Best Food Trucks At The Taste of Chicago
By Rachel Azark
Taste of Chicago
Grant Park (Jackson & Columbus)
Chicago, IL 60604
July 10-12: 11am-9pm
July 13 & 14: 10am-9pm
www.cityofchicago.org
The city may have an aversion to food trucks occasionally, but alas they have been officially allowed into the Taste of Chicago this year. On one condition. They will be available at night during the nightly concerts only. Food trucks will be parked on the easternmost concrete path (parallel to Lake Shore Drive) with up to seven trucks selling entrees and desserts. Trucks will begin selling their yummy goods one hour before the evening concerts (4:30 p.m. for the Friday/Saturday concert prior to the 5:30 p.m. start and at 3 p.m. on Sunday prior to the 4 p.m. concert.) So let's take a gander at some of this year's food trucks.
Bombay Wraps
bombaywraps.com
Twitter: @BombayWraps
Bombay Wraps opened in 2010 when Falguni Dewjee and Nik Jain wanted to share with everyone the delicious food they grew up with in Bombay (Mumbai), India. Each wrap begins with delicately spiced and marinated fillings, then they add pickled onions, fresh cut veggies or cilantro chutney and then it is wrapped in flaky flatbread paratha or whole wheat roti. This is good if you're in the mood for fresh and fast Indian food.
The Salsa Truck
thesalsatruck.com
Twitter: @THESALSATRUCK
This is more than a truck filled with baskets of salsa and chips. Each day, specialty salsas are paired with tacos and quesadillas. They have homemade salsas, hot sauces and guacamole. Also as the seasons change, their menu evolves. They will make chili and soup in the winter and salads in the summer. All of their spices are from the Terra Spice Company.
Ice Cubed
www.ice-cubed.com
Twitter: @ice3truck
If it's hot, you're going to be looking for something to cool you down. Introducing Ice Cubed, a new dessert company and food truck that specializes in small batch ice cream, hand-crafted ice pops and frozen desserts. An Italian Wedding ice pop consists of Prosecco, rose water and fresh rose petals, unlike the Sweet and Sour, which consists of picked watermelon rind, cider vinegar, lime and Tabasco. Ready for some wild ice cream flavors? Try Lou's Diner – buttermilk pancake ice cream, Vermont maple syrup ice cream, butter bourbon pecans and Benton bacon. Or try something with less pow, hot chocolate biscotti.
Chicago Cupcake
www.chicagocupcake.com
Twitter: @Chicago_Cupcake
Cupcakes are the in thing. If you're looking for something to satisfy your sweet tooth that isn't cold, then check out the Chicago Cupcake truck. Indulge in cupcakes like Blueberry Bliss, Chocolate Overload, the Curious George, and the Mother Load, a cupcake made complete with chocolate cake and a pretzel brown sugar crust filled with peanut butter and topped with caramel Italian buttercream, chopped peanuts, pretzels and brown sugar. My teeth hurt already.
Cheesie's
cheesieschicago.com
Twitter: @cheesieschicago
Who doesn't love cheese?! If you're looking for a menu that centers solely around cheese then this is the place to come. Sometimes all you need is just a really good grilled cheese sandwich. They'll be serving up grilled cheeses on Saturday before the concert.
Rachel Azark is a writer and lives on Chicago's northwest side. Read more of her work about her travels on her blog parksandpancakes.com.
