The World of Food Trucks

Before there were food trucks, there were street vendors. So before 1691, New York City had enough that they started regulating them that year. In the 1850s, dining cars began feeding travelers on their cross country train rides.

After 1861 when the chuck wagon was invented, no cattle drive would be complete without one. Along with the chuck wagon came the cook for better or for worse.

The “Dog Wagon” made its debut in 1894 outside of student dorms at major Ivy League universities in the east. The sausage vendor’s carts received this label from the undergraduates who frequented them.

Toward the end of World War I in 1917, the army field kitchens used mobile canteens to feed the troops and in 1936 Oscar Meyer rolled out their first hot dog cart, dubbed the Wiener Mobile.

Ice cream trucks made their debut in the 1950s. When I was a boy in Oklahoma, I could be dead asleep in the afternoon, but the first note to ring out from the ice cream truck would have me instantly alert. That truck sure brought smiles to all the kids in my neighborhood.

Another part of my childhood was a horse drawn produce wagon that regularly came down our street. We would hear his familiar call, “At-ta-bat – watermelon and cantaloupe.“ We never could quite understand his call, we just called him the “at-ta-bat” man.

Today, street vendors, which include food trucks and carts, are an integral part of American cuisine. From city celebrations and farmer’s markets to downtown street corners and sidewalks, their mobility allows them to popup just about anywhere.

I often think of them as a county fair on wheels because of their unique offerings. I loved the special treats I could find at the fair – like funnel cakes. There is one booth I look for at the Box Elder County Fair. They have made a special implement that attaches to a drill motor. It will spiral cut a whole potato keeping it in one piece. It is then deep fried to a golden brown and served on a paper plate – it takes up the whole plate.

Like county fairs, food trucks offer food fare that you will only find where they happen to popup. However, if you have a favorite one like I do, you can track them on the internet. Go to their website where you will find a schedule of locations for the month.

Here are some of their offerings –

The World’s Best Corn Dog Truck

This one is a favorite of mine. Their foot long corn dog is a wonderful treat. They also do a half corn dog which they call the “Halfsie.” Other menu items include The Smoked Cheddar Brat which is infused with cheese and dipped in the same batter and Cheesesticks – consisting of Tillamook colby jack and pepper jack cheeses deep fried. Get their schedule and a menu at https://worldsbestcorndogs.com.

The Toasted Cheeser

Premium toasted cheese sandwiches with fresh cut fries. There is emphasis on the premium. The menu starts with the Classic Cheeser and then the sky is the limit. To the basic cheeser they add ingredients to make other delightful delicacies – bacon, turkey, ham, meatball, jalapenos, and more. They make a philly that’s a dilly, but to see the full menu go to https://thetoastedcheeser.com.

Food Truck EL NENE SAMMY

Hector says, “In our food truck we deliver and cater Mexican food with an Argentinian twist. We serve tacos, burritos, quesadillas, keto quesadillas, keto tacos, and vegan menu in the Layton, Kaysville, and Clearfield area. Call (801) 759-2731 for information on locations.

Yum Yum Food Truck

Serving Filipino and Asian fusion food, they have some of the best Filipino food in the world. Their tasty Filipino rice bowls and world famous sauces are not to be missed! Find more information at https://yumyumasianfoodtruck.com

The Zone Bus

The Zone Bus is all about calzones with a choice of Pepperoni and Cheese, Sausage, Pepperoni, and Cheese, BBQ Chicken and Mozzarella, or Veggie and Cheese. Sides include Grandma’s Mac and Cheese or a house salad. https://www.thezonebus.com.

MisoYum

MisoYum serves Korean BBQ, “so fast, so fun, so yum.” They offer a choice of BBQ cups and a variety of sauces to make you smile. https://www.misoyum.com

Waffle Stop and Authentic Salvadorian Café Truck

Serving an extensive menu of Waffles, French Toast, and Crepes along with an in depth taste of Salvadorian Food. https://www.facebook.com/wafflestopandauthenticsalvadoreancafe has a menu and information on locations.

Tacos Mi Mexico

Serving a variety of Mexican food, this truck is found in the parking lot at the Davis Lanes Bowling Alley. Reviews rave about their street tacos. They also serve tortas, quesadillas, burritos, sopes, and Menudo y Birria. While they don’t have a web site, you can get reviews and more information on Yelp at https://www.yelp.com/biz/tacos-mi-mexico-layton.

I found other trucks with Italian, Hawaiian, Cuban, Peruvian, German, BBQ, Vietnamese, Jamaican, and Filipino cuisines. They serve sandwiches, soups, burgers, fries, and all kinds of desserts and yes, you can find wonderful ice cream treats.

Food trucks present far more variety than what you can find in a brick and mortar establishment and that helps people sample foods they may not have a chance to taste otherwise. One thing I have found is that people love their food trucks.