Eat St. on Location – Atlanta, here we come!

 

Dear Atlanta (Hot-lanta?) street food fans, you’re cordially invited to sample a succulent smorgasbord of foodstuffs from Ibiza Bites (@Ibizabites), Tex’s Tacos (@texstacos), Mobile Malay (@themobilemalay), Wow Food Truck (@Wowfoodtruck) and Buen Provecho (@BuenProvechoTrk) while we film them this week (starting tomorrow)! See you in less than 24 hours Atlanta.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11th

Ibiza Bites – @Ibizabites

Where? 733 Lambert Drive NE, Atlanta, GA 30324

12pm – 2pm

SoLa cuisine: a little bit South American, a little bit Latin American, a little deep South

This truck gets its name from the Spanish island of Ibiza, where parties are always in full swing and the mantra is “Live and let live.”They pride themselves on combining unexpected flavors and creating fresh, updated versions of classic favorites. They called their food “SoLa” cuisine      a blend of, Latin American and good  !ole’ deep South flavors brought together with imagination.They’ve got a daily changing menu that includes anything from Venezuelan taquenos to chicken & waffles, carne mechada (Latinspiced brisket over coconut mango rice), lobster mac and cheese, crab cake fritters. The owners are young and enthusiastic, the food is colourful, bright and bold and this truck wants to give customers a delicious sidewalk party experience

Meet the Vendors - Raf & Jamie Morales (married)

Raf is a third generation chef who developed a passion for cooking at a young age watching his mother and grandmother cook traditional South American dishes. When he was old enough, he started working for his motherʼs restaurants and catering company. Raf is the head chef and is the main force behind the food. He says heʼs been cooking and serving for so long it feels like everything fell together naturally. His wife, Jamie, is American and instantly fell in love with South American food and culture when she fell in love with Raf. She has a natural eye for design and loves working with Raf to create a party atmosphere on the truck. They love working together and have fun on the truck, Raf just laughs when Jamie gets a little stressed and bossy. Itʼs a family affair on Ibiza Bites- often, Rafʼs mom and grandma come down to hang out on the truck and pitch in. This couple loves to travel, eat, and experiment with different kinds of cuisine. Raf and Jamie are also very sporty and extreme water sport enthusiasts (surfing, wake boarding, kite surfing, water skiing).

Menu Highlights

Savory Venezuelan Carne Mechada

House Special - Savory Venezuelan Carne Mechada (Slow Roasted Latin Spiced Brisket) Paired with Stone Ground Cheddar Grits and Crisped Plantain Ribbons

Brisket is slow cooked in beef stock and a blend of fresh vegetables, then hand pulled  and cooked with a blend of spices. Stone ground grits are boiled with cheddar cheese, butter, cream, salt and pepper. The plantain ribbons are simply peeled and sliced, then deep fried and salted for flavour.

“Darn Churrasco” Grilled Skirt Steak with Chimichurri sauce, accompanied by Roasted Corn, Diced Zucchini, Shitake mushrooms, Mango Coconut Rice and a Maduro: Peeled skirt steak is marinated for 24 hours and cooked to order on the truck. Coconut rice is cooked in chicken stock then dried tropical fruits are added after cooking. This is served with Fresh Grilled Husked Corn, diced zucchini, and shittake mushrooms. The Plaintain maduro is sliced and deep fried. Chimichurri sauce is housemade from an old family recipe using fresh cilantro, peppers, and spices.

Devilicious Pecan Fried Chicken and Waffles: Boneless chicken thighs marinated in buttermilk and various spices, then battered with flour and hand-crushed pecans, the fried. Served on top of fresh waffles cooked to order and topped with grilled peaches, Pure vermont maple syrup and housemade honey mustard dip.

Lobster Mac & Cheese: Macaroni noodles boiled to al dente and blended with a bechamel sauce from heavy cream, sharp cheddar, white cheddar, lobster meat, chopped leeks and fresh corn, topped with brioche bread crumbs and baked.

