food vans, Muppisode

like I posted from SEMA / AAPEX, event food booths are cashing in on the gourmet food vans positive publicity

some one got really smart and made up the van looking front and fake windshield. Looks good!
the post from SEMA / AAPEX http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2013/11/gourmet-food-trucks-are-so-cool-that.html

gourmet food trucks are so cool, that food courts are imitating the vans with fake fascia

Clam Cakes 911, that is a clever gimic

Gourmet food trucks beware, corporate types are onto the secret of your success, and Birds Eye is going from New York to San Diego and beyond to grocery stores, with a dynamite truck of impeccable standards, to offer free samples of their foods

this is an incredible van, spotlessly clean inside and out... and the pans of food? Could they advertise any better in another fashion? Hell no. My compliments

American success stroy for an immigrant Italian with great chef talent, and a gourmet food truck!

http://mangiamangiamobile.com/ for locations and days to book for weekend catering  info@mangiamangiamobile.com or 858.405.0070


and the local newspaper, the San Diego Union Tribune, just ran a story on this van and it's owner

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/mar/12/tp-running-food-truck-no-easy-ride/?page=2#article-copy

In 2002, Marko Pavlinovic came to San Diego from Italy on vacation. He ended up getting a work permit and a job as a waiter. 

Two years ago, he started Mangia Mangia Mobile because he wanted to translate his love of food into a business. His mother and grandmother provided the recipes, and the initial capital was $16,000 in savings. He tried and failed to get a bank loan, so he rented a truck for $2,000 a month. By the time that he had paid the truck owner three months of rent in advance, made some interior modifications, painted the truck, purchased pots and pans, insurance and food, he had $350 left on the day that he opened. 

 In his second week of business, the Cooking Channel asked a well-known food blogger to identify the best food truck in San Diego. She recommended Mangia Mangia.

 “When they called, they said this is the Cooking Channel, do you want to be on TV? I hung up the phone because I thought that a friend was fooling me,” he said.

 The segment aired eight months later, and his business has grown steadily since then.

news about the gourmet food vans

Gourmet food trucks are now getting inspected by the Health Dept. They're going to get graded like restaurants.... so if you like to enjoy food, and not have a bad day, stick to the grade A only.

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/mar/06/food-trucks-get-letter-grades/

there are 550 carts and trucks in San Diego county, half of them had been cited with violations in 2010 or 2011

Pizza Pazza gourmet food truck

The sandwich is what I had, it's good! above and to the left of it is the display model without cheese. Get the cheese with it, yum!

http://www.pizzapazzafoodtruck.com/

The two cats are the inspiration for donations to a cat rescue when you buy the garlic bread sticks. That is cool!

The Marinara is effin tasty! I love it!

Locations are listed at http://www.pizzapazzafoodtruck.com/?view=thought but call ahead to make sure the calendar hasn't changed. (858) 877-8599

Gourmet food trucks are perfect for car shows, there are even brand specific trucks.. like at the British car show, a British food truck!

Gourmet food trucks gathered at the Touch a Truck show

Festival of rolling kitchens in Amsterdam, some of the 70 gourmet food vendors

thanks to Mike V for letting me know, and sending me the link to his Picasa to share with all of you! 

Lots of info about the Gourmet Food Vans was just published

these photos are from a gallery I posted http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/04/gourmet-feed-trucks-were-gathered-to.html when I accidentally came across a event they were all at.

But Pacific Magazine just published a good list of the vans, the gatherings (many!) and you can find that info at http://www.pacificsandiego.com/2012/08/20/reinventing-the-meal/


Each of 25 different vans can be accessed by twitter for schedules, locations, times etc... by using the @ symbol and then van name. Go to that link above, and you can read about the different cuisine from the vans. To make it simple, I clipped the gatherings list, and posted it below. Just try it out, and enjoy!

 Hell, you like to eat don't you?

Where and when to find gatherings of food trucks

MONDAYS
What the Truck?
5:30-9 p.m.
at Mira Mesa High School
8460 Mira Mesa Blvd., Mira Mesa

TUESDAYS
Pacific Meet Up
11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
5800 block of Pacific Center Blvd., Sorrento Valley

La Mesa Meet Up
5:30-8:30 p.m.
at Best Buy
8401 Fletcher Pkwy., La Mesa

Tasty Truck Tuesdays
6-9 p.m.
at Smitty’s Auto
3441 Adams Ave., Normal Heights

WEDNESDAYS
Happy Hump Day Food Truck Gathering
5-8 p.m.
at The Lost Abbey
155 Mata Way, San Marcos

Eastlake Gathering
5:30-8:30 p.m.
at Eastlake Design District
871 Showroom Pl., Chula Vista

THURSDAYS
Food Truck Thursdays
5:30-8:30 p.m.
at Innovations Academy
6154 Mission Gorge Rd., Scripps Ranch

Mission Valley Gathering
5:30-8:30 p.m.
at Mission Valley Resort
875 Hotel Circle S., Mission Valley

Food Truck Thursdays
5-9 p.m.
at Boomer’s
6999 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Clairemont

FRIDAYS
Friday Foodie Fest
6-9 p.m.
1060 South Coast Hwy. 101, Encinitas

Food Truck Friday on Park
4-7:30 p.m.
4353 Park Blvd., University Heights

La Mesa Food Fest
5-8 p.m.
7871 University Ave., La Mesa

SATURDAYS
Barnard Food Truck Meet Up
4-7 p.m.
2930 Barnard St., Sports Arena

Food trucks, not the roach coach of the recent past.. Chef Miron is cooking in the MIHO food truck. It's underground restauranting. No landlord!

I happened to photograph these shiny new food trucks before seeing the magazine, not from coincidence, but I suspect due to a publicity push to get the word out and draw out easy push overs like me to add to the cool new craze of superb cooking that can go head to head with restaurant food, read the San Diego Reader article (well researched and well written as always) http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2011/apr/06/cover-food-trucks