food truck sampling

This weekend was the highly anticipated Food Cart Derby, an event put on by Taste the Local at the 17^th Street Farmers Market. I had planned to go, but didn’t make it (due to a hangover illness). I did however have my fill of food served on wheels.

My coworker and I went on a research mission to see what was being served on the streets of downtown Richmond. I much prefer this to a “court” or “pod” or “derby”. On the streets is where they are meant to be.

We hit four carts within a 4 block radius, Simon’s Café A La Cart, Habanero Mexican Grill, Christopher’s Runaway Gourmay and a cart that I don’t think had a name on 10^th and Cary Sts. Each cart had a unique lunch offering all for well under $10.

At Simon’s, we ordered a wrap that sounds crazy, but tasted really good. They call it a Country Roll, homemade chicken salad, Virginia ham and smoked turkey in a wrap with lettuce, tomato, peppers and red onions. I’m telling you, it was the surprise of the day for $7.

We got a taco salad at Habanero for $6, a barbecue sandwich with hot sauce from 10th and Cary for $5.50 and an amazing assortment of salads at Runaway Gourmay for $5.50. These salads were the other highlight of the lunch. Chicken salad and pasta salad with feta were both right on. The side of pickled cucumbers completely shocked me. These are something that I will be craving for weeks to come.

The folks at the downtown carts have service down to a science. They move people through during the short lunch rush and serve up good product. It was a pleasure to experience the Food Carts in their natural habitat.