The Mallory Calorie Gallery: 2011

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

New Favorite - Vizzi Truck

We tried out the Vizzi Truck last week. To be honest, I didn't really know what to expect. I had heard some rumblings on the street about this truck, plus, their online menu looked so delicious that I had to give it a try.

Venison burger, topped with maple-dijon Sriracha aioli, queso panela, and bacon. Served with deliciously seasoned popcorn. This might be the greatest thing I've eaten from a truck, the confluence of flavors and textures made sweet, sweet love to my tastebuds.

Yeah, I took a big old bite, mmmmm.

Aerial view of venison burger + popcorn.

For dessert, buttermilk cupcakes with strudel topping, brown sugar buttercream, and apple pie filling.

The Vizzi truck is now the official favorite truck of the Mallory Calorie Gallery (MCG). Our experience with the Vizzi truck left us satisfied in ways we never knew were possible.

To follow the Vizzi truck, visit their website http://vizzitruck.com/ or on twitter http://twitter.com/#!/VizziTruck

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Tito's Tacos (aka delicious deep fried crack??)

So here's the deal: if you live ANYWHERE in the vicinity of Los Angeles - and by vicinity I mean within about a 150 mile radius - and you HAVEN'T tried Tito's Tacos... you are committing an atrocious crime. You should be ashamed of yourself! Stop wasting time, leave whatever planet you have been living on, and get your a** to Culver City (as soon as you're done reading this, of course).

Not only have you been neglecting to visit a famous Los Angeles landmark, but you've been missing out on literally the best tacos everrrrrr!!! I mean come on, when you walk in to a place and

THIS

is the first thing you see... it would be preposterous to expect anything less than pure, Mexican gold.

MMM... Start salivating... NOW!

My order: 3 crispy, shredded beef tacos with a side of rice (I don't know what they put in that rice but OH MAN is it delicious) + free chips and salsa... fresh, tomato-y salsa...

<- TTT (Tito's Tacos Tip) of the day: Chips can double as spoons and be used to scoop salsa onto tacos. Cross section of salsa-ed taco shown here...

mmmmmm.

Juicy, meaty, cheesy, crunchy, mouth-watering flavor ORGASM IN MY MOUTH!!!

Kbear ordered 2 tacos and a big fat MEAT burrito... Cross section shown below.

Yeah... That disappeared from view approximately 0.2 seconds later. I def stole a bite first though. And I gotta say... Tito's does NOT skimp on meat - I'm pretty sure they fit a whole cow in there. MUCH appreciated, Tito's. Ahh the little things in life...

Moral of the story? Words cannot adequately express the brilliance that is Tito's Tacos. Until you eat one, you cannot die having lived a fulfilled life. Period. Man I'm hungry now...

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Dear Kogi

Dear Kogi,

I am writing to you because, while I am in love with you, I have cheated on you with around 20 food trucks. Forgive me for my infidelities, PLEASE, they didn't mean anything to me (ESPECIALLY THE NOM NOM TRUCK). I want you back. I'll do ANYTHING!

Just wanna nibble on your blackjack quesadillas one more time, with your carmelized onions, spicy pork, and CHEESE, I just wanna lick citrusy salsa verde from your tortilla until it's all gone!

Many a night I have awoken in a cold sweat, my heart racing, after dreaming about your short rib taco, mmm marinaded to perfection, covered in romaine lettuce and cabbage, salsa roja, and cilantro green onion lime relish.

I long for the tender embrace of your sweet chili chicken quesadilla. Mmmm your camelized onions, your sweet and spicy salsa naranja, gooey cheesiness, i just wanna sprinkle crushed sesame seeds all over your body....

Well now that I got my feelings out, I just wanted to say that I have been neglecting Kogi recently. Before I had investigated the wide-world of LA food trucks, Kogi was all I knew. I've spent some time going around and sampling the delicious universe of LA food trucks. While on this epic quest I have realized a couple things. First, there is an amazing diversity of delicious food out there that is served from a truck. Second, I have determined that Kogi is still one of my absolute favorites.

One of the first, and most recognizable food trucks in LA, Kogi is also one of the best. Its Korean Mexican fusion spin blasts newcomers with a earth-shattering flavor explosion.

I'm sorry for cheating on you Kogi, I promise I will treat you better in the future. Love Kbear.

Follow Kogi on twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/kogibbq or online at http://kogibbq.com/

Follow the Mallory Calorie Gallery on twitter http://twitter.com/#!/malcalgal

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

SUSHI BURRITO!

We stealthily approach the sushi burrito truck under the cover of darkness... ok fine, we actually just walked up to the Jogasaki truck on Melrose.

Of all food trucks, Jogasaki probably has the most badass mascot, Mexican-Japanese fusion ninja. Look out!

Sitting before you are 3 Jogasaki sushi burritos. Jogasaki burrito number 1 (crab, spicy tuna, cucumber, eel, and eel sauce), Jogasaki Burrito Number 2 (shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, cucumber, crab, avocado), and the Jogasaki Shrimp Fiesta Burrito (shrimp tempura, crab meat, cucumber, avocado). Washed down with Thai iced tea and some secret Jogasaki hot-sawwwwce.

Burrito cross section

Mal going to town on the shrimp fiesta!

Jogasaki Burrito Number 2: delicious melt-in-your-mouth shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, crab, avocado. I'm about to lose my mind!!!

Shrimp Fiesta cross section.

All in all my Jogasaki burrito experience was rather mind-blowing. Delicious sushi flavors, tempura-crunchiness all wrapped in thin soy-paper. I have no complaints. I can't wait to go back! This is perhaps my favorite food truck so far. The only negative thing about Jogasaki is that they are notoriously difficult to track down. After about a month of consistent twitter-stalking, it was finally in Hollywood and I had to pay it a visit. After the dust settled, I had consumed 3 whole sushi burritos, which was more than enough to satisfy my hunger -- truth be told, I was on the verge of exploding.

Check out Jogasaki at http://jogasakiburrito.com/ or on twitter http://twitter.com/#!/JogasakiBurrito

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Warning: Do Not Eat This

At the risk of offending any of our (slew) of followers who might be die-hard fans, I just want to put it out there that the Nom Nom truck is one of the most overrated food trucks in Los Angeles. It amazes me how long people are willing to wait in line for a banh mi sandwich that is utterly mediocre. (I'm assuming that goes for the taco version as well.)

There are just so many more delicious banh mi options out there! For example, the little-known Mandoline Grill Truck, IMO, kicks Nom Nom's ass... and really hard at that. The bread is better (not stale would be a good start), the meat is juicier (and they give you way more), and it honestly just tastes 1,000 times better. It is absolutely DELICIOUS. Oh, and you don't have to wait forever and a day just to get one. So... my advice would be: don't waste your money buying into this unfounded obsession everyone seems to have with the Nom Nom truck. Just sayin'... You've been warned.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

I left my heart at the Grilled Cheese Invitational

Thank you, Grilled Cheese Truck, for dreaming up perhaps the most INCREDIBLE grilled cheese I've ever had the pleasure of devouring...

A thick piece of fried chicken, melted cheddar, and bacon (mmm) sandwiched between two fresh, buttery waffles... It couldn't possibly get any better, right?

WRONG. It comes with a side of maple syrup for dipping.

Needless to say, I fell in love.

P.S. Dear Grilled Cheese Truck: Please add this fried chicken and waffle grilled cheese to your regular menu already. Otherwise, I may have to resort to force. Thanks!