Written by Rosemary Mantini | 02 August 2010
Posted in KitchenMama

Those of you who've travelled around the world have probably enjoyed street food of one kind or another served from moveable carts or trucks. There are even a number of Canadian cities, like Vancouver, Montreal and Halifax, that offer a fair variety of interesting food-on-the-go. Yet, the most interesting street fare available in most cities in Ontario seems to be the ubiquitous hotdog. With so much fresh produce at our fingertips and a population consisting of so many diverse peoples, street cuisine possibilities are nearly endless.

Finally, the first gourmet mobile food truck has arrived in Ontario. Just like those in Los Angeles and New York that serve freshly made food from a wide range of cuisines, this new moveable feast will give passers-by an opportunity to indulge in gourmet fare. Called El Gastrónomo Vagabundo, the mobile food truck is the brain child of Tamara Jensen and Adam Hynam-Smith, owners of Peapod Cuisine. On weekends, find El Gastró parked at Flat Rock Cellars in Niagara where chef Hynam-Smith serves Five Spice Pork Belly and Moroccan Lamb Tagine (among other delicacies) paired with Flat Rock's 2008 Gravity Pinot Noir. When not at the wintery, check out El Gastró to get up-to-the-minute information on the truck's latest location. "We've been watching the increasing popularity in mobile street food in L.A. and across the States.  We think the Canadian diner is ready for high-end fare served from the window of a kitchen on wheels, and we wanted to be the first to bring it to them" says Hynam-Smith, an Australian ex-pat and the Chef of El Gastró. “We use bold flavours and we’re inspired by food that people don’t normally expect to eat at a winery."

Although the fact that Jensen and Hynam-Smith offer customers gourmet fare is fantastic, what adds to the interest is that the menu reflects seasonal ingredients - all sourced from Niagara's organic and free-range farms and local independent suppliers. El Gastró offers customers a choice of gourmet tacos, tapas, southeast Asian dishes and garden fresh salads.

australia | convenience food | exotic | farming | fun | gourmet | kitchens | restaurant | southeast asia | travel | wine pairing