The latest meals on wheels in Halifax, FoodStruck Cantina, first opened just before the second food…read moretruck rally this year after wading through the regulatory and mechanical fray that bringing a food truck to fruition entails.
Based way out in Seaforth, FoodStruck seems to still be working on finding some regular haunts and more than willing to get feedback on their food to polish the menu as well. Although I was working when the food truck rally was going on, I wasn't too broken up as I wouldn't have to put up with the crowds and I knew that FoodStruck was going to be at Bishop's Landing that following Sunday for the last Brunch @ Bishop's event.
When my girlfriend and I made our way down to the waterfront, you could hear the tunes coming from the live band performing at Bishop's and there was FSC, along with a few other food trucks. The first thing you notice is the size of the truck - it's a tall one and you simply can't order from the window, so they have someone taking orders from the passenger side door. The menu was compact, but had some interesting options nonetheless - a meatloaf po boy, gumbo, hot dog, muffuletta sandwich, and fries. While the gumbo was tempting, the presence of my seafood-sensitive other half prevented me from getting this, so I went with the Cajun meatloaf po boy, and Cajun fries with cilantro creme dip. My girlfriend went with the muffuletta sandwich.
Being that there was no crazy line up, we soon had our food in hand and went to sit on one of the benches by the terraced area between Bishop's and the boardwalk. It was a warm day and perfect for people watching and having a bite to eat. The meatloaf was fine, not dry at all, but wasn't particularly Cajun-y. No punch of spice or pepper, and no noticeable presence of Cajun mirepoix. Topped with a red cabbage and bacon slaw, this also came not as advertised, at least to my taste buds, as there was not a piece of bacon to be found, nor even the flavour. The remoulade did add a spicy kick though, and the bun was just hefty enough to support the meatloaf and toppings without being too heavy, and was toasted nicely. The Cajun fries were just normal, hand cut fries, albeit crunchy and good, and the cilantro creme tasted more like a mild dill than cilantro, although I'm not a big cilantro fan so this didn't really faze me.
My girlfriend's muffuletta (hehe, sounds kinda dirty), is an olive salad with deli meats, and although the veggie version was advertised as being out, it appears that that was what she got as the meat was conspicuously absent. Menu error? Kitchen error? Not sure. She liked it with just the cheese that was in it with the olives, but was another example of the refining that FSC needs to work out in their processes.
If they can step up the flavours and their attention to detail, FoodStruck Cantina should be able to find a nice little Cajun niche.
