It’s finally here! The moment many of us have been waiting for since last month’s epic scene of gluttonous, good times!  That’s right!  It’s time for good food, good friends, and good music!  Yes, my friends, it is once again time for Boise’s monthly Food Truck Rally!!!  Tomorrow from 5PM – 9PM at the MK Nature Center in Boise, the area’s biggest, baddest, and most delicious culinary creators are descending upon the downtown area to fill our bellies full of gourmet eats for the streets.

A new BoDo tradition, the Boise Food Truck Rally has seen its humble beginnings of a few patrons in 2011 explode to thousands of mobile, foodie fans at every rally.  In short, last month’s rally set a record for attendance, and April is expected to be no different.   In fact, that is why the location has been moved from last month’s 4^th & Grove location to the MK Nature Center (600 S. Walnut) . . . and what a location it is expected to be!

April’s Food Truck Rally will feature numerous food trucks including:  Brown Suga Soul Food, Archie’s Place, RiceWorks, B29 Streatery, Calle 75 Tacos, A Cupcake Paradise, Boise Fry Company, Big Daddy’s Barbecue, and Dippin’ Donuts.  Also, there will be a beer garden provided by hometown brew kings, Payette Brewing Co.   So, make plans now to come out and experience the amazing range of cuisine Boise’s food trucks offer!

Also, because parking will be limited, the Food Truck Rally along with the MK Nature Center is encouraging everyone to carpool, walk, skateboard, or ride your bike to the rally.  In fact, all bike riders will receive $1 off their first beer and have their bikes attended to by a special team of bicycle valets!  So, again, wrangle up the entire family, hop on your bikes, and head down the Greenbelt to MK Nature Center this Friday, April 13th!  Support your local businesses and city!  In the end, your belly will be glad you did!

Here is our ranking:

10.   Houston, Texas

9.  Chicago, Illinois

8.  Miami, Florida

7.  Boston, Massachusetts

6.  Washington, DC

5.  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

4.  Austin, Texas

3.  New York, New York

2.  Los Angeles, California

1.  Portland, Oregon

Nevertheless, I believe the food truck phenomenon is perfect for our current, economic climate.  In fact, I would go so far as to say that food trucks lessen the economic impact for many individuals and families in today’s cash-strapped world.  In other words, in an economy where food prices have risen and time is still money; mobile restaurants provide a much-needed service.  Additionally, I also believe that food trucks provide rare economic opportunities to entrepreneurs that have ultimately been blacklisted by reluctant banks. That is why many individuals, especially young adults, benefit from food trucks, and, ultimately,  why I believe they need our continued support.

Look at it this way.  About half of the U.S. population is unemployed.  15% of the population (45.8 million) of us live under the poverty line.  In fact, many individuals that currently have jobs or make above the $22, 133 poverty line still have trouble making ends meet.  In essence, this lack of disposable income is the first reason we need food carts.

In short, food carts have always been the lunch time spot for those pinching pennies, and why not?  At many food carts, you can receive a full meal for under $5.00!  Keep in mind traditional restaurants usually charge a couple of bucks for a single soda.  Plus, now the standard hot dog and taco stands that used to define the food truck genre have given way to gourmet and health conscious options that were historically only reserved for fine dining.  That’s not to say that you still can’t find amazing tacos and hot dogs at a food cart.  It just serves to illustrate how big the food truck phenomenon has become in the last five years.

In 2010, the New York Times estimated that 2.5 billion people eat at food carts every day.  Every day.  To me, that provides us the second reason we need food carts.  In other words, the food cart business seems like a field that would be perfect for creating jobs for the out-of-work and for aspiring entrepreneurs, especially entrepreneurs with little cash.  In other words, food trucks are the American way.  They provide hard-working people with little resources a chance to showcase their talents and passion.  Thus, that is why I fully support Boise’s food cart movement.  In the end, it is because, as Americans, it is who we are.  We pull together.  We support, and we encourage other to reinvent themselves.  It is after all the “Land of Opportunity,” and, ultimately why on my next lunch break, I will be backing Boise’s amazing food cart scene!

