Trailer of Lights is ON: Dec 18th

Exciting!  Trailer Food Diaries and partners are bringing another unique event to Austinites and those visiting our city during the Holidays.

If you're in need of family-friendly Christmas nostalgia in a funky Austin setting, come check out the first-annual Trailer of Lights event at Seaholm (the Power Plant) just off Ceaser Chavez. Trailer food vendors will be there to offer you samples from their menus at $5 or less and local artisans will provide you with some unique gifts for a fun shopping experience. Rumor has it we will be playing a classic holiday film between small sets from local musicians. Experience the swanky light display and come get your hot cocoa on for an eco-friendly celebration all for a good cause.


Saturday, December 18th
12p(noon)-10p


Seaholm Power Plant

*Free to the public; suggested donation of 1+ canned food item benefitting the Capital Area Food Bank

Please help us plan by with your support on Facebook: Trailer of Lights

Contact Tiffany@trailerfooddiaries.com if you would like to be an artist vendor or trailer food vendor.

A current list of trailer food vendors includes:
Hey Cupcake
Chi'Lantro
Torchy's (trailer repair willing)
Austin Daily Press
Crepe Crazy
Sugar Shack BBQ
Short Bus Subs
Colibri Cuisine
the Peached Tortilla
Kate's Southern Comfort
the Flying Carpet
Cutie Pie Wagon

86 This

- Location: Outlier - 108 East Main St. / Pflugerville - @Hanovers Draught Haus
- Hours: Thursday - Saturday: 6 PM - 1 AM
- Telephone: 512-284-5825
- Website: www.86thisaustin.com / Facebook: Eighty Six This / Twitter: 86this
- Cuisine: Sandwiches & Burgers - menu rotates

Business partners Michelle & Mark had a similar love for the hustle and bustle of the food industry when they met working at a local tex mex restaurant here in Austin.  While Mark’s resume includes everything from prep work in the kitchens to front of the house serving food and alcohol, he realized he wanted to be a restaurateur during the time he was in culinary school.  Michelle has been a hostess and waitress and really enjoys event coordinating alongside their trailer vending endeavors.

Rather than offering a set menu, the ‘86 This’ menu concept is developing organically.  Mark offers a unique perspective to the question “Whats for lunch?”   In his words, “I see so many vendors trying to hang their hat on one specific dish or sauce, and I wanted to let things develop.  Our menu for South by Southwest was street food type fare things to walk away; when we parked at Hanovers, we did more bar food.  We aren’t stuck with anything.  We are kind of open; we are caterers and we can make everything from our truck.”   His personal favorite item on the menu is ‘the multitasker’ which was developed from his mother’s recipe of a roasted brisket and mashed potato sandwich.  Michelle loves their cheeseburgers.

They worked with Felix of ‘Kitchen on Wheels’ in New Braunfels when it was time to find their trailer.  Interestingly, Felix had found a their current box in North Carolina.  It was one he had previously worked on and sold, but he found it again with all the bare bones in place. 

The pair is very positive about the trailer food movement in Austin.  “Everytime we see a new food trailer – we are happy for them, even if it’s a half hearted attempt.  We want to be in the scene because we are caterers and festival people.  You never know who is thinking outside of the box.  Don’t be scared to follow your dreams.”

Hola Aloha!

- Location: Southside - 2113 South Lamar
- Hours: Tuesday – Friday: 12 PM - 4 PM

              Saturday: 12 PM - 5 PM

- Website: www.holaaloha.com / Twitter: holaaloha

- Cuisine: Shaved ice and gourmet waffles made with homemade fruit syrup. 

A former entertainment wardrobe stylist and set designer, it wasn’t Chella’s intention to start a food trailer business.  She was back in town after touring with a ballet company doing wardrobe when a dear friend of hers approached her about a coffee trailer start up.  After some initial research, Chella offered the shaved ice idea.  With her friend’s heritage in Hawaii, and her growing up in West Texas with Raspados (the latin version of shaved ice), the snow cones made more sense to her although she was serious about providing a healthier option for the summer time snack.

Inspired by her Aunt Mary who always made everything from scratch with fresh ingredients, without using recipes, Chella serves only wholesome homemade goodness out of her trailer.  She makes all the syrups with organic juices and flavors, generally fresh fruits and berries.  Depending on the ingredients she will use organic cane sugar or agave nectar for the sweetener.  Her personal favorite is the Lemon Ginger syrup with Coconut ice cream at the bottom and her equally delectable best seller is the Strawberry Basil with a sweet leche dulce cream.

Odd Duck Farm to Trailer

- Location: Southside - 1219 South Lamar Blvd.

- Hours: Tuesday - Saturday: 5:30 PM - 10 PM 

- Telephone: 512-695-6922
- Website: www.farmtotrailer.com / Facebook: Odd Duck Farm to Trailer 

- Cuisine: Locally-sourced high end cuisine. Menu changes frequently 

  

Bryce Gilmore is the founding father of the Odd Duck concept and food trailer.  His culinary visions for upscale fine dining blended with the local food movement makes Odd Duck's creations a must-eat on any trailer food crawl.  He uses locally sourced ingredients by shopping at a few of Austin's favorite farmers' markets, which means his menu changes based on what is 
available seasonally.  The Pork Belly Slider is one of his favorites, and is his best selling item on the menu.  

Be sure to appreciate the craftsmanship on his food trailer; he drove all the way to Wisconsin to pick up his current model and repurposed it himself to give it a porch-screen feel.  His 700 lb wood-burning stove in the back allows him poetic license to blend the right smoke to food combinations that will leave your taste buds wanting more.  I want to try the grits with the soft-boiled duck eggs and mushrooms next time we are out.


Bryce picked up some of his culinary artistic flare from his father, Jack Allen, a founding chef at Z'Tejas who now has his own place.  However, Bryce also went to culinary school in San Francisco.  His advice to new trailer businesses?  Get Creative.  Show us something new.

Local.  Sustainable.  High End Foods.  What more could you ask?  Go see Bryce at Odd Duck, and tell him the trailer food diaries sent you.