New Food Truck Park in Downtown Dallas is Open!

You know we're big fans of food trucks and they've come a long way since the roach coaches of yore. The newest spot where you can satiate your food truck cravings is downtown at 222 Browder Street, basically in the open space between AT&T and DP&L (between Commerce and Jackson Street). You can check out the daily food truck schedule and other details at their site Browderstreetplaza.com

As it starts to cool off we're sure this will become a happening new downtown lunch spot. They've already got life size Jenga, art projects for the kids and picnic tables to chill and relax. On the horizon is some event programming with the potential of movie nights and live music. Sounds like fun!

Texas Food Truckin' Fest at Globe Life Park in Arlington April 25-26

You love food trucks. Who doesn't? Well, the best food trucks from around the state are set to be at the Globe on April 25th and 26th so you can finally check out that great food truck from Austin or Houston that you keep hearing about. Plus, all your Dallas favorites will be there too. 

You can get discount admission to the fest by bringing a non-perishable food donation for the North Texas Food Bank. Here's where you can get all the deets.

Spring Break Block Party in the Dallas Arts District!

On March 14th (Friday!), Dallas Arts District is helping you celebrate Spring Break by closing down Flora and Harwood streets to throw an EPIC Arts Block Party!

Starting at 6:00 pm, the Dallas Museum of Art, Crow Collection of Asian Art, and Nasher Sculpture Center are hosting this free family event. Grab dinner or dessert from gourmet food trucks lining the streets as you enjoy all three museums and participate in special activities, live concerts, guided tours, films, and more!

Click here for all the artsy details.

Lunch Quick Bite: Green House Food Truck

I wanted Green House to wow me for lunch. It's sunny, it's 70, and the lines weren't that long. The Arts District Food Truck area has actually moved over in front of the Winspear, which is a much better location than the previous parking between the Belo Mansion and a parking lot/construction zone. The scene was pretty much perfect for wowing, but it just didn't quite do it.

I'd heard that Green House was doing short rib sandwiches, and I immediately wanted to check it out. It's officially a beef short rib sandwich with horseradish cream and baby greens. So I wandered over, enjoyed the sunshine and waited in line. Watching the guy taking the orders try to do math in his head and then have to write it down didn't inspire a whole lot of confidence in his charging abilities, so I added up the cost of my sandwich, chips and drink on my own. Except I couldn't. Not because I'm math retarded, thanks. The short rib sandwich was a special and didn't have a price listed. Looking at the fact the other sandwiches were in the $7-$8 range, I figured it would be about the same. So, when I get to the front of the line and order from the math wonderboy, he told me the total was $14.07, I was like what? How much is that sandwich? He tells me it's $9.50. (Add in chips for $1.50 and drink for $2. Really? $2 drink?) Um, ok, not normally what I'd spend on a sandwich, particularly one that doesn't come with chips. Seriously, it's kind of annoying to be expected to pay almost $10 for a sandwich and only get . . . a sandwich. Yes, I know I can go other places, but I didn't. They call my name a few minutes later and I snag my food and a spot to eat. (Dear Dallas Arts District, you could invest in some more picnic tables and nobody would complain)

I open up their environmentally friendly clamshell (points for being green.) and the short rib sandwich was pretty. Big meaty pieces of short rib and I was excited for the first bite. So I took it. It was good. The short rib was tender and clearly cooked well. The horseradish cream could have used a little more horseradish. And the baby greens, well, they were just mixed greens. There's clearly some creative license in the menu creation for most places, so nobody is getting beaten up on that one. The sandwich was good. It really was. But for freaking $9.50 just for a sandwich, I think I should be allowed to expect better than just good.

And yes, I'm whining about the prices. Not because I mind paying for good food, but because their prices are higher than other food trucks. $14 for lunch at a food truck just seems a little high. But I make these sacrifices so you get to know what's going on out there. You're welcome.

Definitely not disappointed to have spent the calories on that sandwich, but a little disappointed that I paid almost $10 for it. Would I give Green House another short, probably. But that's because I'm still enjoying the sugar high from Limonata Pellegrino I got there.

Food Truck Rally Saturday - The Butcher's Son, Gandolfo's, Ruthie's & The Cup Cakin Machine!

Free Food from Carl Jr's

I totally stole this from the City of Ate Blog. Go check out their site if you want to see the pic of the star mascot.


​Carl's Jr. seems extremely exited to be opening its 50th restaurant in Texas this Saturday at550 W. I-30 in Garland. To commemorate the occasion they are deploying a food truck, which will hit this city over the next few days with free samples of burgers, fries and drinks.

Below are the time and location coordinates, in case you want to hurt your insides with some Ranch-soaked criss-cut fries (they better have Ranch, anyway):

• Wednesday at 6501 Hillcrest from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. 


