Food trucks have become a huge part of the experience of visiting Albuquerque breweries, both to my delight and dismay. Dismay because I saw a need for a food truck (at least parked outside downtown bars) back in 2006; even wrote a business plan for it but never followed up on the idea. And look at the phenomenon it has become: trucks outside every brewery that doesn't have its own kitchen, and even a food truck meets craft beer festival.
On Saturday, April 8, from 12-6 pm, Food Truck Festivals of America presents the 3rd Annual Great New Mexico Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival at Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum, or, as locals simply call it, balloon fiesta park. Lots of good beers to choose from, with the list including:
Dogfish Head - Sea Quench, Flesh n Blood, 60 Minute
Avery Brewing- White Rascal, Liliko'i Kepolo, Ellie's Brown Ale
Santa Fe Brewing – Happy Camper IPA, Freestyle Pils, Pale Ale
Sierra Blanca Brewing- Cherry Wheat, Alien Amber, Outlaw Lager
Great Divide Brewing – Colette, Yeti, Titan
Lagunitas Brewing – IPA, 12th of Never, Hop Stoopid
Ska Brewing – Modus Mandarina, Mexican Logger, Pinstripe Red
Abbey Brewing – Monks Ale, Monks Dark, Monks Tripel
Santan Brewing – Mr. Pineapple, Devils Ale, Sex Panther
Breckenridge Brewing- Nitro Vanilla, Dry Irish, Mango Pale
Sandia Cidery – apple, watermelon, cherry
Nuevo Brewing – Nuevo and Bloody Maria
Sierra Nevada- Pale Ale, Sidecar, Torpedo
Green Flash- Pure Hoppiness, Tangerine Soul Style, Passion Fruit
Rio Bravo- Roadkill Red, Pinon Coffee, Snakebite IPA
Wasatch- Hop Rising, Ghost Rider, Off Duty IPA
Pecan Brewing – Hoppin Wheat, Pecan
Upslope- Citra Pale, Craft Lager, Guava
Guns and Oil- Wheat Bock, American Lager
Ballast Point- Longfin Lager, Mango Even Keel, Sculpin
There a quite a few standout beers on that list, and it's a reflection of how times have changed. I remember seeing Pure Hoppiness listed as being on tap at Toronado San Diego a few years ago and the bartender said he had put the sign up but the beer wasn't being tapped till the next day. When I told him we were flying home the next day, he went and tapped the keg for us. That was such a big deal then, but now we can drink it in a park in Albuquerque...thanks, Obama.
The food truck list as of right now (with possible additions to come):
Big Dawg’s BBQ
Castaneda’s Kitchen- Southern fare
Curbside Pies– Italian cuisine
Europa Roaming Kitchen- European cuisine
Gourmet Doner Kebab- Mediterranean cuisine
Joe’s Grub Hub– Specialty sandwiches
JP’s Custard Cart
Karibu Café– Caribbean cuisine
Lil’ Lunch Box– Chili Cheese Treats
My Sweet Basil– Gourmet sandwiches
Mystique- Burgers, brats & burritos
Nomad’s BBQ
O’Bean's Coffee Cruiser
Rescue Pizza
Saep Fire – Asian fusion
Snow Cone Xpress
Street Food Institute-International street food
I thought I knew most of the food trucks in town, but many of these are new to me. I can vouch for Street Food Institute (which employs CNM culinary students). Nomad's BBQ "truck" resembles something you'd see when you're getting your roof tarred but the BBQ is excellent.
My Sweet Basil decorates the exterior of their truck like a Williams Sonoma store and may be the closest to gourmet that you get on wheels. O'Bean's Coffee Cruiser is an East Mountain-based mobile coffee shop run out of an actual 1971 Volkswagen van. Whoa, is this coffee laced with something? I think I'm trippin'...no, wait- those are just East Mountain people I'm seeing.
Ok, so you could choose from a number of ticket options, including an 11 am early admission VIP ticket or a beer lover's package ticket. Even better, you could get in for free! I have a 4-pack of tickets along with $40 in truck bucks to give away to a lucky reader. Send an email to abqbeergeek@gmail.com with "Food Truck Festival" in the subject line and I'll randomly pick a winner. Don't want to get in for free? Go to
http://www.foodtruckfestivalsofamerica.com/abq-nm to purchase tickets.
No comments:
Post a Comment