Stuff their Stockings with Something They'll Really Want: Food Truck Gift Cards!

Red Jett Sweets Holiday Cupcake

If you saw all the snow on the news blanketing the DFW suburbs this morning then you know that the holidays are fast approaching. This can only mean that it's that time of year again where you have to shell out some cash for the purpose of thanking all of your nearest and dearest for putting up with you for another day! This year, give your friends and family something they'll never expect with a Food Truck gift card. Many of Dallas and Fort Worth's tastiest rolling restaurants offer cards or certificates that will be sure to impress even the most dilettante of diners. Be sure to swing by one of the following trucks offering gift cards before your next White Elephant office party:

-The Bacon Wagon
-Red Jett Sweets
-Ruthie's Rolling Cafe
-Trailercakes
-Good Karma Kitchen
-Rockstar Bakeshop
-Sassy Hot Dogs
-Crazy Sisters
-SoCal Tacos
-The Butchers Son
-Tacoheads
-Gennarino's
-Nammi Truck
-I Scream 4 Cupcakes

Food Truck Fridays at The Shops @ Park Lane

Graphic courtesy of shopsatparklane.com

When I saw the line-up for the inaugural Food Truck Friday at the Shops at Park Lane, I suddenly found the need to stop by Nordstrom Rack between, say, 11 and 2... Greenhouse, Jack's Chowhound, Ruthie's Rolling Cafe, Trailercakes, 3 Men and a Taco, Gennarino's and Ssahm BBQ are the first group slated for tomorrow's food court setting up on the green across from Gordon Biersch. Even if you can't swing by, make sure and go to the Shops at Park Lane's facebook page and vote for your favorite mobile eatery. The one with the most 'likes' under their photo nabs a spot on the center's new digital board!

Food Trucks to Invade Aurora in the Dallas Arts District

Photo courtesy of dallasaurora.com

This Friday, Aurora, a cultural event like no other will be taking place in the 19 Blocks that make up the Dallas Arts District. Having never been to anything quite like this, I'm relying on the description provided by the event's website: "...buildings will become projection screens; streets and courtyards will morph into art galleries; and steel, glass, and concrete will pulse and reverberate..." There will be installations of sound, light and performance from dozens of  American artists and the best part, it's all free and open to the public. With all of this stimulation, count on a hefty number of Food Trucks to be there to feed the hungry masses! The following trucks will be on hand from 7 to midnight with food for purchase: The Bomb Fried Pies, The Butcher’s Son, Enticed Shaved Ice, Gandolfo’s NY Deli, Greenhouse Truck, Jack’s Chowhound, Nammitruck, Ruthie’s Rolling Cafe, Ssahm Korean BBQ, Trailercakes, and Yum Yum Truck. To see a full line-up of the artists showing at Aurora check out their website at http://dallasaurora.com/artists/ and do your mind a favor and go pencil in a little culture this weekend! 

Celebrate with the SPCA at Saturday's "Howloween" Party

The SPCA of Texas is celebrating the opening of the new Jan Rees-Jones Animal Care Center with a big bash this Saturday with plenty of Food Trucks on hand. The whole family is invited to go check out the Howloween party and enjoy Fall activities like bobbing for apples, a scavenger hunt, face painting and a bounce house. To feed the hungry partygoers, Gennarino's, Gandolfo's NY Deli, Enticed Shaved Ice, Trailercakes and Jack's Chowhound will have food for purchase. The event itself is free to the public and you may just find a furry companion to take home with you!

 

Opening Soon: The Cup Cakin Machine!