• Thursday in Uptown at 3418 McKinney from 9:00 - 11:00 p.m.

• Final stop, Friday at The Granada Theatre from 10:00 p.m. - midnight.

In addition to the samples in the roving Star Diner, the first 50 customers at their new location in Garland will receive a coupon for a free burger on their next visit. As a bonus, the chain's mascot Happy Star will be on hand at all the events with his "Wheel-of-Awesome" to give away t-shirts and coupons. Boy, their marketing team totally nailed it by sending Happy Star and his "Wheel" to The Granada on a Friday night. The free burgers and fries will at least do well.

Be a Food Truck VIP for Half Price!

We all know I'm a huge fan of food trucks. I think today's Living Social Deal might have been designed for me. It's VIP, it's cheap (relatively) and it's benefiting a good cause. Check it ou:


It has indeed been drier all summer than a slab of Texas toast with no butter, but other parts of the world are facing an even drier spell. Today's deal for a VIP ticket from Ten for 10: Water for Africa is a unique way to give the world water crisis a kick in the pants while sampling some of Dallas's finest fare. Just $50 gets you a VIP ticket to the Food Truck Smackdown at Sunset Lounge on Friday, October 21, where a caravan's worth of local cuisine goes head to head to gain your favor (a $100 value). With your ticket, you'll enjoy a private happy hour, a goody bag full of treats, a preview of the night's events, a sampling of each food truck's dishes, live musical entertainment, and the chance to vote for your favorite truck. Get swept up in this flood of foodie fun and philanthropy before it dries up.


Get your deal here!

New Food Truck in Town & They're Giving You FREE stuff: The Butcher's Son

Grand opening festivities and first locations for customers include:

· Wednesday, Oct. 5, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., in The Dallas Arts District
**First 25 people receive a free menu item and wristbands for weekly specials, such as free Cake Pops, BOGO offers and monthly deals for life!

**Second 25 people receive half-price menu items
· Thursday, Oct. 6, from 8 to 10 a.m. at Preston Commons
· Thursday, Oct. 6, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. at Sigel’s Greenville
**Bring a Friend Day – Every person who brings a friend receives a free sandwich, while supplies last
· Friday, Oct. 7, from 7 to 10 a.m. in The Dallas Arts District
**Free Breakfast Friday – First hour free, while supplies last
· Friday, Oct. 7, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in The Dallas Arts District
**Free Cake Pops, while supplies last
· Saturday, Oct. 8, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Sunflower Farmers Market
**College Game Day - First 25 people in college gear get a free Bratwurst

Details on the truck’s location, as well as for more information on featured specials, can be found on Twitter, @TheButchersSon and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/TheButchersSon.

About The Butcher’s Son

The Butcher’s Son, a Dallas-Fort Worth area food truck, brings local food enthusiasts street food with a gourmet twist flavored by world-famous Johnsonville Sausage and Pool’s Restaurant Group. Mixing fresh, high-quality ingredients and unique fl avors, The Butcher’s Son was created to bring high-quality meals without compromising taste and value. The Butcher’s Son travels seven days a week throughout the Dallas area, providing food to consumers in areas such as universities, businesses and festivals.

For details on the truck’s location, as well as for more information on featured specials, follow the truck on Twitter, @TheButchersSon and “like” the truck on Facebook, www.facebook.com/TheButchersSon.

The Food Truck Parade Continues - Jack's Chowhound

The intern walks into my office around 11:45 and tells me she's going to Subway for lunch. I say, "um, are you sure you wouldn't rather join me on my foodtruck adventure?" "Another one? Is it a different one" she asks.(she went on the Gandolfo's adventure last week and got tricked into eating a spicy kimchee fry yesterday, how was I to know she didn't like spicy, but she did, so it was fine.)  "Yes, another one. Jack's Chowhound is here today. No, I don't know exactly what they serve, but I'm sure it will be good." She said ok, but I think it's b/c she's now counting the hours until she's done with this fabu internship and she's going to miss us like bunches and bunches. Or maybe we'll miss her like that, but I digress.

So, intern and I trek through the death heat over to the food truck. Jack's Chowhound it is. Their menu includes pulled pork grilled cheese, spicy steak sammmies, portabello burger, meatball sliders, a Texas dog and several other offerings including fresh fries - either plain or with cajun seasoning. I opted for the pulled pork grilled cheese and the intern went with the portabello burger. Before I get to the food (spoiler alert: it was awesome!), I need to talk about the price tag. Her burger was $7 and my pulled pork grilled cheese was $8. Add on a bottled soft drink ($2), and all of a sudden my meal is $10. I don't mind the $10 price tag THAT much, but come on, couldn't they throw in a side of fries or chips? Just seemed a little steep for a sandwich.

