The Flying Stove food truck

Wichita’s food truckers, headed up by the guys at the Flying Stove, have decided to start putting on monthly food truck rallies, usually on the last Sunday of the month.

This month, to avoid Memorial Day weekend, the truckers are gathering a Sunday early. The usual suspects, including the Flying Stove plus B.S. Sandwich Press, .SCakeface, Espresso To Go Go, and R&J Concessions will gather from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday at WaterWalk Pavilion. The rally is starting to attract festival-type concessionaires, too. This month, Bakerman Concessions, which specializes in cinnamon rolls, will join the crowd.

The gathering will also have live music, and representatives from the Kansas Humane Society will be there ready to perform on-site adoptions.

Expect the rally to grow in June. Two new trucks, The Hopping Pita andLet’m Eat Brats, have said they’d like to join in, too

http://blogs.kansas.com/dining/2013/05/16/food-truckers-rallying-again-on-sunday/

Food trucks have been cropping up around Wichita lately, and I recently found myself unable to resist the allures they offer.

The Hopping Pita

The newest motorized restaurants offers mouth-watering Lebanese fusion cuisine, but you have to work for it. It took me about 20 minutes from the time I got into the short line until I left with my food. When you have a growling stomach, that is a long time.

While perusing the small menu, I also noticed one poorly placed typo (unless you’d like spit in place of pita bread.) My journey was not off to a good start, but luckily the food changed my perception.

The shawarma was very filling, and the hummus was some of the best I’ve ever had, giving the truck valuable bonus points.

The Flying Stove

The Jamaican jerk chicken tacos had a nice amount of flavor without too much spice, as is implied in the name (perhaps because of the sweet mango chutney on top).

 If you’re in the mood for a sandwich, their Hawaiian Kalua pork on a sweet bun is a good option, with sweet pulled pork in banana leaf and pineapple relish.

One thing that stood out was their efficiency. I waited in line, gave my order, and received my food in less than half the time it took at the Hopping Pita.

Espress To Go Go

With bright chrome sides, the truck made from a 1973 Airstream Sovereign land yacht is hard to miss and a joy to see.

If you’re looking for Starbuck style coffee, you’re not going to find it here. They put much more care into each cup than the any Seattle-based coffee conglomerate.

The vanilla latte I ordered mixed milk, vanilla extract, coffee and cream in a manner that wasn’t too sweet or piping hot.

Their motto, “We are what coffee should be–strong, sometimes sweet, never bitter and ready to knock your socks off!” is one they obviously live by. The only downside is that they don’t serve food.

Cake Face

Cake Face offers a breakfast menu for those in need of a quick meal in the morning, and baked treats for those looking to satisfy their sweet tooth.

Their breakfast bierocks had some nicely prepared scrambled eggs and bacon, but the ratio of ingredients to bread was too small. That meant eating several bread bites before getting to the good stuff.

Their biscuits and gravy, on the other hand, was top-notch. Their brownies were rich in flavor without being too sweet.

Tracking the Trucks

You can follow these and other trucks on Facebook to find when they will be out, and where they are going to be next. Some of them will have permanent locations opening soon to accommodate for those with busier schedules.

http://www.thesunflower.com/entertainment/article_db77a938-b8ce-11e2-a43a-001a4bcf6878.html

Courtesy photo
The Hopping Pita food truck has been delayed by generator problems but should be on the streets soon
Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2013/04/17/2763271/two-new-food-trucks-and-a-food.html#storylink=cpy

Three bites of food truck news

1 The Hopping Pita – delayed: Melad Stephan’s roving Lebanese food truck, which chef Roni Attari will run, has been delayed while a new generator is shipped. The truck should be running soon, Attari said, but he doesn’t know when. In the meantime, people who drive through Old Town Square often can see the green-and-yellow truck parked nearby.

2 The Rolling Dough – coming soon:Another food truck will hit Wichita streets – this one serving wood-fired pizzas. Joseph and Cherre Nestelroad plan to open the Rolling Dough within the next six to 12 months, Joseph said. He’ll be the dough-maker, she’ll be the cook, and they’re now searching for a truck that will accommodate a wood-fired oven. The Nestelroads specialize in “fusion”-style pizza, he said, and they like to play around with recipes that mix pizza and comfort food. A recipe for chicken enchilada pizza is among those they’re most excited about.