Fried Green Tomatoes: Fresh sliced green tomatoes with goat cheese pressed on one side, then battered and fried to finish. Served with chipotle aioli made from mayo, chipotle, and a blend of other spices.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH

Tex’s Tacos – @Texstacos

Where? Howell Mill Food Park, 1927 Emery Street, Atlanta, GA 30318

12-2pm

“Nueva Texicana” served with contagious enthusiasm

Nueva Texicanaʼ is a fresh & exciting take on traditional Tex-Mex cuisine. The menu features a tantalizing blend of well-known TexMex favorites, authentic Mexican classics, and original ʻNueva Texicanaʼ creations featuring a lot of fresh citrus. Texʼs tacos is run by two young friends who are passionate about Tex-Mex food, and set on bringing the best of their favorite Tex-Mex fare from deep in the heart of the Lone Star State to Georgia. They bring southern hospitality and grace and guarantee three things at Texʼs Tacos: delicious food, fun times, & awesome service.

Meet the Vendor – Mac and Harrison

The young duo behind Texʼs Tacos are Mac and Harrison, who describe themselves on their website as “two compadres passionate about this food, and set on bringing the best of our favorite Tex-Mex fare from deep in the heart of the Lone Star State to you.” These friends were both born and raised in Austin and grew up together. These two are outspoken, young, energetic, young businessmen with a high level of enthusiasm that is contagious! They love Tex Mex food and making people happy!They have some other big characters including their amazing grill chef, Tim aka “Korean Fabio.” Mac charms the customers at the front window while Harrison and other truck staff loudly cook and plate the food. Mac says the other guys always tease him for being bossy, too organized and anal retentive, and he admits that heʼs always bugging them and trying to keep them in line.

Menu Highlights

Pastor de Puerc0 Quesedilla

House Special – Pastor De Puerco Quesadilla

Pork Pastor, cheese, grilled onions, and pineappleTender pork shoulder marinated in a special blend of 4 different chilies, fresh pineapple, and orange juice for 48 hours then grilled on the flat top to cook, with chopped red onion, then placed in a fresh tortilla with fresh chunks of pineapple and shredded cheddar cheese then grilled on the flat top until the cheese melts. Served with a side of sour cream and the truckʼs chopped salsa.

Chicken Fresca Taco: Tender chopped chicken breast brined in a lime juice/ tequila mix, grilled on the flat top and topped with grilled onions, pico de gallo, shredded cheese, and cialntro, served fresh on a warm flour tortilla

Carne Asada Taco: Citrus-splashed skirt steak (marinated in lime juice, olive oil, paprika, fresh ground chilies, onion, vinegar, mojo, and pineapple juice) grilled on the flat top, and served in a warm fresh flour tortilla topped with grilled onions, fresh guacamole, shredded cheese and cilantro.

Texicana Fries: Texʼs Tacos lime fries piled high (very, very high) with tender, citrus-splashed skirt steak, queso fresco, shredded cheese, grilled onion, pico de gallo, guacamole & served w/ our homemade salsa roja (roasted red salsa)

Sweet Quesadilla: Peanut Butter, Sliced Bananas, and chocolate shaving spread on a tortilla and grilled.

Lime Fries: Crispy fries dusted lightly with sweet and salty homemade lime seasoning. Deep fried until crispy, then coated with the truckʼs custom lime seasoning (lime zest, kosher salt, sugar in the raw). They turn slightly green!

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH

Mobile Marlay - @Themobilemarlay

Where? Virginia Highlands

12 – 2pm

Authentic Irish Pub on Wheels

In Ireland the “Fish & Chips Van” is a staple of many a town center, sporting event and usually found near the lively pubs at closing time. The Mobile Marlay brings fish and chips and other Irish culinary staples to the streets of Atlanta. They serve up fish sandwiches, fish tacos, risotto balls, cod cakes, and even Irish stew. Itʼs all made with love and attention to details. Everything is fresh and made with family recipes. This truck is meant to feel like an Irish pub on wheels. Theyʼll be no “top of the morning” and “wee leprechauns dancing about” but you will find outspoken characters telling stories and cracking jokes as they serve up hearty Irish comfort food (many cooked with Irish stout) that are cooked up traditionally and with a modern twist

Meet the Vendor – Colin Comer

Colin and his brother, Darren, and his sister Jennifer have owned an operated a pub and eatery, “The Marlay House” for nearly three years. Colin has always had an eye for trends and new concepts and is famous for his “crazy ideas.” He watched the food truck trend explode all over North America and saw an opportunity to expand their brand and bring their food to a whole new dining crowd. He saw this as an opportunity to take the popular old school fish and chips wagon from back in Ireland and make it trendier and a little bit edgier. Itʼs been a great success and customers love the Irish charm and tasty fare.

Menu Highlights

Fish & Chips, a classic.