Moving on to said pulled pork sandwich. It was amazing. Like, for real deal, A-MA-ZING. Texas toast, plenty of pulled pork, a little BBQ sauce and melted gouda cheese. Good call on the gouda, boys. Yes, I griped about the price, but it's only b/c the sandwich I like at Samar is also $8 and it comes with a side salad. See, I'm just saying. But the fantastic combo of pulled pork and grilled cheese was pretty darn amazing and I may grab the Sig-O and go up to Inwood Tavern for one on Thursday or Friday night (that's when they hang out there selling their yummy upscale bar food).

Intern thoroughly enjoyed her portabello burger, which says a fair bit since she's a picky eater. And she didn't share, which generally means someone really likes their food. Again, she wasn't thrilled by the price tag (she's an intern, they are poor by nature and by lack of salary), but she said it was a damn good burger. Ok, she didn't say damn, but she meant to. It's a heck of a burger for being meatless.

All in all, another successful food truck adventure. Jack's may be prowd of his food, but he's got every damn right to be. Next time I'll just have Sig-O take me there.

Food Truck Love Continues: SSahmBBQ

I told the Sig-O this morning that I may have to go on a personal quest to check out all the awesome new gourmet food trucks in Dallas. The good news is that I don't have to go far since they keep showing up in the Arts District for breakfast and lunch. The self-restraint that it takes to walk directly to my office every morning instead of detouring to get a fabu breakfast taco is mind-boggling.

Today's lunch selection was SSahmBBQ. They serve gourmet Korean tacos and my nose is still running from the spices as I type this. But it's a good spicy and it's great flavor. So I am, yet again, in love with another food truck. SSahm's menu is straightforward - letting you select your meat - beef, pork, chicken and tofu, followed by your delivery method - taco, burrito, quesadilla or kimchee fries. The very friendly woman who comes out of the truck to take your order recommended the beef taco to yours trule, as well as the kimchee fries, which come with meat on top. They've got a variety of chips and drinks to choose from, but once I've ordered kimchee friends (aka korean cheese fries), you don't want chips.

Less than 5 minutes later (thank G-sus since it was death hot outside), I get my beef taco and fries. The tacos are wrapped in 2 corn tortillas because it reduces the chances that the fabulous filling will end up on your plate or lap. Along with the meat choice, they include caramelized kimchee, cilantro, onions, and a soy vinagrette salad. This is good stuff. And great call on the double tortilla wrapping. The Kimchee Fries are basically Korean cheese fries, but good lord they were good. I'm not normally one to get something quite that heavy for lunch, but come on, you've got to live a little. The fries are fresh hand cut potatoes(I saw this happen), monterey jack & cheddar cheese, cilantro, onions, that caramelize Kimchee and some spicy mayo. They were seriously good. Brought those back to the office to share. Intern was surprised they were spicy, but I might have neglected to warn her about it. She still thought they had great flavor. My coworker on a con-call snagged a few too and I got a big thumbs up from him.

I'm already checking the SSahmBBQ website to see when they're back over here. You can follow them on FB and Twitter, but the menu and schedule are here for your entertainment. http://www.ssahmbbq.com/

Sorry Sig-O, I may have fallen in love with another food truck, but I promise I'll invite you along. Sometime.

More Food Truck Love - City Street Grille Breakfast Tacos

Sure, it would have tasted better with a mimosa or tequila sunrise, but those are frowned upon at work. Silly stick in the mud HR policies. Don't they know that we'd all be happier if we could have a brunch beverage on Friday mornings? Or even Thursday mornings, since Thursday is the new Friday. Anyway, I'll take that up with HR later.

What I have to tell you about now is the best thing since Taco Cabana breakfast tacos. Actually, it's better than that, it's kicks TC's a**, which I'm not thrilled about since there's a TC directly on my route to work, and City Street Grille is a mobile food truck, so it's more of a moving target that I have to stalk via FB and Twitter. But they were in my new fave downtown food truck park. Bless the kind developer who loves food trucks enough to let them park in the only place they could in the CBD (Central Business District, duh). City Street does breakfast and lunch, both of which I've gotten to ave before. Breakfast includes breakfast tacos featuring scrambled eggs, cheese and beef tenderloin. Seriously, beef tenderloin. Yes, thank you, I'd like to start my morning with yummy beef tenderloin lovingly wrapped in my choice of a corn or flour tortilla. These guys also wised up and use the smaller tortillas (AKA nomal, not burrito size) b/c they heard their customers say that the big ones made them need a nap at work. These are the best breakfast tacos ever. I kid you not.

Lunch is also popular at City Street Grille, with choices such as chicken and waffles. I know, sounds weird if you haven't had it before, but it's worth it. I've also had their Spring Grilled Cheese, which is nothing like that velveeta your mom put between slices of Wonderbread. Think goat cheese, arugala, straberries and pepper jelly. It's that good.