I hope you do the same.

RiceWorks

Since 2010, the Tran brothers, Hai and Phu, have been bringing their authentic and original food creations to the Boise masses through their food truck known as “RiceWorks.”  Offering a melting pot of Asian, culinary delights; RiceWorks’ menu tempts customers with incredible food from Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, and China.  In fact, their amazing, traditional Asian dishes along with their unique, Asian-fusion offerings cause people to drive from as far away as Nampa, Caldwell, and even Ontario.  In short, this love and devotion from the locals is what has made RiceWorks a rockstar in the Boise food cart scene, and, ultimately why we made another visit to their food truck last week.

RiceWorks' General Chicken

On the day we decided to head over to RiceWorks, it was another day of Boise’s “blink-and-it-will-change” weather.  Having been warmer earlier in the day, the sky soon gave way to a light drizzle and a strong wind from the South that dropped the temperature by a full 10 degrees.  Although it had suddenly gotten colder outside, we were still undeterred about our visit to the Asian street food ambassadors.  This determination could have been from our intense hankering for RiceWorks’ General chicken, or it could have been brought about by the realization that we would soon taste something that would offer plenty of heat!  Thus, we made our way to the street cart located at 456 N. Kimball, and soon found out that we were not the only ones craving teriyaki, tempura, and Vietnamese sliders.

Essentially, there was a swarm of WDS employees lined up outside RiceWorks to get their hands on anything the Tran brothers had left for the day.  After surveying the menu for a moment, we settled on the General’s chicken and the Vietnamese pulled-pork with steamed rice.  Lucky for us, they still had some of both dishes, and, after given them our spice rating, we quietly waited for the food to be prepared fresh.  Surprisngly, only after a few minutes, they called our name and happily offered their most recent creation.  Immediately, we jumped to the windows and quickly helped ourselves to some plastic cutlery and napkins, and, finally sat down for our day’s most-anticpated meal.  In a few words, let’s just say that RiceWorks didn’t disappoint!

RiceWorks' Vietnamese Pulled-Pork

Both dishes were hot, perfectly-cooked and full of flavor.  The General’s chicken was a heavenly creation with the perfect mix of sweet, salty, and spice while the Vietnamese pulled-pork was tender, juicy, and savory.  The rice was light and fluffy, and the vegetables were to die for (Yes, you read that right! The vegetables!).  In short, the only things that made our entire RiceWorks’ experience better was the amazingly friendly staff and the cheap prices.  Seriously, these guys deserve a medal for the work they do!  All in all, it was the perfect meal!  In fact, it was just the little bit of warmth we needed on what turned out to a drab, cold day.

For more info:  Click here.

For more photos:  Click here.

“Portland (Ore.) is the food truck haven, and the hallal carts in New York City have a huge following,” said Melinda Crump of Sageworks. “Sales growth began to decline alongside the recession in late 2007, but sales have risen strongly again over the last year and into 2011.”

Permitting rules play more of a role than weather conditions in making a city a “food truck haven.” About 65 to 70 food trucks currently operate in San Francisco as a result of changes to rules that are expected to make it easier to get a truck up and running.

After reading this, you might be asking yourself, “So, what does all of this information mean? Where is Boise in all of this?”  Well, after seeing a record turnout last month at the Food Truck Rally on 4th & Grove; you might answer, “On the cusp!”  In other words, we at BoiseFoodCarts.com believe Boise, after all of these years, is right on the edge of cultivating an amazing food cart environment!  Now, this isn’t to say that Boise still does not have some challenges to overcome, but, for the most part, Boise is on the right path!

Therefore, to ensure that Boise remains on the path to a larger street food scene, we decided to make this website and devote it to the wonderful food carts that make the Boise food scene so special!  In short, this site’s intent is not to provide reviews of foods or specific carts.  It simply was the best way we felt we could use our talents to aid in the growth of  Boise’s awesome food cart scene.  In the end, this was our way to give back to a city we truly love and, ultimately, provide encouragement to current food cart owners as well as future ones!

So, from one foodie to another . . . Get out there and EAT THE STREETS!

- J.C. & Heidi