Spotted here and there…food trucks in Edmonds!

Traveling restaurants on wheels… a fairly new phenomenon in its current format, but their history goes way back to post Civil War times! Chuck wagons fed the hungry herders while on cattle drives.

Mobile food trucks have been around for years, serving construction sites and other blue collar professions. The food truck resurgence was fuelled by a combination of post-recessionary factors. The construction business was drying up, leading to a surplus of food trucks. Chefs from high-end restaurants were being laid off. For experienced cooks suddenly without work, the food truck seemed a clear choice.

A recent movie, “The Chef” tells a similar tale. The Chef, played by Jon Favreau, longs to be more creative. He leaves the confines of a high-end restaurant and takes his Cuban-inspired cuisine on the road. Foodies be warned…the previously consumed popcorn won’t assuage the urge to stop at the nearest spot that has pulled pork! Even my husband, who limits his diet to mainly fish and vegetarian options, was drooling by the end of the film.

Here and There Grill is parked at several Edmonds locations every week! We caught up with them at the American Brewing Co., in Harbor Square, Edmonds; the truck stop on Friday evening from 5 to 8 p.m. They will happily deliver your order to you inside, to enjoy with your brew.

Ham and Brie Sandwich – black forest ham, double cream brie, Fuji apple slices, huckleberry pepper jelly on French toast bread. My first bite took me back to Disneyland and my first ever “Monte Cristo” sandwich! This version is healthier and I appreciated the extra kick in the jelly!

Shrimp Po’Boy caught my hubby’s attention and he’d wisely reserved one of the last available that evening! Crispy cornmeal breaded and fried shrimp was so light it was not too much to have with the equally crunchy French baguette. Lettuce, tomato, pickle slices and amazing citrus remoulade had us fighting over the last bite!

Yes, I did get three entrees… research is hard work! The Black Bean Sliders is a vegetarian entrée of black bean patties, fresh spinach, tomato, red onion, avocado and spicy roasted jalapeno mayo on slider buns. I am not ashamed to admit I hogged two of the three in the basket! They were perfect with the Watermelon Gazpacho

All orders come with sides of orzo salad or fries. Since we had three orders, the Watermelon Gazpacho in lieu of extra fries made sense. A savory soup, perfect on a hot summer evening and won’t make it harder to pull on my jeans. The food I write about is somehow finding its way to my hips.

On Wednesday, diners were lining up at 4th and Dayton in Edmonds. From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., one can dine on tables in the parking space and relax on a summer afternoon. I chatted with Natasha Jaksich and Ken and Christine Wilson, while they were waiting for their food. They shared that this is a weekly event for them. Diner Tina Papantos drove all the way from Woodinville. All agreed this is fabulous cuisine!

You can also visit Les Schwab, at 23110 Highway 99 in Edmonds, on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for yet another opportunity to dig into the truck’s mobile repast.

I understand that one can receive email announcements that include the menus for each week. Sign me up, please! Here is where you will find more information and photos to drool over too.

Rumors of other trucks… that I have not been able to spot and sample just yet include NOMAD Curbside, which has been spotted in Lynnwood. Taqueria’s Los Amigos shows up periodically on Highway 99 in the Burlington Coat Factory Parking Lot.

Also check out Mobile Food Fight for Hunger. This event is in Shoreline. Visit mobilefoodfightforhunger.com for location and more details. Foodies unite to fight global hunger with World Concern and 10 of the top Seattle food trucks. Mark your calendars: Sunday, Aug. 31, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

I would like to keep going with this theme of Diner and Movies! I am anxiously awaiting “The Hundred Foot Journey” to start playing in Edmonds. I have dinner planned for immediately after the show too.

Readers.. Please advise me. Should I make reservations at the Café de Paris… or get an Indian food fix at the Copper Pot? I await your bidding. Email me: restaurantnews@myedmondsnews.com

Happy dining,
Kathy Passage

A specialty gourmet food broker for over 30 years, Kathy Passage has in-depth knowledge on food and the special qualities of ingredients used in the exquisite products she helped bring to market. Kathy brings this unique perspective from the “other side of the plate” to writing about the food and restaurant scene in Edmonds.