My second food truck stop along the stretch of East Colonial/SR 50 was at Papas Gourmet (Gourmet Potatoes). It is run by a very sweet and personable married couple. This particular truck is probably my favorite amongst the ones I've visited thus far.. serious noshing business!
The concept is a baked potato or sweet potato LAVISHLY doctored with Puerto Rican style meats and veggies. LAAAVISH. I've never been a baked potato fan, but this place has made me a believer.
Every split and baked potato comes defaulted with copious amounts of melted queso and your choice of sweet or garlic butter. It's up to you if you'd like to pile on the meat and veggies. The owner made it a point to express that he throws away any unused meat that's gone stale during the day and replaces it with freshly marinated, cooked meats.
My foray into Papas Gourmet included a basic baked potato (sweet potato was sold out) with melted queso, garlic butter, mixed veggies, Bistec (marinated steak) and Pernil (roast pork). I kid you not, as soon as I bit into my first fork full, I reached potato Nirvana and found myself shoveling the meal down my mouth like Garfield does with lasagna.
There was enough potato and ingredients there to feed 2 people HANDILY. All for $6.00! I was so entranced by the savory, melt in your mouth flavors that I devoured the entire thing on my own. Just like the Papas Gourmet icon (a personified potato sprawled out on a couch) I was incapacitated for hours on my couch, blissed out and content.
I encourage everyone in Orlando to visit this joint at least once. Be prepared, because it will knock you on your behind once you're through eating.
For those of you who love a challenge, Papas Gourmet also has a Papa Extrema (Extreme Potato); which is a potato of your choice with ALL the fixings. Yep that includes chicken, turkey, steak, beef, ham, bacon, pork, sausage, cheese, butter, sour cream and mixed veggies.. yikes! read more