Follow these guys on Twitter and FB. Then find their next location and get a breakfast taco! You'll be glad you did, but TC may not be.

I'm in Sandwich Love with Gandolfos and Food Trucks

I don't normally want to write up a place where I've only tried one thing, but I have to show some love to Gandolfo's Deli food truck. Yes, the CoD is being a pain and jacking around the food trucks, but some local businessmen have decided to help them out by letting them use the parking lot next to the construction site we call Museum Tower. City Street Grille was there this morning and Gandolgo's is there for lunch. Jack's Chowhound was there yesterday, along with some sno-cone maker on wheels. This is awesome, and will be even awesomer when it cools off and we're not standing on the face of the sun while ordering.

So, let me get back to the sandwich. All the choices looked amazing, and huge. Thank goodness you can order a half sandwich (still the same size as a 6-incher from those other sandwich places), a nuance not picked up on by all in my party, so one person will be enjoying the same sandwich for lunch and dinner. I went with the Bridge Hampton. Turkey, bacon, avocado, lettuce, swiss cheese, S&P (salt & pepper) on fantastically fresh yummy amazing bread. Seriously, if anyone was still on the Atkins Diet (soooo 2002), this would make them quit. They were quick to make the sandwiches, which are reasonably priced and come in around $6 mark. Add chips and drink, you'll be close to $10. Screw the chips and go with the black and white cookie. It's worth it. The coworkers were raving about their sandwiches but wouldn't let me try them (something about cooties.)

Anyway, if you hear about a fabulous new gourmet food truck anywhere near you, I'd advise you to check it out. And follow these boys on Twitter to see where they'll be next @citystreetgrill @jackschowhound @gandolfosdallas

Living Plaza Event on Wednesday at City Hall

In case you are anywhere near Dallas City Hall on Wednesday around lunch time, and feel like braving the death heat: Living Plaza Event on Wednesday, July 13, 2011 from 11:30 until 1:30 on the City Hall Plaza! There will be food carts, golf, remote control boats, games, music and vendors! Young Street between Akard & Ervay.

The first time I read this, I thought it said golf carts, then I reread and was disappointed, but it should still be the most fun you can have at City Hall. Maybe they'll send out the clowns?

See It Where They Shot it with the Dallas Observer

Just saw this from the Dallas Observer: BYOB- Bring Your Own Blanket and don't miss your opportunity to see the 1987 cult classic, Robocop right where it was shot! The famous three-piece structure, The Dallas Piece will play host to the evenings screening on July 1st. The Dallas Film Society, Downtown Dallas Inc. & the Dallas Observer, have teamed up to bring this FREE event, right to the heart of Dallas. Come hungry, authentic food trucks will be lined up and ready to serve at 7:30 p.m.! Robocop will begin showing at 8:30 p.m. after sunset. For more information click here: http://bit.ly/kc3AEJ  

Sigel's Summer Gourmet Food Truck Spectacular

Ok, we all know I'm a fan of Sigel's, but how cool is it that they are having food trucks come to their stores? I'm so in. Check out the dates:

Gandolfo's (New York Deli )
Sigel's-Greenville
Tuesday, June 7th
Lunch 11:30-1:30pm

Nammi (Bánh Mi, Spring Rolls & Vietnamese Tacos)
Sigel's-Greenville
Thursday, June 9th
Lunch 11:30-1:30pm
Dinner 5-8pm
Oregon Wine tasting featuring Owen Roe owner/winemaker David O'Reilly 5-7pm

Gandolfo's
Sigel's-Greenville
Tuesday, June 14th
Breakfast 7-9am
Lunch 11:30-1:30pm

Ssahm BBQ (Korean BBQ)
Sigel's-Greenville
Thursday, June 16th
Lunch 11:30-1:30pm

Il Cane Rosso (You really have to ask?)
Sigel's-Greenville
Saturday, July 9th
Dinner 6-9pm
Pizza Vino tasting - sample wines from around the world that are great matches with Pizza (6-8pm)

Il Cane Rosso
Sigel's-Addison
Saturday, July 23rd
Dinner 6-9pm
Italian Wine Tasting - featuring wines from Tuscany , Piedmonte, Sicily and Veneto (6-8pm)

Il Cane Rosso
Sigel's-Elite (on Cole)
Saturday, August 6th
Dinner 6-9pm
California Pizza Wines - taste different varietals that go great with Pizza, including Grenache , Counoise, Syrah, Zinfandel (6-8pm)

The Food Trucks are Coming! Nammi Truck Debuts Saturday

Just saw on Twitter that Nammi Truck, a new mobile Vietnamese kitchen, will make its debut tomorrow at the Deep Ellum Open Market from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. They say they're "Bringing Vietnamese Banh Mi to the DFW Metroplex!” and we can't wait!