Review: Royal Chicken and Gyro (Kebab/Gyro)

Food Truck Name: Royal Chicken and Gyro
twitter handle: @asgharboa
website: N/A

cost: (cash only)
menu items:
Chicken over Rice - $7.99
Gyro over Rice - $7.99
Combo over Rice - $7.99
Chicken on Pita - $5.99
Gyro on Pita - $5.99
Combo on Pita - $5.99

wait time: No wait time since the heat made people generally weary of going out and standing in lines.  There were no to little lines at three other food trucks nearby.  The time between order and receiving your food is like most other kebab/gyro trucks, which is short.

"Gyro on Pita"

Today, I ventured out into the heat of the city and found the lines of the food trucks correlating with the rising temperatures; as the temperatures got hotter, the lines grew shorter.  Finding respite only with the occasional cloud cover and the breezes of warm wind, I decided to try one of the suddenly many kebab/gyro trucks.  The Royal Chicken and Gyro Truck, being one of the newer trucks in this crowded field, made my choice easy with only two types of meat and two types of starch for six easy to remember combinations.  I went with the simply Gyro on Pita (see above picture), while a friend went with the Chicken on Rice (see below picture).

The Gyro on Pita was solid with nicely charred lamb pieces that were also seasoned well.  The pieces of meat with fresh chopped onion, lettuce and tomatoes topped with a pleasant "white sauce"/yogurt blended well with the thick pita that quickly soaked up any excess juices.  The only "fault" of this sandwich was that so much was piled on that it was hard to eat as a handheld sandwich.  Instead, one had to treat it as almost an open-faced sandwich or mediterranean taco.  Maybe the pita could have been bigger, but any suggestion for less meat or salad would be the real "fault".  The Chicken on Rice was okay where the chicken and long grained rice both could have been seasoned a little more aggressively.

"Chicken on Rice"

Final Verdict: I would personally go with the tastier gyro meat than the chicken or a combo of the two.  The pita option though smaller is equally as filling as the rice option and two dollars less to boot.  So, if you want a quick, tasty lunch, then feel free to try the Royal Chicken and Gyro Truck's Gyro on Pita, which I personally think is the best deal.

Review: Yellow Vendor (Korean BBQ)

Food Truck Name: Yellow Vendor
twitter handle: @yellowvendor
website: N/A

cost: (cash only)
menu items: (all items $7, drink combo $8)
vegetarian (fried egg on rice with vegetable side dishes)
regular beef/bulgogi (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgogi)
spicy beef
regular chicken teriyaki
spicy chicken
regular combo (beef & chicken teriyaki)
spicy combo (spicy beef & spicy chicken)
regular bibimbap w/ fried egg & bulgogi or chicken teriyaki
(see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibimbap)
spicy bibambap w/ fried egg & spicy bulgogi or spicy chicken
*all served with optional kimchi (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimchi) and extra hot sauce

wait time: The line does take a little longer than it should since each order is literally made-to-order with half a dozen variations, but if there isn't a long line then it takes less than a few minutes to get your food.

"regular bibimbap w/ bulgogi and kimchi"

Today, after a little hiatus from the food trucks last week, I went to an old favorite of mine, Yellow Vendor.  One of the older food trucks (considering that they started out as a regular food cart), I admit I have a soft spot for them.  They pretty much just serve three things (teriyaki, bulgogi & bibimbap), which they do very well.  I ordered my favorite the regular bibimbap with bulgogi and a side of kimchi (see above picture).  Bibimbap literally means "mixed meal", which is what you get with the combination of salads, fried egg and meat.  Unfortunately, they ran out of the bean sprout salad when I got there, which is a shame because that salad provides a nice watery crunch to the whole dish.  The bulgogi (thinly sliced marinated beef) was seasoned nicely that balances between salty and sweetness that only comes from barbecue.  The fried egg cooked over easy with a wonderful runny yolk that mixed with the hot fluffy rice and bulgogi makes something wonderful, almost comforting.  Something akin to soul food, only Asian.  The subtly sweet carrot salad adds another taste and texture as does the kimchi with its vinegarly hotness and the greens salad's bitter briny crunch.  I was only disappointed with the missing bean sprout salad and the fact that the greens salad seemed a little more bitter today than before.  The kimchi that looks very hot actually isn't, and even those who can't take too much heat should be able to handle it.  Those looking for heat can add-on the extra hot sauce and order the spicier versions.

carrot salad (top left), kimchi (top center), greens salad (top right)

fried egg (center), regular bulgogi (bottom)

Final Verdict: For the amount of food you get, for the amount of money you spend, for the overall food experience you get, I think Yellow Vendor is one of the best food trucks out there.  It's definitely a complete package and something that anyone who wants to broaden their lunch horizons should go out and try.  If the Lobster Truck is the gold standard for food trucks out there, then Yellow Vendor is the quiet, yet solid blue collared standard that food trucks should aspire towards.  But don't just take my word for it, go out there and try it out yourself.

