Maui Wowi
Bethesda resident Stacey Riska is a local franchise owner for the Colorado-based Maui Wowi company, running two shops at Dulles International Airport as well as three colorful “tiki-hut” trucks that sell Kona Coffee, fresh fruit smoothies and shaved ice. My piña colada smoothie, made with nonfat yogurt, bananas, pineapple juice and coconut milk, was thick and refreshing, and the little paper parasol and pink lei made my day.
Smoothies, $2 to $7; coffee, $2 or $3; shaved ice, $3.
Twitter: @mauiwowialoha
Email: aloha@kapotrading.com
For information: www.kapotrading.com, 301-523-3600
One3Five Cuisine
Fans mourned the departure of Ali Baba’s Falafel, but the stationary truck that replaced it at the Montgomery Farm Women’s Cooperative Market in Bethesda is even better. Chevy Chase resident Steve Markham’s forte is flavorful Asian fare, and he and sous chef RT Smith make a mean banh mi (Vietnamese sub), Orient Express salad and wonderful soup specials, including Thai pumpkin with mango nectar and lime.
Salads and sandwiches, $6.99 to $14.99
Email: steve@one3fivecuisine.com
For information: www.one3fivecuisine.com, 301-801-2823
Open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. 7155 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda
Pino’s Auto Grill
Naples-born Pino Campagna was a local marble layer for 30 years, but the economic downturn made him switch to the second thing he knows best: Italian cooking. The truck offers cheesesteaks, meatball and Italian subs, plus pasta. My penne with Bolognese was homey and comforting.
Subs, cheesesteaks and pasta, $9.
Twitter: @PinosAutoGrill
Email: pinosautogrill@gmail.com
For information: www.pinosautogrill.com, 301-337-7466
Red Hook Lobster Pound
With nearly 24,000 Twitter followers, Red Hook is one of the oldest and most popular upscale food truck businesses around. Owned by Doug Povich, a Washington attorney whose cousin owns a brick-and-mortar shop with the same name in Brooklyn, and Leland Morris, a Culinary Institute of America grad, Red Hook has two trucks—one that concentrates solely on the District, and another that stops throughout the Metro area, including Bethesda, Silver Spring and Friendship Heights. Given the accolades and local awards, I was expecting the Maine lobster roll of my dreams. But it was just OK—the claw and knuckle meat was skimpy, and the lemon mayonnaise barely discernible (plus, a piece of cartilage got stuck in my tooth). The clam chowder had a nice flavor, but One3Five Cuisine makes a better cup.
Lobster roll, $15; shrimp roll, $8.
Twitter: @LobstertruckDC
Email: info@redhooklobsterdc.com
For information: www.redhooklobsterdc.com, 202-341-6263
Sub-Urban-Bros
Former restaurateurs Shane Patterson and Rick Baldwin were among the first upscale food truckers in Montgomery County, and they know how to make a sandwich. Out of the three I tried, my favorite is Mama Toni’s Meatball sub, an A-1 version of this Italian specialty.
Sandwiches, $7 to $10.
Twitter: @SUBBros1
Email: spatterson@suburbanbros.com or rbaldwin@suburbanbros.com
For information: www.suburbanbros.com, 240-715-7112 or 301-523-4947
Thatsalata
Southern California chef Giovanni Caporicci grew up on vanilla-date shakes, and now he and Melanie Abdow, the former banquet director at The National Press Club, have brought the wonderful West Coast specialty to Maryland, along with high-quality salads and sandwiches. The French Turkey Torpedo, made with fresh roasted turkey breast, brie and cranberry relish on Caporicci’s homemade French bread, beats any sub shop version.
Salads, $9; sandwiches, $5 to $9.50.
Twitter: @Thatsalata
Email: giovannicaporicci@comcast.net
For information: www.thatsalata.com, 949-283-9553
At press time, Sweetz Cheesecake (Twitter: @cheesecaketruc), Mighty Dog (Twitter: @MightyDogAcai) and CurleysQ (Twitter: @CurleysQ) were just getting ready to roll in Montgomery County. Other trucks that make periodic stops in the area include Carmen’s Italian Ice (Twitter: @CarmensCarts) and Curbside Cupcakes (Twitter: @CurbsideCupcake).
Check the Table Talk blog for reviews.
Carole Sugarman is the magazine’s food editor.
