Street Food

Creamy sweet potato tacos topped with spicy black beans, steaming Indian-spiced mini donuts coated in sugar, and an icy glass bottle of Mexican Coca-Cola - lunch doesn't get better!

It was the summer of street food in downtown Minneapolis. Gourmet meals and treats cooked on propane and served out of a truck. How very big city for us!

I was first introduced to Chef Shack by my hipster friend Jenn. I was skeptical to say the least (think hot dog stand), but I trust Jenn so I trekked over to 5th and Hennepin with her and ordered my first street food. We brought it back to our desks that day so I had to email her to comment on how freaking awesome it was. The message was something to the affect of "OMG - I'm licking my fingers! Can we go back tomorrow?!"

No question I was immediately hooked. I loved the chance to escape outside over lunch, plus my usual stops just don't match up to the unique and delicious offerings of the trucks. And with the menu changing daily, there was always something new to feed my addiction.

Topping my list are Dandelion Kitchen's grilled cheese with slaw, World Street Kitchen's spicy yum yum rice bowl, and, of course, the previously mentioned sweet potato tacos and mini donuts from Chef Shack.

Oh how sad I am that Chef Shack's tweets have changed from what they are serving down the street to where they are dining in NYC (jealous!). They all closed for the season last week, aside from Dandelion Kitchen, which is sticking it out into November "weather permitting." Glad I still have the chance to try their much acclaimed pumpkin soup!

Then I guess its back to the skyways for me. But I am keeping my WSK sticker on my bulletin board as a reminder that winter in only a temporary inconvenience and there will be more yum yum to come...