My FOOD TRUCK Brand: PART 1
Food trucks are popular food establishments that are on the rise all across the world. Food trucks are easy to operate, can navigate throughout cities easily, are operated at much lower costs than brick and mortar restaurants, and can help build brands quickly. In my opinion, I think food trucks, on average, have better food than restaurants because the food in food trucks take a little longer to prepare; the way food is prepared definitely makes a difference in how food tastes. In Houston, food trucks are plentiful and can be found everywhere in the city. Because of this, I’m including all of my favorite black-owned and minority-owned food trucks into a series called My FOOD TRUCK Brand. My FOOD TRUCK Brand will target ethnic food trucks that add authenticity to the local community. Let me take you on a journey to these savory parked locations…
STUFF’d Wings
In the black community, fried chicken is a main food staple that is served with soulful sides that include but are not limited to black eyed peas, macaroni and cheese, candid yams, cornbread, and mustard greens; it’s served on and at several occasions and events, such as dinners, Holiday parties, baby showers, etc. Many people have their own twists to this dish like coating the chicken with lemon pepper seasoning, marinating the chicken in hot sauce before frying it, and frying the chicken in the oven; some people even have their own secret recipes. However, there’s one way that I’ve never had fried chicken, and that way is stuffed or STUFF’d.
Owners, Jarrod and Prisoria Rector of STUFF’d Wings, have taken fried chicken to the next level by stuffing it with southern and Gulf Coast favorites like seafood boudin, dirty rice, and macaroni and cheese. The Houston natives began creating their savory masterpiece, after Prisoria, who loves Cajun foods and fried chicken, would ask Jarrod to cook dinner; he would combine Cajun foods and fried chicken together to make sure his wife was happy. Now, the duo owns a food truck that’s stationed throughout the week until sellout on the corner of Tierwester and OST in Third Ward.
Of course, I had to experience the fried chicken for myself. The food truck has a simple 3-step process for the ultimate satisfaction. First, I picked my wing quantity, which was 8 count; the wing quantities include 5 counts, 8 counts, 10 counts, and 15 counts. Second, I had chosen my stuffing option (seafood boudin, dirty rice, and macaroni and cheese), which was seafood boudin because I’m a huge fan of seafood; yes, you can order more than one stuffing for your wing quantity. Third, I had chosen a dipping sauce (CHI, hot, and BBQ), which was the CHI sauce; this signature sauce is like a sweet hot sauce that adds a sweet kick to the fried sensation.
Y’all, my seafood boudin stuffed fried chicken was out of sight! The crispy chicken was seasoned entirely and reminded me of my grandma’s fried chicken on Sundays. The seafood boudin, which included bits of shrimp and crawfish, complimented the chicken very well; there was a bunch of odd flavors mixed together to create one big flavorful experience. I was thoroughly surprised. To put the icing on the cake, the CHI sauce didn’t disappoint!
As you can tell, I will go back to patronize STUFF’d Wings again! Due to the price ($14.00 for my 8-count meal), location, customer service, and flavor, I give this food truck 5 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)! Please note that because STUFF’d Wings is a food truck, service will be a little slower; as a result, call in to order and/or give yourself about 30 minutes of waiting time. Also, make sure you get their early or before they sell out, which is always a guarantee!
Off the Leash Hot Dogs
In America, hot dogs are major deals in places like Chicago and in New York, where they are consumed daily as a snack. In general, hot dogs are enjoyed by everyone, except me. LOL. Hot dogs are commonly served with condiments, such as ketchup, mustard, chili con carne, pickle relish, cheese, sauerkraut, onions, mayonnaise, bell peppers, etc. Also, people mostly enjoy hot dogs in buns, while some people use white bread. Either way you enjoy your hot dog, this popular snack is an important part of the American culture.
Furthermore, I would like to confess that I’m not a big fan of hot dogs, unless they are grilled. Yea, I’m kind of picky and strange. LOL. However, I will try specialty hot dogs, since they are different and could actually be tasty. One day, I was scrolling on Instagram and had come across Off the Leash Hot Dogs; I’d instantly become a fan before even tasting food. I could literally trust the picture for what it was worth; I’d fallen in love with the gumbo sausage, and I had to try it sooner than later.
