Just Pictures: Off The Grid (Part 2) & Edgewood Eats

Off The Grid is expanding out of SF and opening up in different cities in the Bay Area!  Just last Monday, Off The Grid held a soft opening in downtown San Mateo with a few food trucks.  We went there solely for the reason of the two below pictures, Chairman Bao.  We've seen this food truck a few times now and there are always really, really long lines.  We desperately needed to check out what this bao thing was all about, so knowing that they were at a soft opening in a city that was so close to work, we had to go!

Truck and menu

(From left to right)

Braised pork with cabbage and preserved mustard seeds on steamed bun

Tender pork belly with pickled daikon on steamed bun (the BEST one)

Red sesame chicken w/ pickled cucumber & carrots on baked bun

Palo Alto also has a food-truck event on Mondays called Edgewood Eats.  Located in a small runned down plaza off Embarcadero Street, this event features about 10 trucks from 5 - 9 pm.  Bring your own chairs and blankets, and enjoy a good variety of food trucks on a Monday night!

An The Go (from owners of Thanh Long and Crustacean in SF) and their special garlic noodles (so yum!)

Litte Green Cyclo

Sweet potato tots with spicy mango ketchup

Special of the day - five-spiced chicken spring rolls with seafood sauce

Just Pictures: Off The Grid

Food trucks are the new food movement of the 21st century.  It's not just greasy and (sometimes) unsanitary Mexican food in ugly and broken down trucks anymore.  It is creative, amazingly delicious, and comes in every different type of cuisine you can ever imagine!

My first knowledge and experience of the revived food truck-ing business was in Los Angeles on a business trip.  I heard about this Korean food truck called Kogi BBQ with delicious Korean-style tacos, burritos, and even quesadillas!  Immediately, I was sold.  I stalked their Twitter page and drove in crazy LA rush hour to get a bite of this food.  My first try was a total bust.  The truck never showed up and 20 minutes later, a sad Twitter update said that their truck broke down.  A few weeks later I was back in town, and this time I was determined.  I went during a lunch run and waited for 30 minutes with tons of other people.  I ended up with a short rib taco and kimchee quesadilla.  YUM.

A year and many months later, there are events such as Off The Grid that showcases many food trucks and small local eateries in the Bay Area. It is held every Friday at Fort Mason in San Francisco. My food-loving friends, husband, and I explored this event a few weeks ago.  So much food, so many varieties, so fantastic!  I can definitely say that I am wanting to go back again... and hopefully soon.

From the top of Fort Mason hill

Cabbage/pork and chives/pork potstickers from The Happy Dumpling;

Snoop Dog (bacon-wrapped hot dog) from Brass Knuckle;

Teriyaki chicken and Hijiki (Japanese seaweed) from Onigilly - The Samurai Snack

Ham and cheese maize'wich; Pabellon (shredded beef, sweet plaintains,

black beans, queso fresco) from Pica Pica Maize Kitchen 

Pork Sisig taco from Senor Sisig;

Vanilla bean and The Yes Please! (balsamic strawberry & nutella)

creme brulee from The Creme Brulee Cart