After judging Taste of Cincinnati’s Best of Taste food truck contest a couple of weeks ago, I already have a few favorites to recommend, including the beef-on-weck sandwich from Buffalo’s Best, the coconut chicken taco from Alley Baby and the salted caramel brownie sundae from the Sugarsnap! truck.
Aside from those delicious options, it’s the new vendors I’m most excited to try this year. Some are brand new to the festival, while others are making a return after several years away. Here’s an introduction to the new plates on the block this year.
Larry’s All-American Cafe
From the first time I stepped into Larry’s All-American Cafe, in Covington, I’ve been a fan. This year, the throw-back dive bar and hot dog destination will debut at Taste of Cincinnati, offering a selection of hot dogs, including its Chicago dog and Hawaiian dog, as well as bacon and ranch-covered tater tots. Larry’s is owned by Emily Wolf and Paul Weckman, who also own Otto’s, Mama’s on Main and several other Covington restaurants.
Fusako
This Japanese food truck served my favorite dish at the Best of Taste food truck competition this year. Dubbed the “Something Sexy,” it’s a tortilla filled with char siu braised pork, Asian-style slaw and Thai basil, topped with house made strawberry gochujang hot sauce. During the food truck competition, it was served on a bao bun (pictured), but the owners told me the tortilla highlights the flavors of the strawberry gochujang hot sauce much better. Fusako also won Best of Taste gold this year for its street corn gyoza.
Lasang Pinoy Filipino Eats
Lasang Pinoy won a silver medal in the Best of Taste entrees category for its siomai rice (fried dumplings on a bed of rice) this year. It looks and sounds delicious, but I also can’t wait to try the chicken adobo.
Cheese N Chong
Big grilled cheese fan? If so, this food truck’s for you. According to its website, Cheese N Chong’s mission is to “provide the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area with the best gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches.” And the offerings do sound promising. The Bourbonator, for example, is a grilled cheese with melted mozzarella and cheddar topped with bacon and bourbon bacon jam. The Jersey Shore goes full Italian with mozzarella, pepperoni, marinara and pesto.
Juntos Mexican Cocina
This Mexican eatery, which recently opened inside Element Food Hall, in Madisonville, will offer both birria and “American-style” tacos, the latter of which include ground beef, cheddar, lettuce and pico de gallo. It will also be serving walking tacos (always perfect for this event) and tres leches.
The German Corner
Hey, why not add a little Oktoberfest flavor at Taste this year? Headquartered in Vevay, Indiana, the German food truck will offer pork schnitzel, bratwurst, German potato salad and Bavarian cream puffs.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 6 new (or newish) foods I’m trying first at Taste of Cincinnati this year
Reporting by Keith Pandolfi, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
