The Gastrotruck

                                       **Find this truck**

If you are health conscious and environmentally aware, this is the truck for you. Owner, Chef Stephen Trojahn, has over twenty years of culinary experience throughout the United States, Jamaica and Puerto Rico. His inspiration comes from his travels and the purest nature has to offer all year round. The Gastrotruck prepares all of their meats in-house and makes all of their own condiments by working with fresh, seasonal ingredients. They have the utmost respect for the food they prepare and the environment it comes from and they maintain zero-waste procedures. They also offer catering, click here for more info.

The Menu:

Sides: 

Mixed Green Salad $3.00

 Kettle Chips: $1.50 

Red Lentil Brown Rice ($8): with pickled beats, curry, and Aioli 

Beef Tongue Sandwich ($8): with spicy cabbage, kraut, and ginger  Aioli. 

Smoked Meatloaf Sandwich ($8): with tomato-bacon jam, horseradish  sauce, and greens

Turkey Wild Rice Burger ($8): ginger rhubarb compote, and sprouts

Duck Confit Quesadilla ($7): with spicy cabbage kraut, and Gruyere cheese 

 

 Now i don't know about you but as much as I like to eat healthy, I'm not adventurous enough to try duck or beef tongue. So I decided to go with something simple and try the Turkey Wild Rice Burger. I was a little skeptical about it at first but that faded after I took the first bite. To my surprise, it was filled with flavor and melted in my mouth.

To Contact The Gastrotruck, click here.

To follow them on Facebook, click here.

 

The Starlight Diner

The Starlight Diner is a new food truck that is trying to get established and get on their feet. They're open to suggestions on what to add/change about their menu and they also do events like grad parties, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and more. They make it easy for you to provide great food at your events so that you don't have to stress. They will sit down with you before your event and discuss menu options as well to make it the best fit for your event. Click here to book them for an event.

If you are on a budget, this might be the best menu for you! Their prices are very good for a food truck, and their service is quick and friendly as well. 

Sloppy Joe $7 (with house made potato chips)              
Italian Beef $8 on a toasted bun (add hot or sweet peppers for $1)
Pulled Pork $8 on a toasted Bun with pickled red onion
Garden Green Salad $6 picked fresh this morning with nasturtium, pickled vegetables, and creamy buttermilk dressing
German Handmade Hot Dog $4 (with kraut)
Hand cut French Fries $4
Onion Rings $4
Fresh Watermelon & Mango $3 (with chilli salt)
Freshly Squeezed Lemonade $3

Their menu is small and definitely needs a little improvement but being a new food truck, I'm sure it will expand and evolve. I was able to order a hot dog and a drink for only $5! Not too many places you can get all that for that price these days! That's why I mentioned before, if you're on a budget, this would be the truck for you! 

Below is a picture of my German Handmade Hotdog I purchased for $4! If you look closely, you can see the kraut at the bottom...yummy!

If you would like to follow this food truck on Facebook for daily updates on their locations click here. 

The Northeast Minneapolis Market

The Northeast Minneapolis Market is a very small neighborhood farmers market. Their variety of fruits and veggies is a lot smaller than other markets but it's very convenient if you're already in the area.

Location: 
625 2nd Street NE on 7th and University Avenue NE. They also offer an indoor market during the colder months of the year that is located at 2551 Central Ave NE.


Hours of Operation:
Saturdays from 9am - 1pm June through October.

Parking:
They do not offer parking but there is plenty of free street parking in the neighborhood. 

Best time to visit:
What's nice about a small neighborhood market is you won't have to worry about it getting too crowded. I walked around this market several times without bumping into anyone or having to worry about waiting in line for service. Any time you'd like to go would probably be fine!

Weather:
Like other markets, this one will usually also operate even if it's raining. If they are going to shut down due to weather, you can follow them on Facebook for updates on that by clicking here.
Or to contact this market, click here.