3 Food truck party: The guys of the Flying Stove, who frequently organize food truck parties, have another one in the works. It’s scheduled for April 28 at the WaterWalk Pavilion and will feature local truckers such as MMM Sandwiches, Cakeface Bake Shop and B.S. Sandwich Press. R&J Concessions also will be there offering fried delicacies. The event will be from noon to 3 p.m. and will feature live jazz music. Just before the event opens, from 11 a.m. to noon, an outdoor yoga class will be put on by Firefly Yoga Studio. Attendees are asked to bring nonperishable food items, which will qualify them not only for a free drink but also for the yoga class. The Flying Stove guys encourage any other food truckers who are interested in joining in to contact them via their Facebook page.

Quick bites

Food at the Winefest

The Midwest Winefest’s Grand Tasting is Saturday, and while it’s mostly about the drink, it also features a whole lot of food. Stationed throughout the hall will be 19 different restaurants, food vendors and caterers, including new participants Bocconcini Italian Eatery and Empire Catering. Among the other vendors on site will be favorites such as Abuelo’s, Granite City, Newport Grill, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Sweet Basil, Redrock Canyon Grill and more. The Grand Tasting is from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Century II Exhibition Hall, 225 W. Douglas. Tickets are $60 at the door or in advance at 316-219-4849, at the Century II box office or at www.wichitatix.com. To see a full list of the wine and food that will be served, visit www.midwestwinefest.com.

The food trucks just keep rolling and rolling and rolling out. The latest one is German.

Manuela English plans to open Let’m Eat Brats, a German-themed food truck, sometime in May. It’ll serve German brats on crusty bread, warm potato salad, German cabbage, bierocks and strudel, among other items.

English, who is of German decent, has been working as a baker at Green Acres for the past eight years. She’s lived in the United States for 20.

Her children are grown and gone, and she’s decided to give the food truck biz a try. “I figured I’d jump on the wagon, so to speak,” she said.

Let’m eat these

She’ll start with lunch only but may move into dinner, depending on how it goes.

I’ll let you know when the truck hits the streets.

WICHITA — Just as some food trucks in Wichita begin to establish permanent locations, some restaurants are expanding with food truck service.

The latest is the Wichita Brewing Co. & Pizzeria, which will debut theHopperoni Express in about a month.

“We’ve kind of become good friends with the Flying Stove guys,” co-owner Jeremy Horn says of the popular food truck. “Basically their success has kind of inspired us … to utilize that option as a growth plan.”

Coming soon: The Hopperoni Express mobile wood-fired pizza oven!
via facebook

Horn says the truck will make lunchtime stops around the city.

“We want to hit basically the whole city.”

Initially, the truck will serve five types of pizzas at a time, rotating among the restaurant’s signature styles. The pizzas will be 10 inches instead of the restaurant’s standard 12-inch pizzas.

“We want to keep it sort of simple,” Horn says.

The truck also will go to events around the city. Horn says he’s still researching options.

“We want the thing running as much as possible.”

]]> http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2013/04/wichita-ks-wichita-brewing-co-pizzeria-to-debut-hopperoni-express-food-truck/feed/ 0 http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2013/02/wichita-ks-schwarma-truck-to-be-called-the-hopping-pita/ http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2013/02/wichita-ks-schwarma-truck-to-be-called-the-hopping-pita/#comments Mon, 25 Feb 2013 18:00:49 +0000 MFN Editor #1 http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/?p=43721 By Denise Neil | Blog.Kansas.com

Initially, they were going to call it Pita Hut.

Then, Melad Stephan, his son, Jordan, and chef Roni Attari thought better of it.

They’ve decided to call their Lebanese food truck, which should take to the streets soon, The Hopping Pita. 

That name beat out several other clever runners up, including my personal favorite — Eat a Pita.

The Hopping Pita’s launch has been slightly delayed by recent weather developments, but it’s close, Stephan said. He shared this photo of the finished, green product.

I’ll let you know when it’s ready to go.

Kris Maples and his 7-year-old daughter, Mia, in the Offical Bar-B-Q truck. Photo courtesy of Michael Carmody.

Another food truck needs added to the roster.

Official Bar-B-Qoperates out of a  stationary trailer owned by Kris Maples, who is a barbecue chef by day and an official for youth sports leagues all over Wichita by night. The truck never moves from 241 S. Hydraulic.

Maples opened the truck in October and serves items such as brisket, links, pulled pork and more. During basketball season, he’s open from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. When basketball season ends and his officiating duties lighten up, Maples operates the truck from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.  I’m hearing lots of good reviews of the food all of a sudden.

To place an advance order, call 316-871-8977.

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