Category: Food Trucks/Street Food

  • Boston Needs a Toast Truck!

    We've been talking toast around here because that's one of the things we've been seeing and hearing more about the past few months. It's also something we'd like to see more food folks explore.

    If you know someone who has been itching to start a food truck, tell them it's time Boston had a "Toast Truck." Other cities have toast trucks and we think Boston's turn is overdue.

    DSC_7716 - Version 22015-12-22-avacado-toast-eggs-good-fat-aleppo-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    Great Bread is the start of any great toast, so we think the Toast Truck should partner with a great bakery like Clear Flour or Iggy's. Many of the great toast meals we create begin with bread from one of those places.

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    Select Oyster Bar's Black Mission Fig Tartinettes with Smoked Rhode Island Bluefish. (More photos here.)

    Maybe the toast truck could follow the lead of Parish Cafe and feature menu items created or inspired by the great chefs around Boston. Michael Serpa from Select Oyster Bar should be one of the first to be asked. 

    Banana IMG_5259 - Version 22015-12-29banana-nutmeg-toast-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    How many slices?

    One great thing about a toast meal is that you can have as many slices as fit your appetite. If you want to snack on a single slice of Banana and nutmeg on toast, you can order one slice. If you're training for a marathon and just did a long run, you can order two or three!

    Conveyor_toaster

    Photo from Wikipedia post on toasters

    One reason we often have something on toast is because it's quick – and quick is essential to food truck success. With one of those classic diner conveyor toasters on board, a crew could create traditional "toaster" toast in a jiffy. They could also broil, fry, grill, or oven-toast.

    Even the logo and graphics would be easy since most food trucks are already shaped like toasters.

    Yes, we think a Toast Truck could be a hit. What would you like to see offered by a Boston Toast Truck?

     

    What's on your Food Lover's shopping list?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • Bun Thit Nuong: A Fresh, Cool Summer Dish from Vietnam

    Do you think cool, crisp, and refreshing when you think of Asian food? If not, it’s time to begin exploring the food of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. When dining out, we’ve even surprised some of our dedicated ethnic-food-loving friends when we add a selection of refreshing summer items to our table’s order.

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    Here's one of our favorite versions of Bun Thit Nuong from Pho Basil. We opted for grilled lemongrass chicken as our protein addition to this lovely noodle salad. 

     FullSizeRender

    Asian Salads

    In their treasure of a cookbook, Hot Sour Salty Sweet: A Culinary Journey Through Southeast Asia, authors Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid talk about the salads they found along the Mekong river. 

    “Salads are such a basic part of eating along the Mekong that they can almost be considered a staple food. They can be as simple as a wedge of parboiled cabbage and a plate of fresh cucumber slices or as elaborate as a mixed array of greens and herbs flavored with a dressing of succulent fried minced pork and a hot-sour-salty fresh dressing …”

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    Here's the take out version from Pho Basil. However, if you are not near their Back Bay/Symphony location, you can find a food truck take on this dish from Bon Me.

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    They call it noodle salad. Wikipedia says the name, “literally means ‘rice noodles [with] grilled meat.'" At Bon Me and local restaurants, you may have the choice of topping it with the pork, lemongrass chicken, tofu, or beef. 

    The next time you visit a great Vietnamese restaurant consider adding a salad to your order!

    Related Posts: 

    Discovering "Pho Basil"– Finally! 

    Dining-In vs Take-Out, Do You Order Differently?

    Bon Me Noodle Salads & Rice Bowls: Food Truck Tracking

     

    What's on your Food Lover's shopping list?

    Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino (adapted from one of her Fresh & Local newspaper columns)
    Photos: ©2010- 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • Bun Thit Nuong: A Fresh, Cool Summer Dish from Vietnam

    Do you think cool, crisp, and refreshing when you think of Asian food? If not, it’s time to begin exploring the food of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. When dining out, we’ve even surprised some of our dedicated ethnic-food-loving friends when we add a selection of refreshing summer items to our table’s order.

    6a00e54fc42bb888340133f0570b2c970b-800wi

    Here's one of our favorite versions of Bun Thit Nuong from Pho Basil. We opted for grilled lemongrass chicken as our protein addition to this lovely noodle salad. 

     FullSizeRender

    Asian Salads

    In their treasure of a cookbook, Hot Sour Salty Sweet: A Culinary Journey Through Southeast Asia, authors Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid talk about the salads they found along the Mekong river. 

