Twitter Truck Tuesday – Irvine Chamber of Commerce – Orange County, CA

If somehow you missed the OC Foodie Fest this past weekend or you have the gourmet food truck fever, tomorrow is another chance to get your grub-on in the OC. Irvine Chamber of Commerce will be hosting 10 of OC’s food trucks for lunch.

Irvine is quickly becoming the gourmet food truck hub of Orange County. More and more mobile food courts are popping up in Irvine. This latest edition will surely attract a crowd. Limited seating and shade provided.

Here is a list of trucks scheduled to be there:

• Barcelona On The Go
• Calbi BBQ
• Dan Dan BBQ
• Dos Chinos
• Louks
• Morsel’s Bakery Truck
• Oh For Sweet Sake
• Piaggio On Wheels
• The Lime Truck
• Tropical Shave Ice

Date: August 31, 2010

Start time: 11:30am-2:00 p.m.

Location: Irvine Chamber, 2485 McCabe Way, Irvine

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Event Wrap-up - Gourmet Food Trucks Rocked Orange County – OC Foodie Fest

Yesterday was the long anticipated OC Foodie Fest at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA. Picture this, 50 of some of the best gourmet food trucks from Orange County and Los Angeles, along with bands, dance crews, art, Pretend City, and small booths selling arts and crafts. As you would expect, we, like the 8,500+ others that attended, are still recovering.

Sold Out Event! - It Had Not Even Started Yet

It was a very fun, well executed event. Thanks to all of you that read and support Saturday Night Foodies, we were given early “media” access to the event. We were able to check out the event before it got too crazy. We also had a chance to meet fellow tweeps, talk to some of the truck owners and other “foodie” media.

But, the best part of all, we got to enjoy some incredible food. Of course, we had to visit some of our favorites but got to try some new trucks too. Unfortunately, we were not able to get though our entire list of trucks. That was because many trucks had very long lines. We did get plenty to eat and the trucks we missed will not elude us for long.

Nom Nom Truck had One of the Longest Lines

Here are some photos from the event. There was a lot to see and eat.  More pictures will be posted to our Facebook page over the next few days.  http://www.facebook.com/satnightfoodies

Debut of the New Truck from Chunk-N-Chip

Also Awarded 2nd Favorite Truck

DogZilla Hot Dogs Ready to Go

Sweets are Ready - The Sweets Truck

Fresh Made Drinks and Chips are Ready - The Lime Truck

ShellFish Ceviche from The Lime Truck

Wasn't all Food, How about some Shopping?

Escape from the Crowds

VIP Area had Some Shade

Our Friendly Bartender

"DogZilla"

Daniel and Chef Jason from The Lime Truck

Also Awarded Most Popular Truck

Luxurious Shellfish Ceviche from The Lime Truck

You have to try this!

Great Balls on Tires were Awarded 3rd Most Popular Truck!

OC Balls from Great Balls on Tires - Amazing!

"Grandma" from Slice Truck

Worldfare provided some Shade as well

The Lime Truck and COOLHAUS

Roasted Pear with Nutmeg Ice Cream and Oatmeal Cookies - Dang!

6 Pound Burrito Eating Competition by White Rabbit Truck

Sol Cocina was the Guest on Cart for a Cause

Duck Tacos from Flying Pig Truck

Truffle Fries from Komodo

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OC Register Video From the OC Foodie Fest

Check out this short video from the OC Register.  Tomorrow we will have our wrap up of the event.  We met a lot of great people, ate some great food and have lots of pictures to share!!

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Finally, OC Foodie Fest is Tomorrow! Are You Ready?

It feels like we have been waiting for months for the OC Foodie Fest to finally get here. Maybe it is because we have seen all of the media coverage or maybe it is because of all of the pink and white fliers we see promoting the event on all of the trucks that are participating. Or it could be the preview events and lunch food courts. No matter the reason, the wait is almost over. Tomorrow is the big day!

Oahu Shrimp Taco - Dos Chinos

Fifty gourmet food trucks along with dance crews and small, local businesses will be at the Honda Center in Anaheim. I’m sure I’m not alone when I say, I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve, waiting for Santa to come. It will definitely be hard to sleep tonight!

Red Velvet Pancake Bites - Buttermilk Truck

I am really hoping this event is a success, not just because a portion of the proceeds support local charities, but also because it will expose Orange County to the “gourmet” food truck scene and hopefully remove the “roach coach” stigma once and for all. These mini kitchens on wheels are doing some amazing things with food and provide so many different cuisines and fusions to fit any palette.

"Grandma" - Slice Truck

There is an OC truck that bakes everything on the truck! Another OC truck that changes their specials all the time and each of their specials are better than the last. There is an LA truck that architects unique, homemade ice creams with a variety of cookies into delectable ice cream sandwiches. How about an LA pizza truck that arguably has better pizza than you can find in Chicago or New York? There are even a few celebrity trucks as they have been featured on several TV shows. A few are racing across the U.S. in Food Network’s Food Truck Race. Furthermore, there is also a truck that has put a Korean twist on a Philadelphia classic. If you want tacos, then you have a lot of eclectic choices - one is even known for using Filet Mignon. There will be a bakery/coffee shop on wheels offering tons of different sweets and coffees to tempt anyone. Lastly, there will be an OC truck making its debut at the OC Foodie Fest! I could keep going because there are 40 more spectacular trucks that will be there as well.

