Whatever plans you may have on Thursday nights, CANCEL THEM. (Or fire up your DVR, that’ll work too.) The fifth season of Eat St premiers on Thursday (July 3rd) at 8/7c. Host James Cunningham has the best job on the continent, visiting 104 trucks this season. We will be livetweeting during the premiere. We’re giving away an autographed copy of the book during the viewing party!
First order of business: Can we all admit now we actually DO like puns? We *say* we don’t like them, but this season’s roster of trucks and certain menu items are stark evidence to the contrary. With episodes named Miso Hungry and trucks named Cod Squad and Rock-a-Belly, I fall deeper in love with puns. The Pretty Thai For a White Guy truck would wholeheartedly agree, we’re sure.
What to Expect
The biggest surprise was seeing not just one but THREE Jewish fusion trucks: 1 Chinese-Jewish, 1 Latin-Jewish trucks, 1 Soul-Jewish.Also, THERE’S A TRUCK WITH A DJ ON ITS ROOF AND FLAME THROWERS ENTERTAINING THEIR QUEUE OF FOODIES! ZOMG! Way to be, Pink Tank. 
One thing that, sadly, didn’t shock us? No Chicago trucks are on the list! Why? Chicago tends to get left out of shows or food truck features because legislation is so draconian it has (purposefully) stunted the growth of the industry. Remember the one exception, that one time we were featured on The Great Food Truck race? The one where Mayor Emmanuel was the focus? Remember that it was happening soon after the lawsuit against the city was advanced for implementing unconstitutional proximity bans? And right after the city charged food trucks 5% more commission than bricks-and-mortar restaurants to participate in The Taste of Chicago, then exiled them to a far-away field? That’s what we call fancy PR footwork. If there’s one thing Chicago politicians know how to do, it’s putting up smoke and mirrors. (End rant.)
About the absence of Chicago from season 5, Eat St said “We’re definitely aware of the great strides being made in Chicago and would love to visit in the future.”
Inside Scoop
We got to play 20 questions with James, and learned some interesting stuff:
- He estimates food truck owners work 80 hours/week. This sure isn’t an industry for the sleepy!
- The filming crew often has to cram into crevices and ontop of prep areas to get the footage
- When asked what common traits James has seen in all the food truck owners he’s met, he said “You have to have a great concept…and be a little nutty.”
NYC Truck Tips
Since New York is our new stomping ground, I got expert advice from James about which trucks I need to hit. Cinnamon Snail was his top choice. The food truck gods smiled upon us as that truck was just blocks from me the next day! Obviously, I went and checked it out. It was as mind-blowing as promised.
The 3 NYC trucks featured this season are Taïm Mobile (Israeli cuisine), The Morris Truck (grilled cheese sandwiches), and Red Hook Lobster Pound (fresh lobstah).
What’s on the Menu this Season
I got my sticky hands on a list of where Eat Street goes and what James will be eating. This list reminds me why I love food trucks! The menu is full of interesting ingredients like caviar and bison. Fois gras poutine, anyone?
EPISODE 501 – TICKLED PINK (BOSTON, VANCOUVER)
- Bone Daddy (Boston) Bison burger with habanero hot sauce & blue cheese
- Street Meet (Vancouver) West Coast take on European cuisine, Tuna Nicoise Salad.
- Cucina Zapata (Vancouver) Thai + Mexican fusion. Hot & Crispy Tilapia Burrito.
- Pink Tank (Denver) All-day breakfast truck – Chicken and waffles with sriracha ice cream
EPISODE 502 – HUNGER IN A HEADLOCK
- Guerrilla Ultima (Philadelphia) Pork Apocalypse burger with three cuts of pork
- Mei Mei (Boston) Crispy poached egg sandwich
- Crisp Creperie (Seattle) Smoked Chocolate and Bacon Crepe
- Taco Justice League Slap to the Kisser tacos
Episode 503 – Miso Hungry
- Mama’s Meatball Truck (Philadelphia) Bacon Blue Balls meatball sub
- Mogu (Vancouver) Yakiniku Beef Sandwich
- Gaufre Gourmet (Portland) Spicy Goat Belgian waffle with salami, chèvre, pistachios and Kelly’s Jelly Habanero Pepper jelly
- The Morris Truck (NYC) Earth, Wind and Fire made with creamy Tilsit cheese and rich and delicious duck sausage. (Remember when Chicago’s Toasty Cheese won the Tech Week truck cook off with a similar sandy?!)
Episode 504 – Claws for Celebration
- Red Hook Lobster Pound (NYC) Fresh Maine lobster rolls
- Yolk (Vancouver) Braised Shortrib Breakfast Sandwich with a poached egg
- Kargi Gogo (Portland, Oregon) Georgian cuisine, meat dumplings known as Khinkali
- Nosh (Seattle) Crispy fried rabbit, meatloaf sandwiches
EPISODE 505 – THE PERFECT PLOYE
- Koja Truck (San Francisco) Korean-Japanese fusion, sake and soy short rib slider on garlic rice patty buns
- Landry & Filles (Montreal) smoked salmon and caviar served on a buckwheat pancake
- Cod Squad (Montreal) Lemon herbed swordfish kebab
- Grilled Cheese Grill (Portland) Apple and brie melt on cinnamon swirl bread
Episode 506 – FUNGUYZ ‘N FUN FOOD
- Fins on the Hoof (San Francisco) Crawfish and Andouille sausage poutine
- Mainely Burgers (Portland, Maine) Le Eiffel Burger with a tower of housemade crispy onion strings
- Funguyz Food Trolley (Seattle) Cajun & Asian comfort food
- Hey PB&J Truck (Denver) The Figgy Piggy PB&J with fig jam, almond butter and goat cheese
Episode 507 – FALAFELLY GOOD
- Dougie Dog Diner Truck (Vancouver) Dragon Dog with Kobe beef and Lobster
- Taïm Mobile (NYC) Israili cuisine, green falafel sandwich with fresh mint, cucumber salad and garlic tahini
- Fugu Truck (Boston) Korean bulgogi beef roll with cucumber and pickled radish
- Camion Au Pied De Conchon (Montreal) Fois gras poutine
EPISODE 508 – BUON APPETITO!
- Frankie’s Fettuccini truck (Toronto) Braised Veal and fried gnocci poutine with Quebec cheese curds
- “That Food Truck” (Columbus, Ohio) Big Bad Wolf sandwich with slow-smoked pork shank, pork belly and bacon.
- Quiero Arepas (Denver) Venezuelan-style arepas
- Adam’s Grub Truck (San Francisco) Ultimate Adam Bomb: a tower of pork, egg and cheese topped with a dinosaur chicken nugget
EPISODE 509 – FOOD FIT FOR THE GODS
- The Spartan Pizza (Austin) The Zeus pizza with spinach, bacon and fresh mozzarella
- St. Viateur Bagel (Montreal) Smoked salmon and capers sandwich, spicy eggplant and goat cheese
- Garden Creamery (San Francisco) Raspberry mousse ‘n oatmeal cookie sandwich
- Paddy Wagon (Columbus, OH) 15 to Life Barbecue Brisket Sandwich with grilled peppers ‘n pineapple
EPISODE 510 – B-EGGING FOR MORE
- Urban Smoke (Toronto) Swiss and mushroom beef brisket grilled cheese
- The Old World (San Francisco) “Jewish soul food” Fried chicken schnitzel-wich with pickled chili slaw
- Chaud Dogs (Montreal) The Wu hot dog with Indonesian chili sauce and seasoned crispy chicken skins
- The Coop (Columbus, Ohio) Turducken Taco: turkey, duck and chicken with ancho chili sauce and pickled veggies
EPISODE 511 – A SIDE OF GROOVY
- Cosmic American Voodoo Van (San Francisco) Voodoo Cakes with bacon ‘n brie wrapped up in a whole wheat pancake
- Ajumama (Columbus, Ohio) Bulgogi Cheesesteak with sesame beef sirloin smothered in kimchi cheese sauce
- Karma Chameleon (Hamilton, Ontario) vegan Jamaican Jerk taco with papaya ‘n guava salsa
- Biscuits and Groovy Trailer (Austin) for fresh made biscuits ‘n gravy, at the funky and fabulous. Here, far out favorites include biscuits with brown ale gravy, pork sausage and jalapeño
EPISODE 512 – PRETTY THAI FOR A WHITE GUY
- Super Truck (Montreal) Green papaya salad with crispy pork belly.