They say three's a crowd, but not when we're talking about cupcake trucks. Joining Trailercakes and Red Jett Sweets, DFW is about to have a trifecta of mobile sweeteries with the introduction of the Cup Cakin Machine. The idea of a cupcake truck came to proprietress Ashley Greene, a wife and mother of two whose love for baking took this teacher-by-day to enroll in culinary arts classes at night. She plans on starting the Machine as a part-time gig but dreams of making a living out of it all. With the preview of flavors she gave me, I'd say it won't be long until that all becomes a reality. Other than the standard classics like chocolate and vanilla topped with buttercream frosting, here's a few that got my tongue wagging:

• Pumpkin Carrot-carrot cake blended with pumpkin puree and walnuts, with spiced cream cheese frosting
• Strawberry Lemon-strawberry cake speckled with lemon zest, topped with lemon & strawberry buttercream
• Chocolate Butter Cup-peanut butter cake with chocolate buttercream and crumbled Reese's Pieces
• Buttermilk Maple-buttermilk cake topped with maple frosting and real bacon pieces

A few others making the rotating menu include Chocolate Mousse, Cookies & Cream and German Chocolate.The Cup Cakin Machine will only be running on the weekends, but you will be able to order on-line for weekday deliveries. In addition, Ashley also whips up "Cupcake Bouquets" for gifts or as centerpieces at your next party; Picture a whimsical bouquet of flowery frosted cupcakes that comes with your personal message attached. Her fancified sprinter van is also available for private parties, showers and weddings. 

Expect to see the Cup Cakin Machine making her maiden voyage come the 1st of October, give or take a few days. She's got a few Dallas locations in the works (with other cities to follow in 2012), but is definitely looking for a willing host to provide a steady site. Find the Cup Cakin Machine on Twitter, Facebook or at their Website and, as always we will keep you updated on their whereabouts!

Food Trucks: The Next Trend in Wedding Catering

Being a girl in my late 20's, my friends are coupling up at an alarming rate.  Save the date magnets, shower invitations and registries are ruling my life; but what I really want to know about is the food. Well, that and the open bar situation. 

If I have to hear another bride prattle on about food stations and how cute mashed potatoes can look in a martini glass, I might just vom. I came across an article from The Knot a couple months back and I thought my future of attending weddings was looking up. The newest catering trend for nuptials is mobile trucks and carts and I could not be more thrilled. Maybe you're having a casual afternoon event where food trucks provide your main course, or a soiree the size of Wills & Kate where trucks provide fare for late night revelers; either way I'm all over this. 

If you want to consider this for your own wedding, make sure you read The Knot's "Wedding Catering: Everything you need to know about Wedding Food Trucks" And if you book Ruthie's Rolling Cafe or Trailercakes for your own affair, I bet you can count on more people check-marking that 'yes' box on your terrifically expensive Vera Wang reply cards. 

Step-by-Step Oh My Ganache! Recipe from Trailercakes

If you haven't met Bubbles, the Airstream about town delivering Trailercakes' heavenly cupcake confections, then you are truly missing out! The lovely duo Heather and Leora share a super-secret recipe just for Big D Food Truck fans. See my step-by-step instructions for this rich, glossy frosting: 


What you will need:

• Stainless steel or any heat tolerant bowl
• Medium-sized saucepan
• Mixing spoon
• Measuring spoons/cups

• 1 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream
• 1 Tablespoon Unsalted Butter 
• 6 Teaspoons Sugar
• 1 ½ Cups Chocolate chips or bakers chocolate (Chips are usually easier) Get creative! You can use semi-sweet, dark, white, etc.

Instructions:

• Break chocolate into small pieces (unless using chips) & place in a heat tolerant bowl.   
• Boil the cream, butter & sugar in a medium saucepan.  
• Once the cream/sugar mixture comes to a boil, pour it over the chocolate and let stand 4-5 minutes. Do not let it cool for much longer.
• Stir the mixture, starting from the center until it appears smooth.  
• Let cool & enjoy on cakes, fruit, pretzels etc.

Dip pretzel rods & lay on wax paper

Pretzels, frozen bananas & chocolate walnut cookies

Enjoy! And as the gals at Trailercakes say, Happiness is in the Frosting.