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Monday, January 16, 2012
Chow The Food Truck Diaries, Volume 27: Animal Farm
Posted by Adam Borowitz on Mon, Jan 16, 2012 at 4:00 PM
Animal Farm is a new food truck that specializes in meals made with locally raised meat and vegetables. If you’re into big juicy burgers; banh mi sandwiches piled high with thick slabs of pork belly; and some of the tastiest deep-fried cheese curds on earth, you should check it out some time.
I found the truck parked in the parking lot of Fairwheel Bikes at 1110 E. Sixth St., where it will be serving lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., weekdays, until further notice. I came for a bite to eat and left with a very full stomach and a whole new notion of how good food-truck food can be.
What Animal Farm is doing hints at the vibe going on at places like Pasco Kitchen & Lounge, but the prices are lower and the food is just as good. For instance: The burger made with open-range, grass-fed beef and served on a bun from La Baguette Bakery is a mere $6.50, while a similar burger at other eateries runs for about $10. The tacos, jerk chicken and side-orders also boast top-notch ingredients, and prices top out at $6.75.
Which isn’t to bust on eateries that focus on local and sustainable ingredients, but it is to Animal Farm’s credit that prices remain low while quality remains high. Even the cheese curds are sourced locally — they come from the Arizona Cheese Company in Phoenix — before being coated in Panko crumbs and fried to perfection in the onboard deep-fat fryer.
The people running the truck are Gerard Kaina, Corinne Meinhausen and David Solorzano. They say the menu is written to reflect what is currently in season, and that they're considering adding breakfast hours. If that happens, expect homemade chrorizo and breakfast sausage in the coming months.
They debuted the truck at the last Tucson Food-Truck Round-Up, where they served about 200 people in about two hours. They’re currently considering a few downtown locations — Hotel Congress and the Rialto have both expressed interest — and will be working the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show next month.
The truck also caters special events. Its website is here and you can follow it on Facebook here.
Comments (18)
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For now I am out of town but when I get back I'll be a huntin 'em down. Please relate, if they relocate.
The starving poet.
Just lunch for now, Burnie Mak, but check in with them on Facebook from time to time ... they're ambitious folks and are on the look out for more locations.
Ate here for lunch today - I got the banh mi, my boyfriend had the burger, and we shared the cheese curds.
Wow. The burger was one of the best burgers in town, no question. Grilled a perfect medium rare, the quality was extraordinary.
The cheese curds beat the pants off of Culver's. So good.
The banh mi was delightfully greasy in a way only pork belly can be. A little too much Sriracha for my taste, but great none the less. We need more banh mi in Tucson.
Seriously, go. I think we're going to go next week.
Had the Burger today -MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!
Ill be back for the fried cheese curds!! (Maybe tomorrow)
Chef David is an amazing person, as well as chef. He has a passion for food that shines through his creative and devine dishes. Please, people, refer to his menu, the Bahn Mi is spelled BAHN not BANH. It is clearly written above on his menu. That being said, the Bahn Mi is incredible!! Juicy pork and crunchy cucumbers. You will crave more the second it has touched your lips. I was lucky enough to be invited to both the soft and the grand opening of Animal Farm - Guerrilla Fine Food and it is now Tucson's must try food truck! Thank you Chef David!!
My dad and I were looking for something different and we followed the wonderful smell to Animal Farm!! Amazing!! My dad had the burger and I had the Bahn Mi it's was fantastic we shared a couple of bites and feel in love. We will definitely be back!! Yummy :)
They have the best burger I've ever tasted! Not only was the meat good but the quality of vegetables used like the tomato and lettuce were phenominal! I can truley say it was the first time I've ever said out loud that the tomato on a buger was delicious!
My first bite...DAMN! Now that's a tasty burger, best Burger I've had in a long long time. Good eye Tucson weekly
We were in Tucson on vacation from Tennessee and seen the truck and decided to try it out. We got the burgers and some of that there fried cheese nuggets. Let me tell y'all that food is finer than frog hair. I recon its the best tasting burger I ever did sink my tooth into. And that Gerard fella why he is cooler than the other side of my pillow. I spilled my drink and he replaced it for me free of charge and it was sweet tea that he had to make for me special. I recon cuz everybody drinks unsweet tea in the west. It almost made me not want to come back to Chattanooga. Our southern hospitality ain't got nothing on Tucson.
Thank you for bringing such a freash innovation of food! Everything I tasted was absolutely delicous and a left me craving more. Bahn mi was perfect, sweetly tangy, fatty, and crunchy! Everything I could ever possibly need. Burger was awesome! Amazing how local grassfed meat can change the taste in such a great way. Everything else was just as good, even down to the cookies! Cheers to the chefs!
Went to the food truck round up seeking out the falafel. However, in under an hour they were already sold out. Cheese curds - sold out. I soon found out WHY they were selling out of items so quickly, when I took a bite of my burger... FREAKIN FANTASTIC!!!
By far the CHAMPION burger! It beats the buns off other burgers with an a$$-whoopin' so good, you would pay to watch it on Showtime!!
The use of local ingredients and produce bring a freshness and flavor that is unparalleled by other places. I would drive all over Tucson to hunt down this truck. In fact, I think I will.
ATTN: Cheese curds... I'm comin' for you babies!
I saw their truck while waiting in line for Planet of the Crepes. Will have to try them sometime.
Just got an Animal Farm Burger and was it ever good! Fairwheel Bikes is not far from where I work so I will definitely be back for more.
Finally made it here. Good god that is some mighty fine vittles. The Bahn Mi was so delicious and fresh, crispy, juicy...
The cheese curds, divine. The "dude" sauce was just tangy enough to cut through the richness of the fried cheese.
One of my favorite spots to date.
Thanks Adam.
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