    “Salads are such a basic part of eating along the Mekong that they can almost be considered a staple food. They can be as simple as a wedge of parboiled cabbage and a plate of fresh cucumber slices or as elaborate as a mixed array of greens and herbs flavored with a dressing of succulent fried minced pork and a hot-sour-salty fresh dressing …”

    NTOHgUUCm6u9x2-tOkdrE7_vV6SKg4XOuluFMl45FQw,UfSEcHsxaKUmLuFPOEYyicWizOD1V1VO7l6shhnuaUY

    Here's the take out version from Pho Basil. However, if you are not near their Back Bay/Symphony location, you can find a food truck take on this dish from Bon Me.

    6a00e54fc42bb888340162fbd610c5970d-800wi

    They call it noodle salad. Wikipedia says the name, “literally means ‘rice noodles [with] grilled meat.'" At Bon Me and local restaurants, you may have the choice of topping it with the pork, lemongrass chicken, tofu, or beef. 

    The next time you visit a great Vietnamese restaurant consider adding a salad to your order!

    Related Posts: 

    Discovering "Pho Basil"– Finally! 

    Dining-In vs Take-Out, Do You Order Differently?

    Bon Me Noodle Salads & Rice Bowls: Food Truck Tracking

     

    What's on your Food Lover's shopping list?

    Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino (adapted from one of her Fresh & Local newspaper columns)
    Photos: ©2010- 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • Our Favorite May 2015 Activities and Events

    May is one of those months when we like to get out and enjoy our city and perhaps schedule a few day trips or short getaways to places around the area. After this winter, we have worked to get our assignments ahead and will now take some time off to enjoy spring. 

    CHE_8136 - Version 22013-06-21-back-bay-garden--© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    We already gave you the lowdown on What's happening around Boston in May 2015. That post puts the month into a planning perspective for you. This one is about our faves.

    When if comes to events, we tend to enjoy the quieter side of the happenings roster. Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum on May 10th is more our style. It is the only day you are allowed to picnic on the grounds and they now have a small fleet of food trucks available for the event. 

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    Food Truck Season

    Speaking of food trucks, by May it's normally warm enough to dine al fresco and that means we can do more food truck sampling. The city seems to have lost interest in supporting this great aspect of Boston. So rather than recommend you use the city's site, we suggest you depend on Steve Leibowitz's site, Hub Food Trucks.

    One of our favorite food truck spots is near the fountain at the Christian Science Plaza. It's listed as Belvidere on the schedules. In addition to more trucks and more choices, it has great seating for eating and fun people watching. Here's a link to the Hub Food Trucks schedule.

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    Community Gardens

    It's planting and sprucing up season at community gardens throughout the area. We always plan a walk and photo shoot in the Fenway Victory Gardens in May. Here are some scenes from a past walk. From the Boston Natural Areas Network, here's a community garden locator.

    For Other Tastes

    Over on TripAdvisor's Boston Forum, Penny starts a monthly conversation on what's happening in Boston. The local volunteers who answer questions for visitors and share information among themselves add their favorites to that discussion. If you prefer big organized events, sports, and celebrity events to our quieter tastes, you may find great ideas at this link.

    What's your favorite pastime or event in May? 

    Add your thoughts in the comments below. Tweet them to @BostonZest or send us an email and we'll add your suggestions to this post as an update.

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2012-2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

  • Tenoch Mexican Restaurants & Food Truck

    Tenoch Mexican is adding a bit of south of the border flair to the food options in the North End/Waterfront neighborhood with their new 3 Lewis Street, Boston location. (map)

    IMG_0713 - Version 22014-05-17Techno-north-end-mexican-Carnitas- pork-plato-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    The menu lets you build your own meal with options for platos, tacos, tortas, burritos, quesadillas all with your choice of fillings including a vegetable option. Plus more wonderful choices from enchiladas to tamale. A sample menu is here. But, there was much more on offer at the North End location.

    DSC_2141 - Version 22014-05-17Techno-north-end-mexican-Carnitas- pork-plato-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    For lunch, we decided on a plato of carnitas, salsas, beans, and rice along with …

    DSC_2132 - Version 22014-05-17Techno-north-end-mexican-Carnitas- pork- tacos-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    three tacos filled with lamb in barbacoa sauce. (Ours were sans cilantro. You can have them add as much as you like.)