- Pretty Thai For A White Guy (Austin) Sweet Chili Peanut Chicken with crispy banana and Brussels sprouts
- Taceaux Loceaux (New Orleans) Mexican cuisine with a little Louisiana flair
- Curbside Bliss Cupcakes (Toronto) has flavours like chocolate stout with candied bacon, red velvet whiskey with chocolate pretzel, and cayenne chocolate with candied hot salami
EPISODE 513 – YOU DON’T KNOW JAK
- El Ñosh (Los Angeles): Mole brisket burritos with black bean slaw and even a smoked whitefish torta sandwich with fried plantain and cilantro
- Muiishi Makirritos (Houston) Saki ‘n Soy pork belly rice plate with slow poached egg and kimchi
- Delta Bound (Nashville) featuring a barbecue chicken waffle combo with kale chips
- Saffron Jak (Phoenix) Chinese BBQ pork flatbread pizza with jalapeño & spicy cabbage; Cheeseburger pizza with housemade pickles
EPISODE 514 – VIVA LA WAFFLE!
- Viva La Waffle (Lafayette, LA) Crawfish & smoked sausage grilled cheese; wonton waffle with spicy cream cheese, blue crab and crispy chow mein noodles
- Johnny Blonde (Hamilton, Ontario) Peachy Blonde flatbread sandwich with grilled chicken, peaches and a red pepper piri piri sauce
- Challah (Columbus, OH) Modern Jewish cuisine
- El Toro The Tot (Denver) Spanish Blue Burger with blue cheese and smoked paprika aioli
EPISODE 515 – SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF CHEESE
- Rock-a-Belly (Phoenix) Chubby Checker: a Philly cheese steak loaded with ribeye, peppers ‘n onions and spicy white cheddar sauce
- Hungry Rooster (Victoria, BC) The Slapdown, a pierogi grilled cheese with bacon and onions
- Boîte à Fromages (Montreal) European comfort foods
- Biscuit Love (Nashville) “The Princess” with triple spiced fried chicken, honey, and white wine mustard on a biscuit
EPISODE 516 – PLANET OF THE CREPES
- Flip ‘n Patties (Houston) Beef and Pork sausage burger with fried egg and banana ketchup aioli
- Moe Deli (Los Angeles) Jewish and Chinese fusion, braised beef brisket & chili mango slaw in the form of an egg roll
- Braz-BQ (Philadelphia) Hamburgao with bacon, ham ‘n eggs
- Planet of the Crepes (Tucson) Fresh made pesto, mushroom & goat cheese crepe; asparagus, prosciutto with a soft poached goose egg
EPISODE 517 – DEAD BEETZ
- Frank Truck (Phoenix) Lobster mac and cheese dog, The Bandit with housemade bourbon barbecue sauce and smoked Spanish onions
- Micklethwait Craft Meats (Austin) Sixteen-hour-smoked beef brisket with jalapeño aioli and avocado
- Deadbeetz truck (Victoria, BC) Ribeye steak sandwich with housemade chimichurri sauce
- Lagniappe Today (San Antonio) Crawfish étouffée pistolette (Cajun crawfish stew) served in a fried roll
EPISODE 518 – SERIAL GRILLERS
- Kurbside Eatz (Houston) Triple cheese curry beef burger with a fried egg
- La Cocinita (New Orleans) Latin-Creole fusion, Venezuelan slow braised beef pita with cilantro avocado sauce
- Bite Into Maine (Portland, ME) Fresh lobster rolls
- Serial Grillerz (Tucson) The Psycho cheesesteak with melty pepperjack cheese and jalapeño
EPISODE 519 – SEOUL FOOD
- Sushi and Seoul On A Roll (Orlando) Holy Goat Roll with seared yellow fin tuna, tiger shrimp and goat cheese
- Big Kiwi’s Gourmet Eats (Denver) New Zealand cuisine, pancetta ‘n beef burger with beet chutney and fried egg
