Green Truck - Organic Food Truck, Catering, Weddings, Private Parties

GTLA Farm-to-Truck!

David — Wed, 01 May 2013 18:53:42 +0000

Here at Green Truck we believe in providing local, organic, sustainable fare to our community. It is with this passion and pride we support and serve products from local farms. Here’s a peek inside Green Truck’s fabulous farm resources:

Niman Ranch Grass-Fed Beef
Mary’s Farm Free-Range Chicken
Paso Prime Flank Steak

Mike and Sons Cage-Free Eggs

Coleman Farms
Coastal Farm
JJ’s Lone Daughter
Jaime Farms
Maggie’s Farm
Windrose Farm
Schaner Farm

More local farms to come as the months change and we stay seasonal and fresh with our fantastic farmers!

Green Truck @ LA Vegan Beer & Food Fest 2013 — Saturday, May 4th

David — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 02:29:35 +0000

2013 LA Vegan Beef & Food Fest!

Come visit Green Truck @ LA Vegan Beer & Food Fest brought to you by @quarrygirl @theroxy and @tonysda ! Beer, music and our organic sustainable fare = Things you should be enjoying this Saturday!

Get your tix here: http://roxy.la/lavbf4fb

New Late Summer Menu is here!!!

Lauren — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 00:13:25 +0000

latesummermenu2012

Happy FREE Mother Truckin’ 4th of July, San Diego!

David — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 15:50:14 +0000

A few days ago, after enjoying an epic lunch at EL TAKE IT EASY in North Park, I was tweeting with their proprietor Jay Porter about their plans for the 4th, and the gathering that happens every year in Bird Park (28th St and Upas in North Park).

I’ve heard this is THE best, little known place to celebrate Independence Day and see all the amazing fireworks displays, while enjoying libations and eats with great people. Jay and the crew from El Take It Easy and Linkery shut down the restaurants and all go to Bird Park to grill out with the neighbors, and it’s a big organic potluck style organic gathering. Lovely.

So after my last sip of my bourbon Moda Vieja cocktail it hit me. San Diego, you’ve been so good to me and Green Truck, I want to give back with a little gift and say thank you. Thank you for having such a discerning palette; caring for where your food comes from; and appreciating slow food that is made from scratch. Thank you for supporting local farms and Green Truck.

MY GIFT TO YOU, 200 MOTHER TRUCKERS FOR FREE AT BIRD PARK TODAY!

Our signature menu item, the Mother Trucker vegan veggie burger. Made from scratch out of local broccoli, carrots, mushrooms onions, kale, chickpeas, basil, dijon, tahini, Bragg’s, herb & spices, and bound with gluten-free oat flour. Grilled and topped with Suzie’s sunflower greens and heirloom stupice tomato, and smothered in our infamous pink roasted beet vegan mayonnaise on a locally made vegan bun from Sadie Rose.

My dear friend and renegade chef, Chef Gage proprietor of Gage’s Global Gourmet, who joins us every Sunday at the Hillcrest Farmer’s Market with his vegan wok station, will be on the truck helping me feed the people!

We will start slinging them at 7:00pm, so get in line they will go FAST!

Much love to our friends at Suzie’s Farm and Sadie Rose for donating cases of veggies and the 200 artisan buns for this event. We are so grateful to these two vendors who supply so much deliciousness to our ever-changing menus. THANK YOU!

See you tonight San Diego! Happy 4th!

Sustainably,
David
Green Truck, San Diego

Hillcrest Farmer’s Market EVERY WEEK!

David — Tue, 15 May 2012 03:18:28 +0000

On a beautiful sunny Sunday in April of last year, I arranged a meeting with Market Manager of the Hillcrest Farmer’s Market to discuss Green Truck becoming a weekly vendor. I got the truck all clean and spiffy, I even bought some fresh flowers at the market to really dress it up. I opened the doors with Bob Marley playing and shared with David my dream. We immediately hit it off, and he showed great interest in our food, our sustainable mission, and the fact our sources included many of the farms and vendors at the market. But like many things, sometimes you have to wait. The Green Truck is a big one, 25 feet long, and the Hillcrest Market is only so big. So, I patiently waited for a spot to open.

