All Star Trailer Chefs + Trailer Food Traveling

I'm off to Taos, Crested Butte, Florida and Yellowstone over the next several weeks and I'm on the lookout for some of our country's best food trucks for my next cookbook.  I have had a few recommendations, but please tweet at me if you have some you think I should try @trailerfood.  While I'm en route, I wanted to leave a few links up highlighting some of the Austin trailer food all star chefs in previous articles:

• Bryce Gilmore.  My first TFD blog post was about Odd Duck Farm to Trailer in ATX 4/13/2010 - since then, chef Bryce Gilmore has opened his brick and mortar restaurant Barley Swine, and been honored as one of Food & Wine's best new chefs of 2011.  Here is a recipe for his grilled carrot salad with brown butter vinaigrette.

• Aaron Franklin.  Here is a 5 minute trailer (short film) my team created after the first annual Gypsy Picnic featuring none other than Franklin BBQ (2010).  With press from Bon Appetit, New York Times, Texas Monthly, the Austin Chronicle, and more they are the BBQ darling of North America.  

• Paul Qui.  Best known nationally for recently winning Top Chef, his trailer concept East Side King is recognized locally as one of the best food trailers in town.  Winner of the 2011 Gypsy Picnic fan favorite, and taking down awards in the Austin Chronicle Readers Poll as well as the Austin Food Blogger Alliance favorites, Austin loves them some Paul.  Here is their recipe for the Thai Chicken Karaage, which is also featured in the Trailer Food Diaries Cookbook: Austin Edition. 

North Austin welcomes the NATY

North Austin has previously not been a part of the traditionally South and East Austin food trailer parks.  But as of this Saturday, the NATY (North Austin Trailer Yard) changes all of that.

The NATY Grand Opening Party
Saturday May 12th: 1p-9p
1012 W.  Anderson Ln. (78757)

The NATY offers diverse foods in a trailer park setting.  You can try a little of everything and check out the full story on Culture Map:

• Snarky’s Moo Bawk Oink: Sandwiches on baguettes or pitas 
• Genuine Joe's: Coffee/smoothies 
• Big Fat Greek Gyros: Greek cuisine
• The Dog Pound: Hot dogs and snow cones 
• Michi Ramen: Japanese noodles 

BikeCaffe Austin

Conveniently located in downtown Austin at 816 Congress Avenue, the BikeCaffe is a beautifully crafted bike trailer that serves responsibly roasted coffees and teas.  "We love that coffee is a luxury item that most people can afford.  We love helping people enjoy that part of the day," says owner Jerry Strickland as he's telling me about their beans and leaves.  "Our roaster goes to el Salvador and has a relationship with growers and communities," he continues.  BikeCaffe is savvy about real world complications that their partnering communities endure on a daily basis.  "That cup of coffee has an impact on the part of the world where it came from; it's easy to not think about that.  Being involved in fair trade coffee, we need to make sure what we are doing is benefitting the community."  That's why Jerry and wife Lara are putting together a bike donation program to help the farmers who are carrying the beans long distances.

The bike itself was made in Boulder, Colorado and the name is a nod to their Italian heritage.  They have a full commercial espresso machine built in Italy and they use an old Italian method for pulling the espresso that is likened to a Guinness pour.  Having been to Italy, the couple loves the culture and history there and the coffee they say, is one of the best parts. Local pastries from Quacks bakery gives vegans and non-vegans alike yummy breakfast snack options to accompany their latte.  My personal favorite was the honey vanilla chai.  BikeCaffe Austin is open Monday-Friday from 7:30a-1p on the corner of 9th and Congress.  Jerry reminds you, "Coffee is a great common denominator."  So grab a friend and stop by for an al fresco cup of feel-good joe and tell them Trailer Food Diaries sent ya!