During lunch, I decided to take a short trip to Third Ward, my favorite neighborhood in Houston, to indulge in Off the Leash’s creations; I made sure that my stomach was empty, so that I could fully enjoy my hot dog. Owned by the friendly Dashaunda, this food truck reminded me of an old school Scooby Doo van in the 1970s; with the respective appearance, I knew that I was in for a treat. As previously mentioned, the gumbo sausage caught my eye; this style of hot dog, which was $10.00, is topped with crawfish étouffée, which is similar to gumbo but is thicker, has a darker roux, and focuses on one meat out of shrimp, crawfish, or chicken.
Now, let’s talk about the taste of the hot dog. The gumbo sausage was grilled, in contrast to all of the other meats, which are smoked; it was soft and very tasty. It was also a little spicy due to the Cajun spices inside of it. The crawfish étouffée, which comes from the French word “to smother,” was amazing and was some of the best I’ve had; it included plump crawfish and Creole seasonings. The étouffée was kind of sweet and had a unique taste that I won’t soon forget. The sausage, also covered with garnish, rested inside of a sweet sourdough bun that made the overall taste even sweeter but not too sweet to enjoy. Too, the gumbo sausage was accompanied with delicious plain Lays-like chips!
In conclusion, I definitely give Off the Leash Hot Dogs 5 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️). Like I’d previously spoken into the atmosphere, I really did enjoy the gumbo sausage.
Houston Sauce Kitchen
Veganism is in full effect, and it’s becoming more popular than ever before; the propaganda that meats are injected with chemicals, even though vegetables are too, and can cause cancer is helping to fuel growth in this lifestyle. No, I’m not vegan and will never be vegan, but while in Third Ward during lunch on last week, I spotted a black owned food truck in the parking lot next to Crumbville, TX. This food truck was the popular and up-and-coming Houston Sauce Kitchen, so I had to give it a shot, despite my meaty lifestyle.
Vegans and husband-and-wife duo, Courtney and Chasitie, definitely have created a food project that will continue to be appreciated by the local community. It all started about 3 years ago when Courtney made hot sauce from extra peppers that his friend had. His hot sauce was so good to the point where it led him to establish his own sauce company, Houston Sauce Co.; his hot sauce, which is made with all natural ingredients, was sold and used in several restaurants and businesses across town. However, there’s a twist. After success with the sauce, the married couple owned a BBQ food truck, but later on, decided to change the concept to vegan comfort food, after becoming vegan. Their food following began to surge after they would host local events where Courtney, a chef, would cook and Chasitie, a DJ, would spin records; they still host such events at a local natural hair salon. What an interesting background! Their food is even more interesting. A tasty interesting…
At this plant based food truck, you can order anything from vegan nachos, Cajun quesadillas, and kale scramble to truffle fries and a plant based brunch. They are really known for their vegan boudin balls; I love “regular” boudin balls, so mentally, I wasn’t ready to try vegan boudin balls just yet. Instead, I wanted to go with something more safe, so I ordered the “Fried Chik’n Sammich” with fries ($12). Because it was vegan, I wasn’t being dramatic. LOL. The sandwich was actually better than I’d expected it to be; the fried vegan chicken, made out of soy bean curd, was crispy and much lighter than chicken; it was seasoned with Cajun spices that I appreciated. Also, included in the sandwich were tangy pickles, juicy tomatoes, fresh lettuce, and a spicy homemade sauce that completed the sandwich. The burger buns were slightly toasted, as well. Overall, the sandwich reminded me of a fried chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-A.
Last but not least, the fries were excellent! They weren’t too crispy or too soft. They were seasoned with sweet and spicy Cajun seasoning and garnish. The fries were my favorite items of the meal.
Even though I’m not vegan, I give Houston Sauce Kitchen 5 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️). Please note that Houston Sauce Kitchen changes their menu daily and travels through out Houston when in service. Check their Instagram profile for location updates.
Binghiman Jerk Chicken
Americans are no strangers to Jamaican food, especially the ones who reside in the Northeast and in South Florida. Mouthwatering Jamaican jerk chicken, steamed cabbage, Jamaican oxtails, curry chicken, rice & peas, plantains, curry goat, rum punch, etc. can be found easily in the respective areas. What about Houston? Surprisingly, Houston has a growing Caribbean population. Jamaicans are leading the population explosion and are adding to the diversity that makes Houston different from its Southern peers like Dallas, Charlotte, and Atlanta. With about 15,000 - 20,000 Jamaicans, Houston has one of the largest and fastest growing Jamaican populations outside of NYC, Miami, and Hartford, Connecticut. As a result of these facts, the Jamaican influence is evident in Houston's food scene with several restaurants located in all parts of the metro area. One food establishment that showcases the country's authenticity is Binghiman Jerk Chicken.