    DSC_2126 - Version 22014-05-17--greenway-christopher-columbus-park-marriot© 2011 Penny Cherubino (1)

    With Christopher Columbus Park so close, we opted for a bit of waterfront dining on a gorgeous spring day. You might choose a table on the Greenway or a seat along the Boston HarborWalk.

    There's a Tenoch Food Truck, Too!

    Tenoch-Mexican-Tortas-on-Greenway-Food-Truck

    Photo by Matt Conti from the most wonderful hyperlocal resource NorthEndWaterfront.com

    Tenoch Móvil is on the road around Boston, Cambridge, and Burlington as of this date. You can get updates on the current schedule on twitter @TenochMexican.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List? Shop Amazon for all your kitchen & dining needs and support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino, and Matt Conti for the Tenoch Móvil with permission of NorthEndWaterfron.com.

  • Tenoch Mexican Restaurants & Food Truck

    Tenoch Mexican is adding a bit of south of the border flair to the food options in the North End/Waterfront neighborhood with their new 3 Lewis Street, Boston location. (map)

    IMG_0713 - Version 22014-05-17Techno-north-end-mexican-Carnitas- pork-plato-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    The menu lets you build your own meal with options for platos, tacos, tortas, burritos, quesadillas all with your choice of fillings including a vegetable option. Plus more wonderful choices from enchiladas to tamale. A sample menu is here. But, there was much more on offer at the North End location.

    DSC_2141 - Version 22014-05-17Techno-north-end-mexican-Carnitas- pork-plato-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    For lunch, we decided on a plato of carnitas, salsas, beans, and rice along with …

    DSC_2132 - Version 22014-05-17Techno-north-end-mexican-Carnitas- pork- tacos-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    three tacos filled with lamb in barbacoa sauce. (Ours were sans cilantro. You can have them add as much as you like.)

    DSC_2126 - Version 22014-05-17--greenway-christopher-columbus-park-marriot© 2011 Penny Cherubino (1)

    With Christopher Columbus Park so close, we opted for a bit of waterfront dining on a gorgeous spring day. You might choose a table on the Greenway or a seat along the Boston HarborWalk.

    There's a Tenoch Food Truck, Too!

    Tenoch-Mexican-Tortas-on-Greenway-Food-Truck

    Photo by Matt Conti from the most wonderful hyperlocal resource NorthEndWaterfront.com

    Tenoch Móvil is on the road around Boston, Cambridge, and Burlington as of this date. You can get updates on the current schedule on twitter @TenochMexican.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List? Shop Amazon for all your kitchen & dining needs and support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino, and Matt Conti for the Tenoch Móvil with permission of NorthEndWaterfron.com.

  • Clarendon Street Food Truck Move

    The food truck parking spot that was located on Clarendon Street (between Newbury and Boylston) has shifted across Boylston Street next to Trinity Church.

    PC2_3416 - Version 22014-05-07-beach provincetown-fog© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    This is probably a good move since it's closer to Copley Square's benches, lawns, and fountain for dining spots. We highly recommend this general area for visitors who would like to try a few trucks. There are three parking spaces surrounding Copley Square with up to five trucks at busy times.

    Here is the city's food truck link.

    In addition to this spot, you'll also find as many as three trucks right behind the Copley Fairmont Hotel on Trinity Place and one truck on the Boylston Street side of the Boston Public Library near the MBTA station.

    We highly recommend a visit to Steve Leibowitz's Hub Food Truck site for the most complete and up-to-date coverage of the area food truck scene. 

    Here's a link to our Food Truck/Street Food coverage.

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2014 Penny Cherubino  

  • Clarendon Street Food Truck Move

    The food truck parking spot that was located on Clarendon Street (between Newbury and Boylston) has shifted across Boylston Street next to Trinity Church.

    PC2_3416 - Version 22014-05-07-beach provincetown-fog© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    This is probably a good move since it's closer to Copley Square's benches, lawns, and fountain for dining spots. We highly recommend this general area for visitors who would like to try a few trucks. There are three parking spaces surrounding Copley Square with up to five trucks at busy times.

    Here is the city's food truck link.

    In addition to this spot, you'll also find as many as three trucks right behind the Copley Fairmont Hotel on Trinity Place and one truck on the Boylston Street side of the Boston Public Library near the MBTA station.

    We highly recommend a visit to Steve Leibowitz's Hub Food Truck site for the most complete and up-to-date coverage of the area food truck scene. 

    Here's a link to our Food Truck/Street Food coverage.