Review: Sweetbites Mobile Cafe (Cupcakes & other Baked Goods)

Food Truck Name: Sweetbites Mobile Cafe
twitter handle: @Sweetbitestruck
website: http://www.sweetbitesdesserts.com/
(One of the most aesthetical and functional websites with great pictures and a nice calendar of their schedule, but the prices are listed under their events tab and not the menu tab if you're looking for them.)

cost: (cash, debit or credit)
cupcakes: $3 (wonderful descriptions of each online)
Triple European Chocolate
Cookies 'n' Cream
Chocolate Coconut
Red Velvet
Double Madagascar Vanilla
Madagascar Vanilla with Chocolate Buttercream
Pina Colada (seasonal)
Pumpkin Spice (seasonal)
Chocolate Peanut Butter
Bittersweet Chocolate Ganache
Carrot Cake
Salty Caramel
Baileys Irish Cream (seasonal)

Bars & Cookies:
Lemon Kiss Bars - $2.50
3C Bar (Chewy Chocolate Chip) - $2.50
Chocolate-Dipped Coconut Macaroons - $2
Buttery Sugar Cookies - $2
Dark Chocolate Brownies - $3

Scones, Muffins and Coffee Cakes:
Chocolate Chip Sour Cream Muffins - $2.50
Chocolate Banana Bread - $2.50

Pastries:
Fruit-Topped Cheesecake Bites - $3

wait time: A few minutes to order, pay and receive your order, only the inability to pick from the many different flavors of cupcakes or choices of baked good will add to your short wait.

Today, I decided to take a break from the usual hustle and bustle of the lunch Food Trucks and venture into the niche market of the Cupcake Trucks (or Dessert Trucks can also be used).  After a quick look around, I have to say that Sweetbites is pretty comparable or even better in price than its landlocked competitors.  I got a variety pick of six cupcakes (see above picture) that included the Double Madagascar Vanillla, Cookies 'n' Cream, Red Velvet, Triple European Chocolate, Bittersweet Chocolate Ganache and the seasonal Pina Colada.  Eating them all, though delicious, probably would harmed my "girly figure", so instead I decided to share them with a couple co-workers.  I will focus this review on the cupcake I chose to eat, the Red Velvet (see below picture).

"Red Velvet"

A very good Red Velvet cupcake has three important things.  First, many people are under the false impression that red velvet is just a chocolate cake with red food dye.  They should simply try the Triple European Chocolate instead.  Red velvet does contain cocoa (and it is the reaction between the vinegar, buttermilk and cocoa that created the original red color), but the amounts that should be used shouldn't make it into a chocolate cake.  This particular cupcake balances the nice subtle cocoa flavor without overpowering the senses into thinking that you are eating a chocolate cake, something I cannot say that is successfully done by other competitors.  Second, the frosting traditionally is cream cheese based, but alternatively can be topped with a vanilla buttercream.  This cupcake does the latter to perfection.  The light and airy Madagascar vanilla buttercream melts on the tongue without it being too sweet or heavy.  Third, the interplay between frosting and cake is very important, and here I have to say the whole cupcake works very well.  There's a nice cake to buttercream ratio.

Final Verdict: Most of my co-workers really enjoyed their cupcakes, noting the lovely light buttercream and wonderful flavors.  A small criticism was leveled at the seasonal Pina Colada for the rum buttercream being a little too sweet, but other than that there were plenty of smiles to go around.  So, for an individual quick pick-me-up or an afternoon snack to share with friends, give Sweetbites a try and you won't be disappointed.  If their other baked goods are as good as their cupcakes, then I'm looking forward to trying them soon.

Special Review: The Red Zebra (Wood Oven Pizza)

"Food Truck" Name: The Red Zebra
no twitter handle
no website
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-red-zebra/132880420114197
location: White House Farmers' Market
when: Thursdays, 3 - 7

today's menu: (changes seasonally)
regular tomato and mozarrella with basil - $9
lamb sausage, tomato sauce, mint pesto, goat cheese - $12
roasted corn, chili oil, cilantro micro greens, smoked cheddar, cherry tomatoes - $10
cured pork loin, balsamic syrup, fresh peaches - $11

wait time: depends on when you order, but just simply double the wait time that they tell you and shop at the other stalls, but the pizza is worth the wait

DISCLAIMER: So, I know that there is a "slippery slope" argument here with this review because technically this is not a food truck, though one could argue that the wood oven that is pulled behind their truck could be construed as a "food truck".  This argument could be extended to Food Trucks like Carnivore BBQ who literally dishes out of the back of a pickup truck or Pleasant Pops with their carts at the Farmers' Market.  So, I am making an exception in this one review.

Today, I got the lamb sausage with fresh goat cheese pizza (see above picture).  As I said above, it is worth the wait.  This 9 inch pizza has a nice chewy crust and a wonderful texture that equally comes from the wood fire and a sprinkle of cornmeal.  The lamb sausage is perfectly complimented by the mint pesto and the creamy fresh goat cheese.  Everything comes together nicely in the light tomato sauce.  A perfect afternoon snack or late lunch on a lazy Thursday afternoon.

