LCBO Food & Drink Summer 2019

WORTH A STOP!

London southernontario

If Portuguese chicken sandwiches, all-day chilaquiles or modern twists on casual pub grub tickle your taste buds, then London is your town. Independent food-truck operators are busier than ever, attracting the attention of local restaurants and caterers who are dabbling with the concept of having their own motorized food businesses, too. Whether the trucks are roving, parked at the boat launch at Riverside Drive and Wonderland Road or feeding crowds at events like Victoria Park’s July Sunfest, curious street-food seekers can track where and what they’re up to through Facebook (London Food Truck Association, facebook.com/londonfoodtrucks). The annual highlight of the scene happens in September at Heeman’s, the strawberry grower that hosts Food Trucks on the Farm, a one-stop street-food party.

Ivanopoblano Specializing in Mexican- style “taco” quesadillas, this is the first food truck in Canada to serve all-organic Mexican fare—and it accommo- dates all diets. There are ample meat-free options like a killer Vegetarian Ratatouille—a mix of yam, zucchini, butternut squash and spinach slow- cooked in homemade tomato sauce, wrapped in organic kamut, corn or flour tortillas.

Bifana Boys Piri piri meets Hickory Sticks, resulting in por- table Portuguese fusion dishes like Angry Fries topped with garlic aïoli and banana peppers or the classic bifana: a marinated and grilled pork loin sandwich christened with caramelized onions, yellow mustard and house-made aïoli, stuffed into a toasted Portuguese bun.

Smokestacks With Southern barbecue as its calling card, this truck has fans clamouring for the Montreal Smoked Brisket sandwich on a pretzel roll that’s topped with onion rings, Swiss cheese and horseradish aïoli.

INSIDER DISH

Secret menu: On Wednesdays, Ivanopoblano’s has sugar- and wheat-free muffins. Pairing potential: Watch for trucks at London Brewing Co-operative or the Food Truck Fridays! pop-up at Anderson Craft Ales.

Shop online for products from London Brewing Co-operative and Anderson Craft Ales

IVANOPOBLANO PHOTO: DARREN MURRAN; BIFANA BOYS PHOTO: LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL PHOTOGRAPHY; SMOKESTACKS PHOTO: JESSI VAREY

134

SUMMER 2019 FOOD & DRINK