Owned and operated by a friendly Jamaican, Mr. Roy, Binghiman Jerk Chicken specializes in authentic Jamaican cuisine. The food truck is known for its famous hot & spicy Jamaican jerk chicken; it is also known for Mr. Roy’s jerk sauce that’s composed of 18 different Jamaican ingredients. However, when I was in Third Ward on a rainy Sunday, I decided to order the curry shrimp meal ($12.00), which also included steamed cabbage and rice & peas. Let me tell y’all that this hearty meal was everything for which I could ask. The meal included about 15 plump and juicy shrimp that was simmering in a homemade sauce that was infused with garlic, thyme, ginger, curry spice, coconut milk, and other Jamaican ingredients and spices. The curry shrimp reminded me of Jamaica’s version of crawfish or shrimp étouffée. It had very bold flavors that prohibited me from putting down my fork, as I ate in the car in the parking lot.
Next, the steamed cabbage was amazing too; it was a large portion. The cabbage was spicy and wasn’t crunchy; the cabbage included juicy tomato bits, which I thought were different but tasty with the cabbage. Under the cabbage, the rice & peas rested in all its glory. The rice & peas was pretty moist from the coconut milk used to make the rice & peas and from the cabbage juice. Eating the curry shrimp, cabbage, and rice & peas together was an experience that I will never forget.
All in all, I give Binghiman Jerk Chicken 5 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️) due to its flavors, hearty portions, and prices. Please note that Binghiman Jerk Chicken travels through out Houston when in service, so be sure to check their Instagram profile for location updates.
The Color Cone Food Truck
Alicia Gaines and her husband, Fred, have created a masterpiece with their food truck endeavors. The duo has mastered the creation of infusing our favorite cereal within vanilla ice cream. Sounds exciting, huh?! It tastes even better! Not only do they infuse cereal into ice cream, they top the tasty concoction with tasty treats, such as marshmallows, gummy bears, sprinkles, caramel, fudge, fruit, etc. I know it sounds even more tempting now.
In order to get a truly satisfying treat, there’s a 3-step process to complete. First, you have to choose between a cone and a cup; the cones are flavored: Birthday, Lemon Pie, CoCo, Creamsicle, Strawberry, and Blue Vanilla. I’m not a cone person, so I got a cup during my visit. Second, you have to choose your cereal of choose (swirl-in). I’m a huge fan of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, so I chose that brand of cereal as my swirl-in. Also, if you want extra cereal for a swirl-in, then you have to pay $1.00 for each addition. The third and final step involves the choosing of your favorite toppings. You have the luxury of choosing up to 3 of your favorite toppings; of course, if you want extra toppings, then you have to pay $1.00 for each topping. When it comes to desserts, I’m really simple, so I’d chosen only one topping, which were Teddy Grahams, for my treat.
The final product was out of this world. The crunchiness and cinnamon from the Cinnamon Toast Crunch complimented the vanilla ice cream really well. The Teddy Grahams were deliciously softened by the ice cream; as the ice cream melted with the swirl-in and soft Teddy Grahams in tact, it took me back to my childhood, when I would drink milk from a cereal bowl.
If you thought the ice cream cones and cups were amazing, then wait until you get a hold of this new addition: dessert waffles! Yes, you heard me! Dessert waffles! There’s a 2-step process with utilizing the dessert waffles. First, you choose a chocolate dipped waffle: milk chocolate or white chocolate. Second, you choose up to the three toppings, ranging from cereals to fruit; each additional topping is $1.00.
Color Cone has it going on! Alicia and her husband, Fred, are very friendly and are approachable; you can find the dynamic duo in and around Houston at various events, such as festivals and markets; check their Instagram profile for location updates. This small business’s treats do not break the bank. My treat was $5.oo, and I thoroughly enjoyed the Color Cone experience! As a result, I give this special food truck 5 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️).
As you can tell, I enjoyed every last one of the listed food trucks and what each had to offer. As a result, I was compelled to create My FOOD TRUCK Brand, and I will continue to share with y’all my favorite food trucks across the Greater Houston area. If you have any recommendations, then please comment below! In the meantime, stay tuned for Part 2!