Devouring Houston: Exploring Houston One Bite at a time

Houston has so many incredible food establishments...from sumptuously designed restaurants to fun storefronts selling gourmet cookies. From Mexican Food Carts to the Best BBQ in the World. And...I want to expore it one bite at a time.



Saturday, May 14, 2011

Haute Wheels Houston: The Food Truck Festival

The Haute Wheels Houston - The Food Truck Festival - is running today and tomorrow. 


Beautiful weather, many food options, fellow Houstonians, wine, beer, what could be better?  I was so in!

First up, Bernie's Burger Bus.  I have been wanting to try Bernie's for months!  I kid you not.  I just couldn't get my schedule and their schedule to jive.  So, upon entering the Festival...Bernie's was the absolute first place I went. I made a beeline...And, I was not disappointed at all.  The food lived up to all of the hype.

Bernie's Burger Bus

I tried the "Pre-Schooler" -- slider with Texas cheddar, ketchup, pickle and mustard.  This burger was Incredible (with a capital "I").  Moist.  Flavorful.  Very flavorful.  Extreme flavor.  Cooked medium.  Not the least bit overcooked.  The bun was soft.  And, the fries...they were just as tasty.  Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside.  Excellent potato flavor.  Sea salt sprinkled on the outside.  I love salt, so the amount of salt made me happy, but if you aren't quite as much of a salt-oholic as I, then the fries might be too salty.  But, seriously, don't let that deter you.  The fries were Fabulous (with a capital "F").  And, the ketchup is made in-house.  The burger was divine.  I was so, so, so happy with Bernie's Burger Bus.  So happy.  (Side note, how long until Bernie's Burger Bus has a bricks and motar location?  The food is too delicious to last too long before investors line up). 

Bernie's Burger Bus'  Pre-Schooler

Next up, Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen's No Border Bus. 

No Borders

I ordered the Beef Fajita.  Yum.  Yes, that sums it up.  Yum.  The meat was very tender.  I mean, melt-in-my-mouth tender.  Nice marinade.  I ordered it all the way with raw onions, cilantro, and salsa (which was more like a sauce).  The fajita was not too spicy, but a baby-kick worth of hotness for flavor.  I ordered it on a flour tortilla which was soft and perfect.  Excellent fajita. 


No Borders' Beef Fajita

Then, over to The Rolling Hunger truck.  I loved the name....had to try it!

The Rolling Hunger

I ordered the Korean Beef taco.  Although, I had to wait forever to receive my order, it was worth it.  This taco was delectable.  Ground beef with Asian flavors, and a touch of sweetness and spice (I ordered it with pico de gallo). Served on a corn tortilla.  Fabulous.  Very tasty. 

The Rolling Hunger's Korean Beef Taco

Okay, now for the sweet treat trucks:  first up: MMM Cupcake.  I ordered the Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cupcake with chocolate frosting.  Pretty good.  The cake was moist.  Yipppeeee....A moist cupcake (too many bakers make dry cupcakes. Ugh).  The cake was courser, but not crumbly or dry.  Great chocolate flavor.  I loved the chocolate chips inside the chocolate cake.  I did not like her frosting.  It reminded me of a chocolate cream cheese, although I was promised there was no cream cheese in it.  Also, the frosting-to-cake-ratio too low.  The confection needed more icing.

MMM Cupcake's Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cupcake

Finally, Angie's Cake. 
Angie's Cake

Angie is the Queen Cake Ball Extraordinaire.  Seriously.  Cake balls are all that she makes, and she is very good at it.  I tried three flavors:  Peanut Butter (because ANYTHING Peanut Butter is heavenly), Lemon (because it is always refreshing), and Vanilla (because basic vanilla is a great standard by which to judge,er, uh, I mean, compare, cakes).   All three were very good.  I wish the peanut butter one had been more peanut butter-y.  The Lemon was indeed refreshing, light, and easy to eat.  The vanilla was light and airy, and extremely subtle with the flavor.  All the cake balls were very moist and very easy to pop in my mouth and eat, savor, and love!  I wish the flavors had been a little stronger, but let me not complain.  The cake balls were yummy, delicious,delectable!

Angie's Cake's Chocolate, Lemon, and Vanilla Cake Balls

Well, that is the end of my taste testing food trucks at the food festival.  I was out of money ($16 tickets to enter and then the food purchased at each truck added up!), and my tummy was full.  But the real reason I stopped eating was due to the LONG lines.  Seriously.  It was ridiculous.  I do realize the success of the food truck phenomenon is because of the fresh, made-to-order food, but for a festival - when all there is to do is eat at food trucks - exceptions need to be made.  Maybe some pre-prepared items and a smaller menu.  The lines were continuing to grow when I left....

Never ending line at a food truck (pack your patience!)

I do wish that I had tried the Good Dog Hot Dog Truck, Eatsie Boys, and Fusion Taco.  I'll have to find these trucks out on the streets one day.  But my favorite named truck (that I didn't get to try) was Hit n' Run: Killer Street Food.  Love it! 


Hit n' Run -- Killer Street Food

The Haute Wheels Houston Food Truck Festival (the first) was a success in my eyes.  Aside from the very long lines (pack your patience and grab a drink....), the vendors provided some great food.  The weather was beautiful, and all the attendees looked to be having a good time (although I did see some patience being tested).   I look forward to the next Haute Wheels Houston!

3 comments:

  1. a success? were we at the same festival? The tickets were obviously over sold. It cost me $16 for a sunburn and hunger pain! The food was already sold out after I waited in line for 2 hours and I got there at 1:00!

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  2. No offense, but I am gonna have to agree with Leyla. This event was a complete and utter disaster. I organized a large group...got there at 3pm on that Saturday, and was told at the door all the food was out. Got my refund and went home.

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  3. Kevin, someone misinformed you. I know we (Custom Confections) served til our line was gone (about 5:30pm on Saturday and 5:20pm on Sunday) and I know plenty of other trucks were still serving too. Hope you come out to the one in the fall and have a better time.

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