Final Verdict: If you have time to take a break on a Thursday afternoon and find yourself near the White House, then you should stop by the Farmers' Market and order a pizza from The Red Zebra.  While you wait, browse the many stalls with wonderful local produce, freshly made cheeses, and delicious baked goods.  The Market even allows you to buy tokens with a credit or debit card (with a small $2 charge to the Market) that can be used at every stall if you do not carry cash.  I think it will be the best thirty minutes you will spend.

Review: Basil Thyme (Fresh Pasta) - PART 2

Food Truck Name: Basil Thyme
twitter handle: @BasilThymeDC
website: http://basilthyme.com/
(I have to say that the website is much better now with a nice simple mission statement and twitter feed.  The location tab works nicely via google maps.  I still think the menu font size is too small, but there have been some changes to both menu items and descriptions, both for the better.  Definitely an upgrade from before, but there are kinks to work out.) 

cost: (cash only)
menu items:
From Scratch Pastas of the day - $9
  Maria's Manicotti
  Baked Ziti
Lasagna - $9
  Linda - Like Mama's w/ seasoned beef
  Guissepe - Vegetarian w/ Summer Squash/Zucchini
  Pasquale Italian Meats- salami, Pancetta, pepperoni and Proscuitto
Combo special - $10 (any pasta/entree w/ side salad, dessert & drink)
Dessert - $3
chocolate dipped cannoli w/ house-made ricotta

wait time: impressive turn around time even if there is a line, less than a few minutes from order to receiving your food ("but at what cost?" I wonder, see final verdict)

I returned to Basil Thyme once again to see if this truck, which I had high hopes for, remedied the problems that I had encountered in my previous visit.   I sadly have to report that the results are uneven again.  This time I went with the Baked Ziti that came with a nice side salad (see above picture).  Basil Thyme has changed containers from the sleek plastic to a cheaper styrofoam, but other than environmental impact, this doesn't really change anything.  The salad like the last time was very good with the improvement of pitting the olives.  However, the handmade ziti, which should be the star of the dish was undone by the execution.  The point of fresh pasta is that the inclusion of eggs and water, which dry pasta lacks, makes it more tender.  One could even argue that baking the fresh pasta defeats the whole purpose of using fresh pasta in the first place by masking that texture.  It's a subtle texture feel that completely gets lost in the dried marinara sauce.  The marinara came off more chunky than saucy, and though it had a nice subtle heat to it and not too tangy finish, it strangely lacked any garlic taste.  The fresh basil and shaved pecorino were nice touches, but could not save a dish that desperately needed a splash of olive oil or some creamy ricotta.  Still, there was a good amount and the whole thing was very filling.

Final Verdict: I still believe the combo special (which strangely was not available because Basil Thyme had ran out of cannolis) is the best choice from this truck.  I think a balance between time and quality has not been reached yet.  The shorter wait time from pre-baking than boiling the fresh pasta to order is something I hope that Basil Thyme figures out.  There's a great idea here, but the execution seems lacking.  Maybe, in the future, I'll just wait until they do a simple cooked to order fresh pasta dish in some nice creamy sauce before I come back again.

Review: Feelin' Crabby (Crab sandwich)

Food Truck Name: Feelin' Crabby
twitter handle: @FeelinCrabby
website: http://www.feelincrabby.com/

cost: (cash, debit or credit)
menu items:
Crab Sandwich - $11
(jumbo lump crab, red pepper, lettuce, tomato, kaiser roll)
Crab Salad - $11
(jumbo lump crab, red pepper, lettuce, tomato)
The Best Drinks - $2
(homemade lemonade, homemade ice tea, homemade arnold palmer)
Chips - $1
(crab chips, salt & vinegar, sour cream & onion, bbq, regular)

wait time: depends on the line, but the time between ordering to receiving your order is surprisingly fast

Today, I tried the Crab Sandwich (see picture above) and a Homemade Arnold Palmer.  This wasn't the first time I had gotten this combo since I tried Feelin' Crabby when they first started off a few weeks ago.  I noticed there was a vast improvement between the two experiences.  First, the seasoning of the Crab Sandwich has gotten much better.  They have figured out the right balance of seasonings to make the whole sandwich taste bright without being too heavy.  Second, the mixture of crab used now between local and imported crab is very good.  The amount of crab you get is impressive with nice lumps of crab throughout.  Third, the presentation has also gotten much better with the nice grilled buns adding texture and the chopped parsley and red peppers makes the whole sandwich light and fresh.  Last, the Homemade Arnold Palmer was also better since this time they hadn't run out of ice (which everyone knows is an intregal part of the Arnold Palmer).  Still, if I had to nitpick, I believe the Homemade Tea used in the Arnold Palmer seemed to be a sweet tea, which made it a tad too sweet.  Also, for those of you who are carb counting, they even have a Crab Salad that has been tailored for you.

Final Verdict: All in all, this is a very solid Crab Sandwich but, with the only reservations I have coming from the price.  This is a price that I feel pushes it close to another crustacean offering out there, which I admit can be unfair to compare with.  So, notwithstanding that, I think Feelin' Crabby is definitely something worth a try and maybe even an occasional splurge here or there.