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2014 Penny Cherubino  

  • Vesta Mobile Wood-Fired Pizza at the Wayland Winter Farmers’ Market

    We could smell pizza from the moment we opened the car doors in the parking lot of the Wayland Winter Farmers' Market at Russell's Garden Center.

    DSC_0806 - Version 22014-02-01Vesta-Mobile-woodfired-pizza-Wayland-winter-farmers-market-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Signs led the way to the gloriously copper clad Vesta Mobile Wood-FIred Pizza oven and it's surrounding pizza preparation area.

    PC2_1907 - Version 22014-02-01-Vesta-Mobile-woodfired-pizza-Wayland-winter-farmers-market-russell's-garden-center-massachusetts-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Pizza was definitely going to be our choice for lunch.

    PC2_1908 - Version 22014-02-01-Vesta-Mobile-woodfired-pizza-Wayland-winter-farmers-market-russell's-garden-center-massachusetts-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    This one is a market special. On the Vesta Facebook page they said, "The Beetza is Back!.. on the menu that is …featuring oven roasted Winter Moon Roots Beets from Hadley MA."

    DSC_0845 - Version 22014-02-01Vesta-Mobile-woodfired-pizza-Wayland-winter-farmers-market-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Check out the rest of the menu from last week. Our choice was the Margherita, since we think this is the best test of a pizza makers art. 

    PC2_1998 - Version 22014-02-01Vesta-Mobile-woodfired-pizza-Wayland-winter-farmers-market-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Here's our lunch sliced into six pieces with fresh basil added at the last moment.  

    We took it back inside since the always warm and welcoming Peg Mallett from Russell's had pointed out the tables they had provided throughout the greenhouses for shoppers to enjoy all the lunch options available at this delightful farmers' market.

    (In case you missed it, more about the market part of our visit here.)

    Three of us shared the pizza and it scored big thumbs up all around. Penny will be following Vesta to watch for places where we might enjoy their great preparations again. They will be at the Wayland Market each Saturday through March 15th. 

    One more reason to take a ride to Wayland on Saturdays. 

    PC2_1911 - Version 22014-02-01-Vesta-Mobile-woodfired-pizza-Wayland-winter-farmers-market-russell's-garden-center-massachusetts-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

  • Vesta Mobile Wood-Fired Pizza at the Wayland Winter Farmers’ Market

    We could smell pizza from the moment we opened the car doors in the parking lot of the Wayland Winter Farmers' Market at Russell's Garden Center.

    DSC_0806 - Version 22014-02-01Vesta-Mobile-woodfired-pizza-Wayland-winter-farmers-market-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Signs led the way to the gloriously copper clad Vesta Mobile Wood-FIred Pizza oven and it's surrounding pizza preparation area.

    PC2_1907 - Version 22014-02-01-Vesta-Mobile-woodfired-pizza-Wayland-winter-farmers-market-russell's-garden-center-massachusetts-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Pizza was definitely going to be our choice for lunch.

    PC2_1908 - Version 22014-02-01-Vesta-Mobile-woodfired-pizza-Wayland-winter-farmers-market-russell's-garden-center-massachusetts-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    This one is a market special. On the Vesta Facebook page they said, "The Beetza is Back!.. on the menu that is …featuring oven roasted Winter Moon Roots Beets from Hadley MA."

    DSC_0845 - Version 22014-02-01Vesta-Mobile-woodfired-pizza-Wayland-winter-farmers-market-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Check out the rest of the menu from last week. Our choice was the Margherita, since we think this is the best test of a pizza makers art. 

    PC2_1998 - Version 22014-02-01Vesta-Mobile-woodfired-pizza-Wayland-winter-farmers-market-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Here's our lunch sliced into six pieces with fresh basil added at the last moment.  

    We took it back inside since the always warm and welcoming Peg Mallett from Russell's had pointed out the tables they had provided throughout the greenhouses for shoppers to enjoy all the lunch options available at this delightful farmers' market.

    (In case you missed it, more about the market part of our visit here.)

    Three of us shared the pizza and it scored big thumbs up all around. Penny will be following Vesta to watch for places where we might enjoy their great preparations again. They will be at the Wayland Market each Saturday through March 15th. 

    One more reason to take a ride to Wayland on Saturdays. 

    PC2_1911 - Version 22014-02-01-Vesta-Mobile-woodfired-pizza-Wayland-winter-farmers-market-russell's-garden-center-massachusetts-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino