Gypsy Picnic Trailer Food Festival

I don't know about you, but I had a fantastic time at the Gypsy Picnic this past Saturday. I was really impressed by the whole thing. It was a bit overwhelming at first trying to decide where to eat from. There were over forty vendors and each one looked delicious. Thank you Maggie, Sarah, Brittany, Kevin, Ryan, Chloe, Missy, Anna, Anthony and Curtis for coming out and representing Foodie Food Carts!
The festival was smartly organized. Each trailer offered certain items off of their regular menu and also offered at least on $3 "sample". Genius. I decided to start at Mmmpanadas because I have been meaning to eat there for a while now. I got one of each empanada they were selling, the Pumpkin, Argentinean and Spinach sample. My favorite was the Spinach, greatly due to the delicious aioli they offered as a garnish. Then I went over to Colibri Cuisine because I have also been meaning to go there and had a chicken fajita quesadilla sample. It too was wonderful! I went to the Prius tent for a while, made a shrinky dink, colored a t-shirt, won some pretty hip sun glasses and watched some people try to do a Prius packing contest/race. Later I went over the concert area and listened to Dale Watson. It was so nice out and felt so good being outside I ended up staying all afternoon. Before I left I stopped at Verts and had a Berlin inspired chicken kebap. Oh yeah! Also, as I was leaving, I met the lady who put this whole thing together, Tiffany Harelik. She's got a great blog and has put a cookbook together featuring recipes from local food cart chefs. Yup, I picked up a signed copy on my way out. I'm already dreaming about next year's Gypsy Picnic.

We're baaaaaack! Well, we've been back, but now the blog is back too. The last six months have been great and Foodie Food Carts has grown, taking in stray foodies, new Austinites and international vagabonds. We did take a hiatus over the summer due to unfathomable temperatures that make even the most devout foodie lose their appetite. But cooling weather reignited the group and in the past month or so we've been to G'raj Mahal (again, because Cazamance was closed), Luke's Inside Out, Ms. P's Electric Cock Fried Chicken, Correanos, and Regal Ravioli. Amazing. Delicious. I'm craving it all right now.

Highlights: "The Chicken" at Luke's Inside Out and knowing that you are eating food cooked by the same guy who has catered for EVERY amazing musician ever. The fact that Ms. P's Electric Cock exists, plus the unbelievable crispy and delicious batter of the fried chicken, and Ms. P herself. Kim Cheese Fries, because that combination should not be good but it is absolutely extraordinary. Butternut squash ravioli and five star dining courtesy of the amazing gentlemen of Regal Ravioli.

So here is what I am thinking concerning reviews. Instead of reviewing food carts here, let's bring our comments to them! That way the trailers benefit from our experiences. So go to these sites and tell 'em what you think of 'em!

g'raj mahal: http://www.yelp.com/biz/graj-mahal-austin

Luke's Inside Out: http://www.yelp.com/biz/lukes-inside-out-austin

Ms. P's Electric Cock: http://www.yelp.com/biz/ms-ps-electric-cock-austin

Correanos: http://www.yelp.com/biz/coreanos-austin

Regal Ravioli: http://www.yelp.com/biz/regal-ravioli-austin

Man Bites Dog

Hot Dogs
$
manbitesdogaustin.com
Bathrooms: Yes (and cleaner than yours)
Alcohol: BYOB
Seating: Yes (indoor and outdoor)
Parking: Yes
Cash Only: No

Awesome hot dogs. All beef, chicken, lamb and veggie dogs jazzed up in spectacular ways. Blue cheese and wing sauce, Greek style, pesto mayo, classic, bratwurst, pretzel bun, you name it! A full meal that will cost you 5 dollars, doesn't get much better than that!

The Jalopy Rotisserie and Press

Sandwiches
www.jalopyaustin.com
Parking: Street
Bathrooms: No
BYOB: Yes
Seating: Yes
Cash Only: No

The Jalopy serves amazing and unique sandwiches from a semi truck. They have several interesting sauces to accompany the sandwiches including mole, peanut sauce, parsley and basil pesto, and Asian bbq. Also, the freshly made veggie chips are fantastic! Jake was an amazing host and was very informative and friendly. The kicker of the Jalopy is the method they use to serve you your sandwich...a slide!

Lucky J's Chicken and Waffles

Chicken and Waffles
$-$$
www.luckyjs.com
Parking: Yes
Bathrooms: No
Alcohol: BYOB
Seating: Yes
Cash Only: Yes

LOVE IT! Chicken and waffles served burrito style, wrapped in tin foil. Can't go wrong. Tasty fried chicken wrapped in a waffle, drizzle it with syrup and you're golden. Or get it with swiss cheese and bacon, or get bacon cooked in your waffle, or get an egg breakfast taco in your waffle, whoa! Will be back for more...

Clem's Hot Diggitty Dogs

Hot Dogs
$
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000358228629
Parking: Yes
Bathrooms: No
Alcohol: BYOB
Seating: Yes
Cash Only: Yes



Tried out Clem's Hot Diggitty Dogs on a whim because Me So Hungry was having frozen pipe problems! They drew us in with the free boiled peanuts (odd, yet addicting) and then won us over with the hot dogs. They use New England style hot dog buns, delicious and buttery and really make a great hot dog. Go there.

G'raj Mahal

Indian Food
$$$
Parking: No
Bathrooms: Yes
Alcohol: BYOB
Cash Only: No
Seating: Yes




G'raj Mahal was a whole new food trailer experience because it offers full service. It is beautifully set up with a patio with lights, decorative curtains and heat lamps. Also, it shares it's space with the Austin Bike Zoo which offers interesting decoration. Even though it was in the high thirties that night it was very busy. Because of the crowd the service was very slow, but if it hadn't been so cold it wouldn't have mattered. The food was amazing. Samosas, Naan and Curry, YUM! Also, they get points for live music. Go to G'raj Mahal!!!

East Side Drive-in

Trailer Food Park on E. 6th
eastsidedrivein.com
Parking: Yes
Bathrooms: Porta Pottys
Alcohol: BYOB
Cash Only: Yes, but there is an ATM on site
Seating: Yes


This week we spiced things up and did things a bit differently. We chose the location, but not the cart. East Side Drive-in is a really nicely set up and fairly new trailer food park on E. 6th. It has a really nice selection of food carts to choose from including Ugly Banjo's, Local Yolk, Pig Vicious, Bits and Druthers, Nineteen Bus, One Love Kitchen, Pueblo Viejo and the Vegan Yacht. We had our choice of Mexican food, home-cooking, local eggs, hamburgers/hot dogs/phillys, food involving bacon, vegan drinks and sandwiches, and more. It had a super nice feel with lots of tables and the seating was enclosed by the circle of food trucks so it felt distant from the road.