mid 20’s …not this shitty spot. It doesn’t do me any favors by telling people to park away from my office, but I’m just trying to help.
Marky Ramone’s Cruisin’ Kitchen – Facebook & Twitter
Here’s a new food truck that stopped by near Union Square when I was walking around looking for leather gloves. I know it’s unusually warm this time of year, but why is it always hard to find winter stuff in the winter? Everyone is selling Spring stuff now.
Anyway, this monster of a truck was pretty cool and dynamic looking …kinda like a big mechanical bull.
I ordered the Pork Pastor Tortas Sandwich (Pork Tenderloin marinated in their three chiles sauce). It was a nice clean looking and clean tasting sandwich, much to do with the bread and the nicer cut of tenderloin. A non-greasy sandwich that would probably do well with the general office crowd. However, it still had that zing with their authentic style red sauce, which got all over my face and fingers and coat and jeans. That’s a good thing.
It was a decent sandwich that could probably use some stringy white Oaxaca cheese, but did get good when I bit on the jalapeno.
Mexico Blvd Food Truck -Â http://mexicoblvd.com/
I finally tried the Korilla BBQ Truck. There was no line …well, I mean there was only 5 people vs a line down the block that I usually see if I pass by it.
The way you order is kind of like Chipotle. There’s a line of servers down the assembly line. You pick between tacos, burrito or rice bowl, but with Korean style meats. They even have salsa and cheese. Add kimchi and some veggies, then top it off with their specially made sauces.
Dang, this was so good. Really good. I got the Bulgogi Beef Bowl with everything ($8). The meat was super tender and they gave me a lot. You just can’t see in my photo, since it’s hidden under all that cheese. I thought I would need a knife for those big slices of beef, but I could easily bite it off.
The sauces are really good. I had them put on the Spicy Korilla sauce and the Smokey Mayo one. Hot, creamy and flavorful.
Now I understand why they have lines. Next time, I think I’ll forgo the cheese and the salsa. It just didn’t seem like a right match for my tastes. The salsa almost tasted like pineapple. Was there pineapple in there?
Korilla BBQ Food Truck – Manhattan, NY
There’s a food truck that now parks next to Trader Joe’s on 21st St and 6th Ave in Manhattan. There’s never a line. I feel bad for the guy. I got the beef stew $5. Pretty decent for no line truck.
Rusty and I were watching the Denver game last Sunday at O’Hanlon’s in the East Village, rooting for our boy Tebow. Yikes!
During half time, I walked around to try to figure out what’s the meaning of life after I just saw Tebow get smashed, smothered, and diced. I passed by the Halal truck on the South-East corner of East 11th St and 1st Ave. I’ve passed there many late nights before and it always smelled so good. Most of the time I see a cart there, but this day it’s a truck.
Got the Lamb & Chicken combo over rice with white sauce, hot sauce $6. Dang. This is some of the best and spiciest Lamb & Chicken combo I’ve had in a long time. The rice is very similar to the Famous Halal Guys on 53rd & 6th. But I like this better. They put slices of jalapeno in there for extra spiciness. The chicken is not chopped up as much as most halal carts. The flavor was tangy and spicy. I just might have a reason to go back to root for Tebow tomorrow.
I suppose being a professional athlete has it’s ups and downs just like the challenges of real life. Maybe last week loss is just a stepping stone to success. I hope Tebow learns from last week and becomes the best NFL winner in the world. So keep Tebowing.
Today at 6th Ave and 20th St NYC …this is the first time I’ve seen a food truck selling Grilled Cheese sandwiches without a line. Why does the other grilled cheese truck (Gorilla) have a crazy ass line? I really thought you couldn’t go wrong with selling $5+ grilled cheese in NY at the moment …crazy as that sounds. But there must be something more to a food truck’s success other than doing Twitter. What is it? Add Korean Tacos? Have something that rhymes with Gorilla, Korilla? Let me know, so I can open my own truck. Grilled cheese with foie gras. I saw it on Master Chef.
I wonder if you paid a bunch of people to stand in line, would people flock and the line will become self-perpetual?
