Doing Whatever It Takes

Whew! 

What a crazy time it's been since our last post! Let’s see, where do we start fearless foodie friends…

We had our first Ranger Creek Brewery open house! Wait, before we get to that as some of you may know it was quite a feat for our beloved Rickshaw Stop truck just to make it there!

It started out like any other Saturday for the crew of Rickshaw…but our 1978 Chevy had other ideas (no, not like Christine folks, ;-) but like a 33 year-old engine that had been sitting around a while.) We admit – we bought it for the looks (I’m a sucker for polished metal.)

The day started normally: I got to BoB, started her up and began making my way to the commissary, but all of sudden she died! ARGH! Lucky for us, I was able to get it started and I pulled into the gas station. But she wouldn’t stay running, so I called Meagan and she came to meet me. We started her up, drove right back to BoB, pulled in and parked. (I’ll forgo all the panicky thoughts rushing through our minds as we pondered WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT RANGER CREEK?!) After a few frenzied minutes we decided we would just go for it and take our chances, not stopping like they did in the movie Speed, but she died again…right in the middle of BoB’s driveway! (Ha ha - we laugh now.) So, we called a tow truck and boy did we get the right one! He was there in no time, he hooked up the truck and we followed him to Ranger Creek…

But wait - it gets funnier…all the time I had been waiting for Meagan and then the tow truck I left 2 voicemails for Mark at Ranger Creek and sent multiple texts ranging from “We have a small problem” to “We may not make it” to “We are getting the truck TOWED to Ranger Creek!” but Mark never responded! I know it’s not that funny but what IS funny is that they had NO IDEA what was going on because they were busy setting up for the 300 people coming to their Open House event. So when we got there with our Rickshaw Stop truck in tow the conversation went kinda like this:
Mark: “Huh, what happened?
Sameer: “You haven’t checked your phone?”
Mark: “Holy $%^& you towed it here!?!?”
Sameer: “Had to bro…”   
☺
Obviously, the Ranger Creek Crew was stoked and happy to have us, ☺ so we had a great day there serving up our tasty street food to all the wonderful folks who attended the Open House and we even met a few new friends. And then the tow truck dude towed us back to BoB! We parked the truck and left the keys with the competent crew of 210 Customs.

Meagan and I flew off to Cozumel the next morning, wish you could’ve been there…

We got back from the no email/cell phone zone (aka PARADISE) and of course Cameron & his crew had fixed the truck - turns out it was a rather minor issue. (If you must know, they adjusted the carburetor.) ;-P

Thanks for reading, hasta luego.

Food Trucking 101: How to Eat at a Food Truck Park

So it’s Friday night, your stomach is growling and you’re feeling adventurous -- what to do, what to do??

How about visit your local food truck park!  

Sure, you will have to brave the outdoors (yes that means going OUTSIDE!) But for your efforts you will be rewarded with great food, fresh air and the possibility of meeting new friends. We suggest bringing at least three friends so the four of you can go about the park in the best way possible. What do we mean by the best possible way? Let’s back up a bit…

Typically when a group of people go out to eat they venture out in the car and eventually end up at "Average Joe's Generic Restaurant." (Since everyone can’t agree on what to eat, the group picks a catch-all type of restaurant to meet everyone’s different tastes.)

Average Joe's Generic Restaurant

On a busy weekend, you will have to wait to be seated (even at a chain) so either you sit/stand inside or even outside the restaurant or make your way to the bar which costs on average 3-5 times what you pay for alcohol at the store. $10-$20 later, you make your way to the table and have a seat. They start you off with some form of free starch for filler. Then you stare at the same menu you probably have seen for the last however many years and everyone gets one thing for themselves and that’s the typical dinner…maybe a dessert to end it. Hope you had a good time. :-P

Now, let’s say the same group goes to a food truck park for a change (sure, some will be dragged reluctantly but as their intrepid foodie friend that you are your words of encouragement and promise of yummy eats wins them over!) You arrive at the park and to everyone's surprise it’s NOT a bunch of “roach coaches” selling simple tacos but gourmet food! 

Boardwalk on Bulverde (BoB) - San Antonio's Premier Food Truck Park!

Wait what’s this? The park is B.Y.O.B! SWEET! Cha-ching saved there. (Please make sure alcohol is cool with individual parks in your area: www.boardwalkonbulverde.com) Now you could just go to a truck serving familiar food and order your dinner OR…. we suggest that each person go to a different truck and get their signature dish to bring back to the table and--wait for it….SHARE your newly found booty with your friends (ah, that would be "treasure" for the non-pirate initiated and not Sir Mix a Lot kind of booty ;-) What a concept! Share your food family style! Then you each go to another truck (or the same truck) and get another round of food! This is the best way to experience a food truck park. By exploring all of the trucks and their menus in a fun and interactive way, you will have a great time with your friends without spending a ton of cash and will leave with satisfied bellies full of upscale and hopefully new to you food.  Then when you go back to visit ;-) you can get your new favorite dish from your new favorite truck. 

Patrons of the park will also find that the vendors are usually very friendly and always willing to talk about their food and experiences running a truck, trust us it is an adventure for sure!  

Well, loyal fans of Rickshaw Stop and hopefully some newly found friends (another shameless plug: please pass the blog around) thank you for spending some time with us reading our thoughts.

Hope everyone had a safe and fun Memorial Day Holiday!

Always looking for new foods to eat, ciao~