Midtown Lunch

 Today Luncher John is feasting from another local truck

When it comes to ingredients used by a food establishment, generally, the more local they are, the better it is for everybody. Local proximity of ingredients means that the meat or produce is fresh and goes from the farm to your plate as quick as possible. Regional food suppliers benefit, and the restaurant’s costs are lowered.

The Local 215 Food Truck, which has been roaming the city’s streets for almost a year, is dedicated to this mission. Most of its ingredients are sustainable and sourced from local suppliers. I’m not quite sure the lobsters for its lobster rolls come from the Schuykill River, but those are among the few exceptions. From these ingredients, Local 215 offers a menu featuring innovative combinations of sandwiches and dishes.

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This past Saturday the 3rd Annual Vendy Awards were held at Penn Treaty Park right on the water. The sun was glowing, the breeze was blowing, the Brooklyn Brewery beer was flowing; it was a perfect day.

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Exciting news! As some of you may know, food trucks are banned on most streets in Center City. Until now, LOVE Park was the main centrally located venue to get your food truck fix. From the hard work of the PMFA and the city, including the very successful courtyard day a few months back, the rotating trucks will now be a daily occurrence.

The rotating list of trucks includes some ML favorites and some we haven’t yet had the pleasure of trying:

Pitruco
Mucho Bueno
Lil Dan
Guerrilla Ultima
Street Food Philly
Local 215
Sweet Box
Dapper Dog
Vernalicious
Baguette Philly
Farm Truck
Cupcake Carnivale
Mini Trini

This is a big day for local business and the people who support them!

• Chewy’s
• Chez Yasmine
• Christos’ Falafel Truck
• Foo Truck
• KAMI
• King of Falafel
• Lil’ Dans Gourmet
• Mac Mart
• Poi Dog
• The Cow & the Curd
• Tot Cart
• Cupcake Carnivale
• Gozen
• Jimmies
• Lil Pop Shop
• Sugar Philly
• Sweet Box Cupcakes

Get your tickets here.

A year ago, my roommate and partner in crime returned to her homeland of Hawaii. I miss that tiny girl a whole lot. While we lived together she would sometimes bring home vacuum sealed Hawaiian delicacies, which I had previously only known about to the extent of what I learned on the finale of Top Chef Season 2. Now I am on my own in seeking out poi, which I actually enjoy, and kalua pork. Thus, I was excited when the Poi Dog cart opened. Its a tiny, roaming cart, bringing big Hawiaan plates to Philly.

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 Today Luncher John is at the new and improved Dapper Dog

One of the new trucks in the LOVE Park regular rotation this year is The Dapper Dog. Originating as a late weekend night hot dog cart in Northern Liberties, The Dapper Dog now has a full-fledged food truck with one regular weekly appearance at LOVE Park. You can easily spot it by the fantastic illustration on the left side of the red truck.

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 And in the spirit of welcoming the trucks back to LOVE Park, today Luncher John is eating from one. 

Looking for a unique style of food not widely offered anywhere else in the city? Pay a visit to the Zea May’s Food Truck and Kitchen. Love Park’s current resident truck on Mondays (and every other Wednesday), Zea May’s Kitchen features Native American-inspired cuisine. Even if you’re not too familiar with the food style, you could probably surmise that squash, potatoes, corn and berries are prominently featured.

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