Food Trucks Worth Following

PRESS

This 3-year-old enterprise’s decadent Liège-style waffles are easy to find. On Saturday mornings, Press’ team sets up indoors at Hawthorne Coffee Roasters (4177 S. Howell Ave.; 8 a.m.-noon). They also set up by tent or charming 1962 vintage camper trailer at the South Shore and Tosa farmers markets. On Sundays, they’re at the Shorewood farmers market. Press’ crispy, buttery Belgians come plain or with multiple sweet or savory toppings. Owners Aaron Rosko and Emily Thomas use a homemade brioche dough, adding the trademark pearl sugar which caramelizes the exterior and leaves wonderful lumps of sweetness inside. That’s why they’re great plain, but you if you love extra-sweet, try lemon curd, blueberry compote and whipped cream. $5-$8. Full schedule at presswaffles.com.

MEAT ON THE STREET

The truck came before the food court location in an apartment building on the old Pabst Brewery grounds. It was a sticky-hot summer night that I hungrily demolished a pork adobo bowl, one of the great Filipino specialties of this brother-sister business. Try the binakol bowl (a coconut chicken soup) or the brunch bowl (rice, seasoned pork, over-easy egg). New items this year include “halo-halo,” an ice cream-mixed fruit dessert. $4-$8. For the truck’s whereabouts: facebook.com/meatonthestreet.mke/

IRON GRATE BBQ

This year the County Parks’ traveling beer garden has a power food partner in Iron Grate, which has signed on for Friday nights and Saturdays (Fri 5-9 p.m., Sat 11 a.m.-9 p.m., weather dependent). It’s a big coup for the parks and as much a reason to head to the garden as the beer and weekend live music. Expect some tummy rumbling aromas emanating from owner Aaron Patin’s wood smoker. The menu includes various pork products – including hot links, pulled pork sandwiches and a meat-and-two-sides combo – as well as Frito pie and a snack plate of homemade meat sticks and summer sausage, cheese curds and pickles – which sounds perfect combined with the pretzels also for sale at the beer gardens. $8-$15. For dates: mkebeergardens.com/ traveling

DRIFT MKE

In summer 2017, this mobile café serving meat pies and Anzac biscuits occupied a regular Third Ward spot – a parking lot just south of Café Benelux. This summer, owner Rachel Hawken is working on establishing a permanent base for her New Zealand-inspired trailer in that spot (330 N. Broadway). In spring, Hawken was busy jumping the city-mandated hurdles in hopes of opening the “perma truck” in June. She’s shooting for daily hours and a beachy vibe, complete with a steel-wood canopy and decorative surfboards. I like that the menu is still focused on easy, breezy handhelds, like the Thai chicken curry pie, steak and cheese pie, puddings and gooey chocolate Afghan biscuits. Full espresso drink menu, too. $3.75-$8.50. driftmke.com

FALAFEL GUYS

The Thiensville-based restaurant sends out its mobile emissary from (weather depending) spring through fall, generally hitting the weekly summer food truck events: Tuesday (Schlitz Park), Wednesday (Westown Farmers Market), Thursday (Milwaukee County Courthouse), Friday (U.S. Bank Center). The menu focuses on four sandwiches (chicken shawarma, breaded eggplant, chicken schnitzel and, of course, falafel). All come in a warm pita with hummus, tahini, pickles and cucumber salad. $7-$9. facebook.com/ FalafelGuysWI/