 
Products and Vendors:
If your main idea is to purchase only locally grown products, this would be the place to go. It's been open for nine seasons and also offers organic beef and turkey, baked goods, chair massages, homemade dog beds, eyeglass frames and adjustments, and various non food items like flowers and crafts. They will also provide local music and entertainment.

 

The Twisted Sister House of Hunger

The House Of Hunger has been around for a couple of years now, they began back in the summer of 2011. The Owner, Wesley Kaake, was originally looking to open a doughnut shop and then when it came down to it financially, the food truck was a better option.

Everything on the menu is prepared fresh, so when you place your order, be prepared to wait a bit because it is then that they start preparing the fresh meat and veggies that your order will consist of. Their wait may be a little longer than other trucks because they're pulling it right off the grill as they serve it to you. Their salsas are made by The Salsa Lady and their frozen cheesecake bites are made by Chubby Girl Cheesecakes.

Sides:$2 with meal $3 ala carte:

Seasoned Fries

Zucchini Fries

Onion Chips

 Cheesy Bacon Fries $5.00

Mac N' Cheese Fries: $4.00

Twisted Philly: $8

Polygamy sauce, pepper jack, red & green peppers & onions.

Cheesy Bacon Philly: $8

Cheddar, smoked bacon, cheddar sauce, green pepper & onion.

Classic Philly: $7

Onion, green pepper, choice of cheese: Provolone, cheddar, cheddar sauce.

Buffalo Chicken: $8

Buffalo'd shredded chicken, provolone, polygamy sauce, Parmesan.

Brocco Tacos: $7:

Cumin, broccoli, carrots, red cabbage, black beans, Chihuahua cheese, polygamy sauce, salsa.

Dirty D: $9

Spicy steak, pulled pork, bacon, pepper jack, cheddar, polygamy sauce.

The Pit Bull Dog: $7

Spicy pulled pork, onions, pepper jack, polygamy sauce.

Cheesy Bacon Dog: $6

Cheddar, smoked bacon, cheddar sauce.

Old School Dog: $5

Just a dog on a bun!

I chose to order the Twisted Philly which was yummy but it did have a little kick to it that I didn't expect. It wasn't too much to handle and I have a low tolerance for spicy food so that's no reason to avoid ordering it!  

The House Of Hunger also offers catering! 

To contact this food truck 

click here. 

To follow them on facebook 

click here. 

The Nicollet Mall Farmers Market

I believe one of the most commonly well known farmers markets in the Minneapolis metro area would be the one on Nicollet Mall.

Location:
The Nicollet Mall farmers market is located on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis and it begins at 5th Street and continues all the way up to 12th Street. For a map of directions, click here.


Hours of Operation:
The Nicollet Mall market is open every Thursday from May - November from 6am to 6pm.

Best Time To

Visit:
If your intentions are to beat the crowds, then the earlier you arrive, the better. Lunch time is usually the busiest, it's filled with working professionals trying to get some sun along the mall on their lunch breaks. However, there is a period of downtime in the afternoon after everyone has gone home. 

Weather:
Farmers are used to working in all kinds of weather conditions, so usually a little rain won't scare them away. 


Parking:
The Nicollet Mall Market is not able to offer free parking so you will have to rely on local area ramps or street parking. This market is convenient if you work downtown and stop before going home but if you are coming down just for the market, your best bet may be to take public transit.

Products & Vendors:
The Nicollet Market has up to 60 vendors that sell everything from fresh fruit and veggies to honey and homemade bread. For a specific list of what's in season, click here. 

Melch's Meat Wagon (MMW)

Melch's Meat Wagon was started by a couple from South Dakota that decided to move back to the cities since the market has been booming. Kent Melch (a former food inspector) and his wife, Brenda, established MMW back in late 2012. It is one of the newest members in The Minnesota Food Truck Association. Their menu is constantly changing and will keep you wondering what will be added to it next. The Melch's have always enjoyed cooking and they love being able to bring their own recipes to the MMW menu. 