- Peached Tortilla (Austin) Southern style sliders and tacos with an Asian flair
- Steel City Sandwiches (Los Angeles) Sandwiches stacked with coleslaw and fries
EPISODE 520 – RULE BRITANNIA
- Feisty Jack (Toronto) Crispy scotch egg made with a quail’s egg and lemon sage ground pork
- Crepe A Diem (Nashville) Duck confit stuffed apple, flambéd in cognac with toasted pecans
- Luncha Libre (Phoenix) Bacon sausage beef burger with serrano peppers, served on French toast
- Lola Deux (New Orleans)! Hot Mess sandwich with housemade pimento cheese, baked ham and creole mayonnaise
EPISODE 521 – THE SPICE IS RIGHT
- Frencheeze (New Orleans) Angus beef sliders with serrano pepper, bacon and 3-cheese sauce
- Spice Sea (San Antonio) Seared scallops with pomegranate and sambal chili sauce
- Street Eats (Denver) Fried green tomato BLT with candied bacon
- Crazy Carl’s (San Antonio) Smoked turkey caprese with 8 hour hickory smoked turkey breast and housemade pesto
EPISODE 522 – MIAMI MIA
- Il Fiorentino (Miami) Potato ravioli with Parmesan fondue and sautéed radicchio.
- Treehouse (Orlando) The Hot-Ness burger: a habanero packed beef burger served with cilantro and sour cream
- Mister Canteen (Knoxville) Egg Banjo sandwich with fried egg, hot pepper relish and a side of handcut fries
- Chocollazo (San Antonio) Choklava: a crispy filo pastry with chocolate hazelnut spread, cinnamon infused honey
EPISODE 523 – MONSTER TRUCKS
- Curbside Chef (Orlando) Filipino-inspired citrus baked tilapia with basmati rice Burger Monster (Orange County, CA) Mighty Melt, a bacon cheddar burger loaded with tempura fried onion rings
- Vegan Nom (Austin) Vegan tacos: maple-miso glazed sweet potato with salsa verde and avocado
- Wheelie Gourmet (San Antonio) Moroccan sandwiches with saffron & lemon chicken and a spicy ground beef Kefta with tzatziki sauce and feta
EPISODE 524 – HOUSTON, WE HAVE A FOOD TRUCK
- Eatsie Boys (Houston) Lamb and feta burger with fresh greens and soy vinaigrette
- Savoury and Sweet (Knoxville) Cinnamon pumpkin ravioli with candied walnuts
- Cafe Rouge (Orlando) Shepherd’s pie made with a slow-cooked, red-wine infused black angus beef filling, topped with cheesy mashed potatoes
- Orange Crunch (Denver) Filipino cuisine, Bison empanada with shredded papaya and fried egg
EPISODE 525 – SWEDE AS CAN BE
- Bernie’s Burger Bus (Houston) The Field Trip burger with a gorgonzola and bacon-stuffed beef patty topped with prosciutto arugula salad
- Aji Mobile (Phoenix) Tripleta sandwich with grilled steak, pulled pork, ham and spicy Peruvian Aji pepper sauce
- Green Meanie (Columbus) Chicken and spinach croquette sandwich served on fry-bread with avocado and wasabi ranch dressing
- Swede Dish (Orlando) Mashed potato and crab salad hot dog wrapped in fresh-grilled flat bread
EPISODE 526 – FOODIE CALL
- Miso Hungry (Los Angeles) Sake and Chili infused Ramen noodle burger with shiitake mushrooms and egg
- Foodie Call (New Orleans) Roasted porchetta sandwich topped with creamy apple arugula salad
- Ladybird (Houston) Tokyo Dog with house-smoked goat cheese spread, Japanese mayo and Bonito fish flakes
- Bem Bom (Orlando) Portuguese cuisine lamb burger with housemade jalapeño tomato jam and lemon feta compote
