Who needs bricks?
Rollin' with Houston's newest food truck: Meet the Eatsie Boys
Will 2011 be the year of the food truck in Houston? We can think of a few people who certainly hope so…
Meet the Eatsie Boys, three Houston natives determined to capitalize on the trend that’s sweeping the nation faster than Bieber fever and skinny jeans combined.
Houston’s newest food truck started with the dream of a bright-eyed chef and two entrepreneurs. Matt Marcus (son of The Grateful Bread’s Al Marcus) mans the stove, while Ryan Soroka and Alex Vassilakidis run the books. The team is young — but with three Bachelors, three Masters, and two culinary Associates degrees among them, they’re well schooled in finance, hospitality and food.
“Launching a mobile eatery made the most sense for us,” Ryan Soroka says. “We didn't have the resources to open a brick and mortar restaurant, and we thought this would be a great way to get into the food service industry.”
A quick glance at the menu explains the Boys' growing popularity. The mobile offerings change with the seasons, but generally boast an ambitious lineup of gourmet sandwiches and international street foods. Last week, they debuted their new braised oxtail sandwich to rave reviews; then there’s a banh mi sandwich, a roasted pork au jus sandwich, an eggy breakfast sandwich and a grilled pimento cheese.
Oh yes, and a gorgeous set of steamed Asian buns stuffed with pork belly, cilantro and hoisin sauce. All creative, all delicious, all ready in mere minutes.
Despite the city’s perceived cold shoulder towards would-be vendors, food trucks are popping up with greater frequency these days. The city hasn’t changed its strict regulations, so what’s prompted the move? The Eatsie Boys say it’s the growing community of support among the trucks.
“The process has been tedious and there are plenty of hoops you have to jump through, but the city really just wants to see that you have your ducks in a row,” Marcus says
The biggest help? "The other food trucks have really helped us out,” Soroka says. Almost like a support group, vendors offer tips and advice to make the inspections, location and notarizations run smooth for one another.
And now that the Boys are in business, they’re living the dream ... Cooking their way around town with a gourmet truck and a smile.
Chef Marcus says, “I love it seeing faces light up when people try our stuff for the first time — It’s like they’re shocked they can get this caliber of food from a truck.”
Ready to try? You’ll find the Eatsie Boys at the Eastside farmers market on Saturdays and at the City Hall farmers market on Wednesdays. Follow them on Twitter for the location of their goodness gracious gourmet truck.