On Mother’s Day last year, almost exactly one year ago today, we had our first opportunity to be a guest vendor at the market (for those that attended, you might recall I passed out free Mother Trucker sliders to all the Mommy’s at the market in honor of Mother’s Day). From that day on I dreamt…

I envisioned having a weekly spot at the market, shopping at all the farms in the morning, live music, a real farm-to-table experience. Since then, every week there has been an opening we were graciously offered a spot. Often with little time to promote, we still always served a big crowd. Recently we’ve had live music, and an interactive vegan stir-fry wok experience featuring Chef Gage.

The dream began to grow…

And today, the dream came true. Green Truck now has a permanent spot at the Hillcrest Farmer’s Market starting this coming Sunday! You can find us every week at the North East corner of the market, next to our good friends Joe’s on the Nose coffee truck. Providing you with a unique dining experience every Sunday is my number one goal. Look for featured live musicians, live cooking demonstrations, education, and of course farm-fresh gourmet food sourced right from the market that day.

I am overwhelmed with joy, one happy Mother Trucker! To me this is a reminder that your dreams are real. Thoughts become things. Better than winning the lottery. So why not DREAM BIG, FRIENDS!

See you Sunday

Sustainably,
David
Green Truck, San Diego

New Year’s Mini-Solutions

Lauren — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 21:46:13 +0000

Happy New Year! We at Green Truck hope your holidays were filled with laughter, happiness, and wonderful meals—ours surely were! But the very things that make December so marvelous—colder weather, shorter days, decadent meals and unlimited drinks—often leave us longing for the fresh start so perfectly offered by the New Year. But New Year’s resolutions are made year after year; oftentimes, to no avail. So, I thought I’d share with you five simple things I’ve incorporated into my everyday life that certainly make me happier and healthier. No gym membership or food scale required.

(By the way, I’m Lauren. I manage accounts here at Green Truck. I’m the girl who helps you craft a perfect menu for your very picky-sister-in-law’s baby shower.)

Make a vegetable soup on Sunday afternoon. Store in one- or two-person servings so you can easily heat up the right amount as an accompaniment to any weeknight dinner. I like to sauté carrots, celery, onions, a little bit of local fingerling potatoes, and maybe a bell pepper if the season allows. Season with fresh and dried herbs—thyme, rosemary, paprika, crushed red pepper, garlic, basil, whatever you’d like. Once veggies are softened (but not mushy) and onions are translucent, add vegetable broth, chicken broth, or water; a cup or so of white beans, and a few cups of diced tomatoes. Add squash, peas, green beans, spinach, or other leafy greens about 10 minutes prior to serving. Feel free to clean out your refrigerator. (I ate this soup every day for the 2 months before my wedding. I added extra white beans or a couple ounces roasted chicken for protein.)
Treat yourself, one treat at a time. At Green Truck, we’re pretty keen on loving and listening and cherishing our minds, bodies, and souls. And that means making room for little indulgences. So pick out something special: an imported brie or a bar of fair-trade dark chocolate loaded with sea salt and roasted almonds. Choose anything you’d like, but choose only one thing. And enjoy it.
Eat at your desk. That probably caught you by surprise. It seems every study in the world tells us to eat only when totally focused on our food. Focusing on our meals helps us remember eating, which makes us less inclined to overeat or snack later. But honestly, most of us, Monday to Friday, eat at our desks—if we find time to have a lunch at all. Let’s be reasonable here: pack a nice lunch for yourself, and eat at your desk. Then, when you’re done, walk your lunch break. Listen to music or call your mom. Walk to the deli and grab a coffee. Ask your coworkers to join you. Get moving—it is the sweetest way to breakup your day and it provides you with a dose of Vitamin D. Afternoon walks also help alleviate that “I-just-ate-lunch-and-I’m-full-and-I-don’t-want-to-be-here-anymore” feeling that many of us know too well. (Oh, and for those of you who have an hour lunch, you don’t even have to eat at your desk. Eat outside, then walk.)
Pack a lunch that works for you. Something you want to eat that will keep you full and help you get through the afternoon. The point is to plan ahead, to pick something that keeps you full, and won’t weigh you down. Be realistic. Make your lunch something simple enough that it can be assembled easily, night after night. And don’t try to under-feed yourself. Pack snacks if you have a long day ahead or know you’ll be hungry by 3:30pm. I, like a child, eat the same thing for lunch for months at time, and swear by the following four quick meals:
1. Peanut Butter and Jelly on Wheat (brainless…)
2. Hummus, Chicken, Spinach and Cherry Tomatoes wrapped up in Whole Wheat Flatbread (make ahead, wrap holds up overnight perfectly in foil or parchment)
3. Veggie Soup with Chicken or White Beans (heat up at work)
4. Plain Yogurt, Whole Grain Cereal, and Fresh Berries or Bananas or Whatever (bring ingredients, assemble on site)
Drink plenty of water. You’ve heard it a thousand times, but if you’re not doing it, you’re missing out. Fill up two 1-liter reusable water bottles and bring them to work. Make it your job to finish the first one and make a dent in the second. Add lemon if you hate water.

Happy New Year! Everyone at Green Truck looks forward to spending time with you in 2012.

I heart Hillcrest Farmer’s Market

David — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:00:12 +0000

It’s been a while since I’ve blogged, but felt compelled after spending the past two Sundays serving food at the Hillcrest Farmer’s Market in San Diego. There’s something about being a part of this market that makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. While we are not there every week we’d love to be… along with many of our fans, vendors, and the owners of the market. We’re all working to make that happen, it’s simply a space issue since the Hillcrest Farmer’s Market is probably the busiest one in San Diego.

This past Saturday I got a call around 5pm from my good friend David Larson, the long-time manager of Hillcrest Farmer’s Market (and genuinely one of the sweetest and nicest people I know). And it’s the call I love to receive, David seeing if we could bring the Green Truck on Sunday due to a couple last minute cancellations. He was very apologetic for the short notice, while I explained I am honored that we are always the first call he makes when there is an opening.

I was actually at the People’s Co-Op in OB making one of my frequent organic vegan dinner visits when I received the call. My only concern was having enough food product to conquer the crowds at the market, and then it hit me! Duh, all of my vendors are at the market!

I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to pour a hot cup of coffee off the Green Truck at 7:30am on a Sunday, step into brisk dry San Diego air, blue skies, and “shop” for our organic ingredients at the market. Shaking hands with Phil at Sage Mountain Farms for eggplant, Suzie’s for our mixed greens and arugula, and Bob with his fresh San Pasqual organic eggs, making trades for Green Truck food for product.

And then making fresh food for all the wonderful people who attend the market. Thank you. No, seriously, thank you to each and every person we get to meet when we are there. The Hillcrest Farmer’s Market draws people with discerning palates who are conscious of where there food comes from, and that get super stoked on Green Truck’s mission and our food. I love sitting back in the truck and shamelessly spying on guests who have just gotten a fresh pair of eggplant tacos, and watching them take that first bite and seeing their eyes light up.

So to all of our wonderful Hillcrest Market partners, farmers, and fans, much love & light. We’ll see you again real soon.

Peace,
David & the Green Truck Tribe

Shopping at your local farmer’s market rocks!

David — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 06:21:35 +0000

At Green Truck we source our produce from local organic farms, so when you buy lunch from Green Truck, you’re supporting your local farm. But we also encourage our patrons to source your own meals at home from local farms, and the best way is at your local farmers’ market. So here are some insights and tips to help.

Deciding to shop for produce at your local farmers’ market is one of the most rewarding choices you can make for yourself and your community. When you buy from your neighborhood farmers, you are choosing to support local industry. That means that your dollar goes directly to the farmer, whose farm is most likely within 50 or 100 miles of your home. When you buy from a mass-market grocery store, your dollar’s trip isn’t so direct—there are so many parties and corporations to pay. And there’s nothing wrong with that, really, but we find that making an effort to spend a few dollars on a quality product harvested in your own community is a very feasible—and gratifying—goal. Besides, eating locally and seasonably just tastes better. It’s June: a Fuji apple imported from New Zealand just cannot compete with the complex but sunny sweetness found in a handful of stain-your-fingers-purple Bing cherries picked in Temecula just yesterday.

Oftentimes, folks seem hesitant to shop at farmers’ markets because they believe the products sold there will not be affordable. This could not be less true! Seasonable, sustainable farming practices are in harmony with Mother Nature requiring less maintenance, less water, and no harmful nitrogen fertilizers or pesticides to grow. When tomatoes grow in the warm summer sun, farmers’ needn’t fight the elements to generate an inherently bountiful, better-tasting fruit. When truly in season, a locally-grown, vine-ripened watermelon not only tastes incredible, but is also priced to sell.

If you’re already shopping your local market, but are looking to get more out of the experience, we suggest getting to know your farmer. For starters, ask about the location, size, and growing practices of the farm—simple information that farmers’ are actually required to display in their booths. Don’t forget to ask for advice: if you aren’t sure how to store five pounds of just-picked, blushing, super-sweet apricots, then the man who harvested the fruit will be happy to direct you. After all, he is the expert! If you really want to engage your favorite farmer, ask him this: “what are you planting now that I can look forward to next season?” Watch him light up with genuine excitement as he eagerly describes a new white eggplant he’s trying to cultivate for the first time. That’s not something you’re likely to experience at a supermarket!

Savor the experience of shopping a farmers’ market. Bring a reusable bag, a little bit of cash, and an open mind. Taste everything you can, ask questions, and remain flexible—your shopping list should be dictated by the seasons, not your pen.

Apricots at the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market do not taste a thing like the apricots sold in grocery stores. The fuzzy stone fruit is wildly aromatic, rich but bright, and honestly, quite cute. Ask your farmer to help you select a dozen—some to eat today, and some that’ll last a few more days.

You can find out more about the farmers’ markets in your area by visiting http://www.localharvest.org.

Happy Harvesting!
The Green Truck Tribe

Planet Earth, what a Mother!

David — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 23:08:02 +0000

Of course, it’s our favorite holiday here at Green Truck. Earth Day reminds us why we started this little green company in the first place: not only to bring organic food to everyone, but also to be a vehicle of sustainability (literally and figuratively). It is our job to share with our customers a great meal and a green message. We are in the terrific business of respecting our Earth and healing our planet, one meal at a time.

We think we should show love to our Mother Earth every day, but today is really a great day to take a step back and say, “hey, Earth, thanks for all of this…” After all, our planet provides us with quite a bounty: wonderful produce, natural medicines, sustainable energy, and, of course, breathtaking sights, smells, and sounds.

Stop and take a breath of fresh air. Pause for a minute and witness a sunset. Step outside and experience something. Today, recognize the beauty of this planet, just for a moment. And then, tomorrow, and maybe the day after that, find another little moment to stop and say “thank you.”

Happy Earth Day!

Much love ~ Green Truck

Green Truck website gets a facelift!

admin — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 21:00:27 +0000

It’s something we’ve been wanting to do for a long-time, and it’s finally here! Welcome to the new Green Truck website!

A few new features

Green is Sexy! we think the new design of the site rocks, is more user-friendly, and overall looks stunning! We are extremely grateful for the hard work that went into the launch of the new website. Big ups to the following Green Truck friends who made it happen:
- Damien O’Malley, Graphic Designer, for taking our vision and making it pop (www.damienomalley.com).
- Anne McColl, Copy Writer, for coming up with the catchy headlines and communication of who we are (www.annemccoll.com).
- Robin Park, Developer, for taking the designs and turning it into a functioning site.

You guys rock, thank you!

Truck Schedule: our h0mepage has a schedule section which will be updated every Monday with where the Green Truck will be in our core markets.
Email Sign-Up: to keep our fans in tune with where our trucks will be and to spread our green message, we’ve added a weekly Green Truck newsletter. Be sure to sign-up!
Green Hosting: the new site is hosted by GreenGeeks.com, 100% wind-powered hosting!

Tell us what you think!