Dirty Mint with Chocolate Cookie - COOLHAUS

Chris, over at TheFoodTrucker.com, put together a very fun OC Foodie Fest food truck checklist. It lists all of the trucks participating and the type of food they offer. It will help you keep track of where and what you ate. Click here to download.

We have been lucky enough to try many of the trucks that will be there tomorrow. Here are two lists we put together. The first, are trucks that we have been craving to try. The other, are trucks that we can’t help but go back to, time and time again. There are a ton of great trucks and you can bet that we will get to every one of them at some point.

Pizza Bomba's - The Lime Truck

Craving to try:

• Cart for a Cause
• Dogzilla Hot Dogs
• Flying Pig Truck
• Ludo Truck
• Nom Nom Truck
• White Rabbit Truck

Time and Time Again:

• Buttermilk Truck
• COOLHAUS
• Crepes Bonaparte
• Dos Chinos
• Great Balls on Tires
• Lee’s Philly
• The Lime Truck
• Morsel’s Bakery Truck
• Slice Truck
• Sweets Truck

I know what you are thinking, that is a lot of food! The best advice we can offer is bring your friends so you can share and sample many things. Gourmet food trucks are popular for a reason.


We look forward to seeing you tomorrow. If you see us, be sure to say hello!

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Good Barbeque in North Carolina – Smokey’s BBQ Shack – Morrisville, NC

Whenever we travel, for business or pleasure, we do our best to look for the local fare that makes the area so great. One of the things we West-coasters hear about North Carolina is the barbeque. During my recent trip, Chris and Jeremy, from Southern Food Crew, took me out for a quick lunch at Smokey’s BBQ Shack. When I originally asked them where the good BBQ places were, they both said at their homes. But since all of you can’t show up on their doorsteps, they said Smokey’s is one of the places they go to regularly.

Smokey’s BBQ Shack really is just that, a shack. It is a pretty simple place. They have fun signs and posters throughout. This is what I picture when I hear North Carolina BBQ shack. They focus on smoked meats and southern-style side dishes. Their food is no joke.

I ordered the sampler so I could get a taste of everything. The first thing I noticed was the smoke ring on the shredded pork. However, one of the coolest things was that their food didn’t taste overly smoky. I need to figure out how they do it. When I make my own or grab smoked food from a BBQ place, it always has that very “smoky” flavor which often overpowers the meal. Smokey’s was nothing like that. You could taste the meat and the rub. The smoke, in their case, complimented and fortified the flavors.

Sample with Fried Okra and Hush Puppies

Their ribs were super tender. The wings were awesome. Even the beef brisket pulled apart in my fingers. I never find brisket like that around Southern California. I need to try to make this at home. I even liked their BBQ sauce. I have been known to be a bit of a BBQ sauce snob, especially when I was still cooking for a living. Not because I buy into the typical “whose BBQ is better” argument. The reason is that most BBQ sauce you find in the store on the West coast is terrible! I have always had to make my own. In this case I wish I picked up a bottle of Smokey’s spicy vinegar based BBQ sauce. It had a nice balance of heat and great flavor. The vinegar was not overpowering at all.

If you are in the Durham area and want to grab some good barbeque, be sure to check out Smokey’s BBQ Shack. You will be glad you did!

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DinDin-A-GoGo Orange County is a Hit!

Tonight was the first DinDin-A-GoGo in Irvine. What a fun and packed night it was. We got there right when it started and already there was a good crowd of people waiting for the five food trucks to open their windows.

DinDin-A-GoGo is a weekly event on Thursday nights in Gardena. Tropical Shave Ice and Lomo Arigato have brought it to the OC. The event will now also be held weekly, Wednesday nights, at K1 Speed on Von Karmen/McGaw.

One of the things we like most about DinDin-A-GoGo, is how many people bring their chairs and make an evening of it. They hang out with their family and friends while eating some spectacular food! Think of it as the new family dinner table; families with children, couples, students, people from all walks of life. This was an event that everyone could enjoy. We had a chance to meet up with some of our friends as well. Some are food truck fanatics like us and some just know great food when they taste it.

The lineup tonight was Tropical Shave Ice, Lomo Arigato, Piaggio on Wheels, The Shrimp Guys and Calbi BBQ. Next week we expect that Dos Chinos will be on site.

Considering the event was just announced on Monday, we were happy to see such a huge turnout and all the support the trucks received. It was a nice mix having both OC and LA trucks at the event.


If you are a fan of food trucks or just want to try one to see what all the rage is about, come by DinDin-A-GoGo next week and make sure to say Hi! I think this might become our regular Wednesday night dinner spot.


Check out some of the food!!  

Chicken Milanesa Sandwich - Piaggio on Wheels

Coconut Lime Shrimp - The Shrimp Guys

808 Shave Ice with Snow Cap and EXTRA Li Hing Mui - Tropical Shave Ice

Chaufa with Tofu - Lomo Arigato

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