There has been months of excitement, press building and SacToMoFo finally happened! It was bigger than they could have ever anticipated and that's a bittersweet thing - their was anticipated counts from 2,000-4,000 people, by 1pm they were quoting 8,000-10,000 attendees!
This is great, because they got the signatures needed hopefully, Sac showed how much they support this food truck movement, and people got some genuinely good food (yummy notes below), but the downside were some horribly long lines - the likes of which that I've never experienced at a food truck anything, some trucks were out of food by 2pm and closing up shop, and it was super crowded.
The mayor speaking was heard by few people, by I did see multiple chefs and legislators attempting to get food as well, so here's hoping this movement made the impact that it desired.
So here's some hot rumor interestingness: it was being more than floated around that one of the main proponents against this movement, and a full supporter of the 30-minute rule is Randy Paragary (no naming names, but there were multiple legitimate sources) - and this makes sense too when you think about, this man has a lot of power/money and multiple restaurant's that have been doing mediocre business in the last couple of years - but that all surround the midtown/downtown area where all of these food trucks would be milling around, and absorbing business.
After a harsh, but accurate review of Esquire Grill by BAR of SacBee this man has a lot to prove - maybe this is his behind the scenes way of doing it? I don't know him at all, but those in the culinary world here in Sacramento, know what can be had and by who when money and power are involved - so here's hoping this was a politically moving event in multiple ways!
Now on to the foodie notes; after waiting in line for over an hour for Spencer On the Go's Truck and finding out 1/2 way through that the menu was going fast and that they were running out of food - so isn't it just poetic fate that right as I get up to the window they cross out every item that was left except the Escargot lollipop for $4! I couldn't believe it, and after just now checking the website they must have added at gas surcharge, as all the posted items were $2-3 more than they would have been in San Francisco of all places! So much for that truck....
Another really important truck for me to hit was the Chairman Bao Truck, known for their Chinese fusion buns - this is a wonderful and famous truck, lots of press - so I guess it makes sense that this line was 3x as long as the Spence On the Go Truck, and they weren't running out of food!
Below we have both Baked and Steamed Buns - the baked are the fluffy more sandwich looking buns and the smaller white one's are steamed - the baked are more filling, but I personally think the steamed have more flavor because they beautifully frame all the food they wrap around, we have:
- Tender Pork Belly with Pickled Daikon - tender, luscious, and sharply acidic with the pickled daikon
- Braised Pulled Pork with Savory Cabbage and Preserved Mustard Seeds - soft, simple, juicy flavor, with a rustic hint of spice from the mustard
- Red Sesame Chicken with Scallions and Carrots (spicy) - intense flavor, all over juicy spicy, sharp, vinegar goodness
- Crispy Garlic Tofu with Miso greens - soft yet crispy tofu, subtle umami miso greens that melt on the tongue
These buns totaled out at a 2 1/2 hour wait, so it was nice strategy that my sister and I split up and attempted more than one truck at a time
- I also saw new chef Pajo Bruich, Exec Chef for Lounge on 20 disperse his entire team and get there early so they got something from every truck as early as possible - now that's strategy! -
So after the parching wait, the buns were everything and more!
Although I absolutely get the local support I couldn't fathom why anyone would wait for 3 hours for Sacramento's Mini Burger Truck when they can catch them and Drewiski's Hot Rod Kitchen cooking all over Sac next week, but everyone has their own strategies to this event! It all just proved the support for Sacramento's foodie movement, from Fat Face Popsicles to Esther's Cupcakes, Chando's Taco's to Mama Kim's Cook Truck we have a movement afoot, and these wonderful treats are available in Sacramento all the time!
One of the best things about food trucks are the ability of smart sophisticated chef's/aspiring chef's/caterers to showcase their talent in a low-rent, smaller investment than anything so cumbersome as a restaurant and potentially increasing profit and monstrous popularity = following for your food!
It's few places that I've ever stood in line for the privilege of BUYING food, but that's what a phenomenon this food truck craze is - so let's hope that nothing, Kevin Johnson's politics to Randy Paragary's business ethics prevent this 30-minute ordinance from changing, so we can not only embrace a whole new food movement but continue growing a newly re-surging economy!
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