Round 1: Roaming Fork
I have to say, I have always been a fan of Roaming Fork (@roamingforkNC on Twitter). Anyone who can fry up pimento cheese, make it look like an eyeball but taste like heaven is OK with me. The fact that the head chef is also the only female head chef in the group with such great balls (I couldn't
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| Fried Pimento Cheese w/ Bacon |
resist) is worthy of an extra gold star. And the foodies in attendance thought so too - The Roaming Fork won the People's Choice award in Saturday's competition! The special version for Battle: Bacon included hickory smoked bacon-infused meatloaf (I ate it before I took the picture, it was that good), herb fries with a bacon aoli and a bacon pimento cheese ball topped with a maple bourbon bacon piece. Yum.
Round 2: Root Down
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| Boudin ball from Root Down |
Root Down is an Iredell-based food truck making up their unique take on delicious creole comfort food. I've never had their food before, but have followed them for months on Twitter (@eatrootdown) and love their knowledge of New Orleans cuisine. The new truck in town came out swinging in this food fight with three courses! The first course was a delicious pulled pork pimento cheese crostini that was crunchy, juicy, and cheesy, all in a single smoky bite. Second course was their soon to be famous boudin ball (pictured). A delicious combination of bacon,
rice and other seasonings fried up like an arancini with an attitude and served  |
| Praline Bacon Heaven |
Round 3: Papi Queso
I was deeply saddened to learn that my late arrival at the food fight meant I had missed my opportunity to try Papi Queso's (@papiquesotruck on Twitter) bacon entry into the competition. Lesson for next year's attendees: arrive early! From what I heard it was a bacon mac-n-cheese grilled cheese with a bacon-onion jam and a maple bacon hot sauce. The guys were nice enough to let me try some of the bacon jam and my regrets for tardiness became many. The truffle cheesy goodness they made me instead was as delicious as always, but I hope they make this food fight special a guest on their regular menu!
Round 4: The Gourment Goomahs
Just when I thought I couldn't eat anymore, I came to the Gourmet Goombah's food truck (@ggoombahs on Twitter). Another truck I had been wanting to try and they did not disappoint. The Goombah's took the food fight to the mattresses and made two entree-sized dishes for us. I ate the hot dog with caramelized onions and bacon relish before I could snap a pic and the chicken cutlet slider with bacon and caramelized onions was only slightly sweeter than the Goombahs themselves. I can't wait to eat their food again, but it will need to be when I have a much bigger appetite!
Round 5: Sals Roadside Eatery
Once again, my tardiness cost me my chance to try an entry in the food truck fight. Sal's menu looked great - who doesn't want to try a fried shrimp po'boy? But unfortunately, by the time I got to them, they were completely sold out. I'm thinking this meant everyone loved their food so much they snuck back for seconds since it wasn't even 3pm yet. Did I mention next year's attendees should arrive early? Well, now I really mean it.
Round 6: The Chrome Toaster
A relative newcomer to the Charlotte food truck scene, the Chrome Toaster made their own tasty version of a bacon and shrimp taco. The crisp slaw and salty cheese were a perfect pairing. I can't wait to try more of their food!
Round 7: Wingzza
The guys from Wingzza (@WingzzaTruck) never disappoint with their pizza and wings served with a savory, soulful flair.
Their food fight entry was no different - crispy, juicy wings covered in a spicy and sweet mambo sauce were wing nirvana. But they didn't stop there - have I mentioned Wingzza's huge portions? They also served their famous bacon cheese burger pizza (pictured) and yes, those are fries sitting on top. This food fight was far from over, but I was ready to tap out and take a nap!
Round 8: The Herban Legend
The Herban Legend food truck has made some of my favorite dishes, like their schnitzel on pretzel, so I knew they would bring it to this food fight, and they did not disappoint!. Their glazed pork belly, with a sweet, salty, spicy bacon glaze, served on a coconut rice cake, was one of my personal favorites. As full as I was, I couldn't stop eating it! Apparently no one else could either, because Herban Legend took home the "Best Use of Bacon" award at the food fight! Great job, guys.
Round 9: The TIN Kitchen
The Tin Kitchen boys always make fabulous tacos, and I took a quick walk around the NC Music Factory to make room for their Food Fight entry. The chicken and bacon (top right, pictured) was delicious of course, but couldn't hold a candle to their pork tenderloin, bacon and apple taco (bottom right). The salty crispiness of the bacon, juicy, savory pork and sweet toothsome baked apples were an addictive combination, and yes, after 8 foodtrucks, I ate the whole freaking taco. I wasn't alone in my adoration - the Tin Kitchen took home the Judges' choice award at the food fight! Hope the new guy at the window recognizes me next time, and I hope they have this taco on special then too!
The entire Charlotte food fight was a really delicious event for a wonderful cause, and I would love to see more charity events like this in Charlotte. Ideas for next year's event? Should they stick to Battle: Bacon? Add the dessert trucks? I've already given the organizers my two cents, but let them know what you think on Twitter @cltfoodfight.
