On a fact-finding mission to California last year, Derrick Woolbright sampled items from more than 30 food trucks in the span of a week in the areas of Los Angeles and San Francisco. Today, he puts that research to good use as owner of his own food truck, Chomp.
Food trucks around the Tri-State are offering a tasty menu at a great price to satisfy your hunger pains whether it’s for brunch, lunch, or a snack.
“I just knew this was a concept that was going to make it to the Midwest,” Woolbright says. “It was just a matter of time.”
Chomp specializes in tacos, but the menu is constantly changing.
“That’s the cool part about the food truck,” says Woolbright. “We can kind of change the menu depending on the event or the location.”
Chomp can be found on Fridays at the Downtown Evansville Farmer’s Market. Chomp will also be at St. Mary’s Farmer’s Market, held near the Washington Avenue entrance to the main hospital campus every Thursday until Sept. 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Chomp is one of several traveling food trucks in the Evansville area. One truck that arrived on May 22 is Kona Ice, owned by the Taylor family of Dean, Kim, Derek, and Dane. The truck sells shaved ice with your choice of 30 different flavors.
Syrup dispensers — in what the Taylor family calls the Flavor Wave — are installed on the truck’s side panel.
The Kona Ice truck can be rented out for any event and also can be found at the Downtown Farmer’s Market and St. Mary’s Market. The truck also visits different neighborhoods.
Eat Express, owned by Eddie and Alicia Thomas, can be found on the corner of Covert and Kentucky avenues. The trailer thrives on barbecue items consisting of mutton, rib tips, Polish sausage, bratwurst, and pulled pork. It has been around since August 2012.
“I wanted to invest in a hotdog cart and came across a mobile concession stand trailer, which was even better,” says Eddie.
When not on the corner, you can find Eat Express at different festivals around the Tri-State such as the Henderson, Ky., Breakfast Lions Club Tri-Fest and Haynie’s Corner Art Festival.
Mexcellent Grill, owned by Antonio and Miranda Hernandez, is located in the Harp’s Exotic Fish & Pets parking lot off of Green River Road. Typically serving lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner from 5 to 9 p.m., this truck offers burritos, tacos, and nachos, among other things.
Ruben’s Taco Wagon, serving Southwestern-style Mexican food, is located in Chandler, Ind.
The food truck phenomenon is growing nationally. Look for more food trucks mapping their routes to feed the Tri-State.
For more information about Chomp’s menu and locations, visit Facebook, Twitter, or chompfoodtruck.com. For more information about Kona Ice truck, visit kona-ice.com or its Facebook page. For more information about Mexcellent Grill, visit Facebook or Twitter. For more information about Ruben’s Taco Wagon, visit its Facebook page.