House Special – Fish & Chips

North Atlantic cod, fried crisp in Guinness beer batter, served with tartar sauce. The Mobile Marlay uses dark stout in their beer batter which actually gives it a deeper and richer flavour with a darker colour. Colin mixes the stout with flour, salt, pepper and garlic powder, batters the cod, then deep fries until brown and crispy. Potatoes are fresh cut at the pub and blanched at the pub kitchen and then deep fried to order at the truck.

Killybegs Classic: A Cod Filet dipped in stout batter and deep fried, topped with cheddar cheese, lettuce & tomato on a hoagie roll served with tartar sauce.

Risotto Balls: Arborio rice cooked and cooled then mixed with crumbled fontina cheese, rolled in bread crumbs, deep fried and served with a spoonful marinara sauce.

Pan Seared Cod Cakes: Roasted cod chopped and mixed with fresh dill and chopped potatoes, formed into patties and fried and on a hoagie roll with arugula.

Fish Tacos: A Cod Filet dipped in stout batter, served in a tortilla with coleslaw and a sauce blended with avocado, lime, and sour cream.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14th

Wow! Food Truck – @wowfoodtruck

Where? Tower Place in Buckhead 3365 Piedmont Rd NE Atlanta, GA

12 – 2pm

 

South American snacks and more, on speed! (Wow! stands for Wonderlicious on Wheels!)

Wonderlicious on Wheels brings their twist on South American street food to Atlanta. This truck is designed to get your attention: with bright graphics and BIG BOLD flavors. The truck concept started when the truck owner fell in love with Arepas (Slow roasted meats sandwiched between corn dough buns) being served from a stand in New York. But the concept has evolved to include crispy shrimp cakes, tomato pies, veggie burgers, sandwiches, the “Dog Bowl” and “Kwanza Bowl,” and sweet cinnamon donuts, and signature sauces and sides.

Meet the Vendor – Wendy Cross

Wendy grew up in Atlanta with a gourmet chef father and has been eating interesting and adventurous foods from a very young age. The family rule was always to have a “no thank you portion” so that you had to try every food you were offered, even if you thought it looked strange and smelled funny. As a teen, Wendy started waiting tables and eventually got into the kitchen as a line cook. Years later, she partnered up with a few other restauranteurs to open and operate a gourmet “dive” joint just outside of Atlanta called Duckʼs Cosmic Kitchen. This year she expanded by opening a food truck. She loves food truck life, cooking and serving good food (although she is terrified to actually drive the truck and refuses to do it). Sheʼs loud, outspoken and a good storyteller (her brother is TV comedian David Cross, so she says that sheʼs always had to be to get a word in edgewise.)

Menu Highlights

Pork Arepas!

House Special - Smoked Pork Arepas

Arepas are savory Venezuelan Griddled Corn Cakes stuffed with slow roasted, smoked, pork shoulder, and topped with creamy cilantro jalapeno “Kicky” sauce. Essentially, this dish is tender, slow roasted meat affectionately wrapped in a blanket of baked corn goodness! One customer writes, “The juices drip down your fingers as you devour every bite, the sweet softness of the corn dough is a perfect match and the Kicky Sauce adds just enough spice.”
Arepas ( Beef and cheddar, chicken sofrito, smoked pork, vegetarian): Meats are seasoned and slow cooked for around 20 hours, shredded, and then mixed with sofrito (latin based tomato sauce made from pureed onions, peppers, cilantro, cilantro, garlic, tomatoes, cumin,salt,and tomato paste cooked down in olive oil and butter). Arepa dough made and formed by hand and pre griddled in commissary to set and then browned on the truck. Arepas are topped with “kicky sauce”made from mayo, cilantro, cilantro, garlic, fresh lime juice, jalapeno, and vinegar.

Fancy Pants Cake: Shredded potatoes formed into a cake and pan fried, then topped with thinly sliced cured salmon, and topped with a spoonful of black sturgeon caviar and homemade creme fraiche (make from sour cream, whipped with lemon and salt).

Sauteed shrimp cakes: Shrimp, homemade mayo, spices, and panko bread crumbs blended together in a food processor and shaped and then sauteed in oil until crispy. Served with local organic stone ground cheddar grits.The best dang veggie burger: Lentils, leeks, walnuts, mushrooms, homemade mayo,and spices are ground together and shaped into patties then sauteed in a pan on the stove top with oil. Served with cheese on Kalamata Olive Bread.

