Thursday, June 25, 2009

Street Sweets – Tailgating the Treats Truck

Sometimes, catching up with truck food is pure serendipity, like suddenly discovering an open parking space in Manhattan. Sometimes you are alerted to a truck’s “dining hours” on Twitter. And, sometimes you’re lucky to stumble upon a fleet of food trucks, parked in formation.

So it happens as Mad Me-Shell and I conclude our fine dining experience at Rickshaw Dumpling Truck. There, just “two doors” down, is the caloric-fueled Treats Truck. It’s slogan – “Not too fancy, always delicious.”

Now, if ever there were a food truck built to my personal specifications, the Treats Truck is it. Gleaming silver, with red and blue lettering - and resembling an old-fashioned bakery delivery truck - The Treats Truck is a euphoric sugar rush on wheels. In fact, the truck is named “Sugar.”

You’re probably wondering how two people can even contemplate treats when they have collectively consumed 18 dumplings and a side of noodles. It’s simple. Humans cannot live by dumplings alone. The American writer, Ernestine Ulmer perhaps put it most poetically – “Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first.”

Ulmer is right. Life can be tough on the street, so thank God for the Treats Truck. A spoonful of sugar, and all that. We cue up, eyeing the treats in the bakery case window. Mad Me-Shell says she’s not hungry, but she’ll buy a treat for our colleague Zany who is slaving away at the office. Yeah, sure.

We take a moment to drool over the selection of retro and comforting treats, a sugared landscape of cookies, sprinkles and vanilla cream filling. We ask the attendant what her favorite treat is. She says she tends to go through phases, but recommends the Caramel Crème Sandwich, which is somewhat of a classic that helped establish the Treats Truck’s delectable reputation. We make our selections, which are carefully packed into clean white paper bags – just like a bakery, but you don’t have to take a number.

Throughout the afternoon we nosh on The Classic Crispy (which does actually go to Zany) and a Chocolate Chipper …

And, a Caramel Crème Sandwich, Chocolate Sandwich Cookie and Peanut Butter Sandwich with Raspberry Jam Filling …

I split up the cookies so we can do a sampling. My assistant refuses - she’s got dinner plans. But, within seconds she is in my office and we are sharing the silky and luscious Chocolate Sandwich Cookie. As, for Mad Me-Shell and her efforts to abstain – all I can say is, no willpower. How could one resist the brown sugar goodness of the caramel crème, or the delicate crumb of the plump peanut butter sandwich?

Talk about a sweet drive by!
©2009 T.W. Barritt All Rights Reserved

12 comments:

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

These trucks sound like a blast, T.W. And you get your exercise walking around to find them. Fun stuff.
Sam

Julia said...

I have no problem believing that one can still eat dessert despite being stuffed to the gills with savory. We humans have a second stomach for sweets.

I'm loving this tailgating series.

veron said...

My dream truck...I've been thinking of opening a similar one!

Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) said...

I'm starting to wonder whether it's safe to work in your neighborhood -- too many wonderful food trucks circling, too much temptation!

jann said...

This is too cool~I am moving to NYC!

T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types said...

Sam - this is truly an obsession now. We're planning our meals around these truck patterns!

Julia - dare I say that tailgating is the greatest invention since the napkin?

Veron - I see a petite truck in your future!

Lydia - Good thing we are responsible drivers.

Jann - come on over! The trucks are waiting!

Lori Lynn said...

How fun!
I dream of owning an In-N-Out burger truck, and driving it all over the country.
LL

Julia said...

I thought for sure these treat truck was the same as the one featured in today's NYTimes article. (Which I'm SURE you saw). But from the pictures it looks different. How cool that you've been covering the food trucks ahead of the Times... you're such a trendsetter.

T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types said...

Julia - Ha! Well, I'm right on the cutting edge of culinary trends, but that is a different truck that I wasn't aware of, which by coincidence is called "Street Sweets" (same as my title). If they haven't gotten into a brawl, I'm going to head out and find them!

Cakespy said...

Dude. I was lucky enough to score one of those peanut butter sandwiches when I was in the city last month, and I am still lamenting the fact that I didn't buy like 20 more.

Maris said...

No matter how full you are, there is ALWAYS room for dessert. It's just the way it works!

T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types said...

Hi Cakespy - would you like me to ship?

Maris - Thank heaven for truck treats, eh?