Midtown Lunch

Today Luncher John gives us the run down of another local food truck

The growth in the food truck scene is positive not just for those operating trucks but also for local food producers. Most of these food trucks source their ingredients from local farms and bakeries, which keeps the food fresh and costs down. Farm Truck follows the same philosophy in showcasing the high quality food produced by area farms and bakeries, along with local art that is often hung up on the truck itself. More permanently, it is decorated in an array of colors and with several farm animals. Farm Truck has been making stops at The Porch at 30th Street, City Hall Courtyard and the Navy Yard.

Farm Truck keeps a rotating and seasonal menu, often incorporating ingredients with Southwestern or Asian influences. Typically, there are club sandwiches, tacos and hoagies. Occasionally, there are offerings such as focaccia grilled cheese.

Admittedly, my first experience with Farm Truck was not positive. At a street festival, I tried summer squash tacos (2 for $7.00, 3 for $10.00), featuring summer squash, ricotta, chopped cilantro, onion, black pepper and some honey. The ingredients themselves were fine. The problem was that somehow, perhaps due to the ingredients or another factor, the tortillas fell apart too easily. They split open, creating a bit of a mess and detracting from the experience.

Next, I ordered the Thai chicken sandwich ($8.00), which comes with fresh jalapeno, pickled carrots and cilantro on a hoagie roll. With the carrots and cilantro piled on top of the chicken, the sandwich certainly looks like a bánh mì crossed with a chicken cheesesteak. It looks a little dry, but it is definitely not. The pulled chicken was delicious and moist, with the jalapeno adding some spiciness and taste. The carrots and cilantro helped evoke the Thai flavor, and the hoagie bread was soft and chewy.

Refusing to let the first negative experience deter me, I decided to try some more tacos, ordering up Thai chicken (2 for $7.00). They’re very similar to the sandwich, with sesame ginger chicken mixed with jalapeno, pickled carrots and cilantro. I also added some of Farm Truck’s salsa. Just like the sandwich, the Thai chicken did not disappoint. The chicken was juicy, and there was a distinctive spicy flavor (perhaps from the jalapeno pepper or from the salsa). And best of all, the tortillas held up this time around and did not fall apart.
Farm Truck’s location can be found through its Twitter and Facebook updates as well as on the Porch at 30th Street and City Hall food truck calendar. Enjoy and appreciate the high quality food ingredients we have produced locally.
THE + (What somebody who likes this place would say)

• Delicious Thai chicken, in either tacos or in a sandwich.
• Locally-sourced ingredients used in Southwestern and Asian offerings.

THE – (What somebody who doesn’t like this place would say)

•  The tortillas fell apart on the summer squash tacos.
• I’m looking for something other than tacos and sandwiches.

Farm Truck, Various locations including The Porch at 30th Street, City Hall Courtyard, and Navy Yard
farmtruckphilly.com, @Farm_Truck