Taste it All Stuff your gut with a little of everything at the Food Truck Palooza
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ou could drive all over the city and farther, with the goal of trying the fare at each of the Inland Northwest’s growing number of mobile food purveyors. It would take a lot of planning and coordination, but you won’t have to do that. This weekend, 16 area food trucks are banding together to offer sample-sized portions of their street-style cuisine for the inaugural Food Truck Palooza in downtown Spokane. Event organizer Chris Leinweber says the purpose of the Palooza is to showcase the region’s growing food truck industry — offering unlimited samples at a flat price — because people are curious to see what’s out there. It’s understandably hard to keep track when it seems like a new truck pops up every few weeks. With a format focused on sample-size bites of each truck’s regular menu, attendees won’t be able to order a full plate of food, but an adventurous eater could attempt to try something from each of the 16 trucks and two additional mobile vendors, Boyd’s Coffee and the Melting Pot. Do the math, and that many 3 oz.-size samples amounts to more than 3 lbs. of food, Leinweber points out. There’s also a beer/wine garden, and a full bar serving cocktails using Dry Fly’s spirits. Here’s a quick overview of all the trucks attending. Plan to save room for them all. (CHEY SCOTT)
COUPLE OF CHEFS
BURGERS, WRAPS AND SANDWICHES Up on the Couple of Chefs chopping block are a number of high-end burgers and wraps, and something called the NC-17 Grilled Cheese (smoked Gouda, bacon and avocado tomato salsa on sourdough bread). Its owners also love to experiment, offering their latest creations as “Daily Fancy” specials. (LAURA JOHNSON) You’ll usually find them: Main and Howard, downtown Spokane; Ramblin’ Road Craft Brewery; Perry Street Brewing
JAMAICAN JERK PAN
CARIBBEAN/JAMAICAN CUISINE As the only place in Spokane that serves Jamaican food, this is where you’ve gotta go to get your fix of red beans and rice, curried chicken and cabbage salad. All side dishes are vegan; all spices imported from Jamaica. (LJ) You’ll usually find them: 4th and Cannon, Browne’s Addition; South Perry Farmers Market; Riverpoint Campus
24 INLANDER JULY 17, 2014
JESSIE SPACCIA ILLUSTRATION
TOBY’S BBQ
TEXAS-STYLE BARBECUE If brisket, ribs, chicken thighs and pulled pork excite and delight you, you’ll want to check out this truck with some of the best homemade smoked meats around. (LJ) You’ll usually find them: Freeman Store, Valleyford; Barney’s Harvest Foods, Spokane Valley; Riverpoint Campus
KING OF TACOS
STREET-STYLE MEXICAN Marinating their chicken and beef overnight in spices and fresh lime, KoT’s traditional street-style tacos and burritos are cooked up fresh to order on the grill. Their carne asada is a favorite. (FRANNY WRIGHT) You’ll usually find them: Perry Street Brewing; Best Buy, Spokane Valley; West Central Farmers Market
TAZA MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE
MEDITERRANEAN/GREEK Look no further for authentic Mediterranean food than this bright yellow, flame-embellished trailer. This new truck to the local scene serves all the traditionals: baba ganoush, tabouli salad, faroush salad, tzatziki and hummus. There’s also baklavas — dessert phyllo pastries filled with chopped nuts and soaked in honey — which can be ordered individually or in 10- and 20-piece sampler trays. With an online/phone ordering option, call ahead for pick up. (FW) You’ll usually find them: Based at 4120 N. Argonne Rd., Spokane Valley
TACOS CAMARGO
PIZZA Serving hot pizza by the slice, the Pizza Truck also offers personal pizzas and deals when you add a soda. (FW) You’ll usually find them: Zanies, Spokane Valley; downtown Spokane
STREET TACOS, TRADITIONAL MEXICAN Fresh ingredients make Tacos Camargo’s tacos as delicious as they are traditional. Trying their tortas is a must. The truck, newish to Spokane, already has racked up rave reviews on its Facebook page from local customers, who praise the taco salad and “Durango dog.” (FW) You’ll usually find them: downtown Spokane; Ramblin’ Road Craft Brewery; Perry Street Brewing Co.
NORDIC SMOKE
DAWN OF THE DONUT
THE PIZZA TRUCK
BARBECUE This military-veteran-owned and operated truck slowsmokes their chicken, brisket, ribs and pulled pork, even taking bulk orders. They also offer sides of slaw and beans to round out that plate o’ meat. (FW) You’ll usually find them: Cruiser’s, State Line, Idaho; Spangle, Wash.
DONUTS The quirky, zombie-driven marketing of this donut shop and delivery truck only adds to the unique flavor of their treats. They’ve got it all: the donut-croissant hybrid, an iced-with-cereal sugar loader, and even vegan options to round out the variety. With a blood-inspired, smeary handprint paint scheme, the shop’s mobile unit is easy to