Since the MMW proudly provides any kind of burger or meat combination you can possibly think of, it is no question why they are continuously referred to as the place to go to fulfill "the carnivore in all of us." Do you have a craving for a juicy bacon cheeseburger? Or how about an original "Melch Me Burger" that consists of a burger patty, chicken breast, bacon, and American cheese. Another mouth watering meat combination is "The Miss Piggy" which is ground pork, sausage, bacon, and cheese stacked on a toasted pretzel bun.

 

Below, I will list the full current menu but keep in mind, it may change from time to time.

Sides:

French Fries: $3.00

Onion Rings:  $4.00

   Fried Okra:   $4.00   

Cowboy Burger $8 Bacon, Pepper Jack cheese,

onion rings, and BBQ sauce.  

Cowgirl Sandwich $8 Chicken breast, bacon, onion rings, Pepper Jack cheese and BBQ sauce.

Grilled Chicken Sandwich $8

The Melch Me Burger $10(See Above)

BLT Burger $9 Topped with bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato 
Bacon Cheeseburger $9

Peanut Butter Bacon Burger $10

Ultimate BLT $8

Buffalo Chicken Wrap $7

Self-Centered Burger $10 Choose your pocket of cheese inside (Bluecheese, Cheddar, Feta or Pepper Jack)

Breakfast Burrito $7 choose between Italian sausage or bacon

Ultimate Bacon, Eggs & Cheese $8 (American)

  

I chose to order the grilled chicken sandwich since I am trying to eat somewhat healthier lately. However, if you ever want to just splurge one day, the MMW would definitely be a good option! I will post a picture below of my yummy grilled chicken sandwich that was served to me on a pretzel bun for $8. 

Suggested Links: 

 Click here to follow them on Facebook

Or Click here to visit their website

Topolo Taco Truck

To kick off the season, I started with a taco truck that you may have seen out on Marquette or 2nd Street in downtown Minneapolis. They're formally known as "Topolo Tacos." I must say, I was pleasantly surprised in more ways than one. For a food truck, their prices are pretty decent if you are on a budget and if you are watching your calories (aren't we all these days) their food is pretty healthy. 

They offer three different kinds of tacos, starting with chicken, pork shank, and beef. Their menu is based on authentic Mexican recipes that originated from a restaurant that is located in a 200 year old hacienda in Centro Historico Mazatlan, Mexico. The location is famous for beautiful beaches and amazing flavorful authentic food. The pork shank is slow cooked in their Adobo sauce for six hours and served with their fire roasted tomatillo salsa prepared right at your table side. 

Their menu is simple, basic, and budget friendly. If your eyes are horrible like mine, I will type out what is written on the menu and save you some squinting! 

#1) $8.00 Chamorro (Pork Shank) Slow roasted in Adobo Sauce with red cabbage, tomatillo salsa, onion, cilantro & queso fresco cheese. 
#2) $8.00 Carne Asada (Beef Shirt Steak) Topped with their roasted tomato salsa, onion, radish, fresh cilantro & queso fresco cheese. 
#3) $7.00 Pollo (Chicken) Topped with corn & black bean salsa, onion, tomatillo salsa, cilantro and queso fresco cheese. 
#4) $8.50 Picadas (Mexican Sliders) Topped with pork shank, refried beans, tomatillo salsa, onion, cilantro & queso fresco cheese. 

They also offer baskets of fresh tortilla chips with their roasted tomatillo salsa for $3.50. One ala carte taco is $3.00 and one Mexican Slider is $3.00 as well. The prices on the menu include two tacos with your order and a side of tortilla chips and salsa. Their taco shells are actually grilled tortillas instead of just your basic hard or soft shells. 

Below is a picture of what I ordered. I received two chicken tacos with chips and salsa for $7.00. Considering how messy tacos usually can be, these were pretty easy to eat so if you needed to walk and eat, that would be very feasible! I would highly recommend this truck, it's budget and calorie friendly!

If you would like to contact this food truck:

Or click here to follow them on Facebook