Summer! Long Beach! Rooftop pools! Bikes! Aaaannnd food trucks!
Some food trucks have been around all winter, but others are just now emerging from hibernation. And now Long Island City, Brooklyn and Governor’s Island are about to be overrun with festivals, and with them, my favorite food trucks! Grab some cash and a place to sit: I’m going to introduce you to NYC’s greenest mobile purveyors of fresh food.
Mexicue
You didn’t think spicy meat-filled tacos could be green, did you? But here we are, at the famous truck of Mexicue, dishing out delicious short ribs, brisket and more crafted from local sources. The menu changes seasonally for a fresh taste.
Something to jam to while you nosh your ice cream:
Image credit: mlcastle
Taim
If you’re not a big meat person, never fear. Taim will satisfy your cravings for all vegetarian fare, and a lot of vegan options too. Grab a gluten-free falafel that made at least one Yelper proclaim, “THANK GOD FOR THIS TRUCK!”
Rickshaw Dumpling
Dip your chopsticks in some sassy soy sauce at the Rickshaw dumpling truck. Choose dumplings stuffed with organic edamame, Bell and Evans organic and antibiotic-free chicken or (holy Jesus yes) Hudson Valley duck. Like the Hudson Valley Duck you see at the farmers’ market.
Sweetery NYC
Next, grab your dessert at the Sweetery NYC truck, where the milk is organic, the sugar raw, the coffee beans fair trade and sustainable, and the propulsion provided by bio-diesel. Plus it’s damn tasty.
Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream
If you’ve ever walked in the city, you’ve likely passed one of the three delicately-decorated Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream trucks. This purveyor of super-pure ice cream sources its hormone-free and grass-fed milk from Lewis County, New York. They add egg yolks and pure cane sugar to finish it off–leaving out the stabilizers and emulsifiers you’ll find in a Mr. Goodbar. And all of its disposable goods are made from 100% renewable sources (read: no plastic).
Kelvin Natural Slush Co.
7-11 may be trying to take over NYC, but as long as Kelvin is around I know who I’m going to for frosty, multi-colored refreshment. Choose a main flavor like spicy ginger or green and black tea, and choose a mix-in made from real fruit puree (no high fructose nonsense) in flavors like blood orange or lychee.
Coolhaus
I would probably eat Coolhaus‘ artistic sammiches even if they were glowing with radioactivity, but luckily for you and I, this nationally-franchised truck of awesomeness uses local and organic ingredients in its creations. First, choose your cookie: Potato chip and butterscotch? Red velvet? Vegan chocolate truffle banana? Then, choose your ice cream: Pumpkin pie? Olive oil and rosemary? Candied bacon? The flavors change on the whim of the truck, so be prepared to be delighted. Finally, your mini edible architecture is served to you inside an edible wrapper. No trash. Delightful!
Green Pirate Juice Truck
Green Pirate wants to, “stimulate a hip and sexy culture of conscious healthy living in our community.” That’s a lot of big words, but I dig it. This truck runs on biodiesel to serve up healthy, cleansing juices. And it composts waste and serves its juices in compostable containers.
Follow my whole Twitter list of food trucks to keep updated on their whereabouts!