Dog Bowl/ Kwanza Bowl: Roasted potatoes topped with your choice of arepa meat, cheddar cheese and a horseradish cream. The Kwanza bowl adds shredded cheddar cheese and instead of the horseradish we add kicky sauce and crispy fried bacon. Be ready for when the staff starts to bark and howl when you order this dish.

Duckʼs Cinnamon Sugar Donuts: Tender cake donut dough, hand-formed, baked, dipped in melted butter and rolled in cinnamon and sugar. This was featured on popular Atlanta blogʼs list of 100 things to taste before you die!

 

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15th

Buen Provecho – @Buenprovechotrk

Where? King Plow: 887 West Marietta St. Atlanta GA 30318

12:30 – 2pm

Proving that Latin food is more than just tacos and burritos!

Bon Provencho is rolling through the streets of Atlanta bringing hungry diners authentic Puerto Rican dishes with a smile and stories about Puerto Rico. Every dish is fresh, colourful, loaded with texture, and cooked with a lot of love. The menu is in Spanish and English and features a selection of appetizers, sandwiches,  beans and meat, fresh juices and desserts. Customers flock to the truck when they see the bright colours of the truck and smell the amazing exotic foods. Buen Provecho means “Enjoy your meal”, similar to the French saying “Bon Appetit”.

Meet the Vendor – Elmer Passapera

Elmer is the enthusiastic, charasmatic owner/operator/ head chef at Buen Provecho. He grew up in Puerto Rico surrounded by amazing food and talented cooks. His first job was working on his aunt and uncleʼs food truck in PR. His catering company in Atlanta was quite successful and allowed him to finally “fufill his destiny” and return to the family business of food truck service. He has no formal culinary training and has spent most of his life working in computer science and accounting, but the whole time his true passion has always been food. He’s a positive guy who loves teaching customers to order in Spanish, telling stories about growing up in Puerto Rico, and putting a lot of love into the food and customer service.

Menu Highlights

Tripleta! Or Triple Threat Sandwich

House Special - Tripleta Emparedados “The Triple Threat sandwich”

This Puerto Rico staple food has found its way in the hearts of customers in Georgia. This sandwich features thinly sliced steak and pork marinated in a little vinegar and sofrito (diced onions, tomatoes, garlic and seasoning simmered in olive oil) and slices of ham. These meats are cooked on the flat grill then placed in authentic ʻpan sobao’ (Puerto Rican bread) , served with mayo, lettuce, tomato, cheese, Buen Provecho sauce (mayo, ketchup, garlic, lime juice) and fried potato chip matchsticks. Then the sandwich is pressed on the grill for a light crisp to melt the cheese and bringing out the sweetness in the bread.

Empanadas (Meat patties): The ground beef is marinated in sofrito seasoning (diced onions, tomatoes, garlic and seasoning simmered in olive oil), tomato sauce, annatto spice, stuffed olives and other herbs and spices; then cooked in canola oil and simmered. Cut discs of dough is filled with the cooked, seasoned ground beef and deep fried until golden brown.

White rice and pink beans: Dry beans are soaked then cooked in a large pot with sofrtio seasoning, tomato sauce, chopped chorizo sausage, potato, cilantro and annatto, herbs and spices and a little olive oil. Beans are served with white rice, riped sweet plantains (sliced then deep fried) and serving of thin caramelized onion steak (marinated in seasoning, garlic, vinegar and onions for a minimum of 24 hours and cooked on the flat top grill.

Budín (Bread pudding): Mixes chopped french loaf bread, evaporated milk, condensed milk, cinnamon, eggs, sugar, butter and a secret ingredient. Mixtures soaks for 30 minutes before placing in oven to bake until cooked with crispy edges.

Alcapurrias: Mashed green bananas, cassava and Taro root vegetable, lightly seasoned and filled with marinated ground beef. The marinated ground beef is made up of adobo seasoning, sofrito, tomato sauce, olives, roasted red peppers, anatto and canola oil.

Watch out for some of your favourite cast of Atlanta street food & foodie characters at the filmings, including:

Duchess Fare (Sarah) @duchessfare

Brett from Howell Mill Food Park

Atlanta District 2 City Council member Kwanza Hall @kwanzahall

Eat it, Atlanta (Jimmy) @eatitatlanta

ATL Food Snob (Dan) @AtlantaFoodSnob

Eat, Drink, Repeat (Sarah-Ann and Chris) @eatdrnkrepeat

Savory Exposure (Broderick) @savoryexposure

Bonvivant Online