Recently, I’ve been spending a lot of time eating my way through wine country. Not to say that I’m neglecting wine, but there are few eateries in Niagara/PEC/Lake Erie and often times these places are overlooked when we plan our wine themed trips. I am asked constantly about where people can grab a bite to eat as they explore. In future posts, I’ll share my findings, but today I’d like to talk about the El Gastro food truck at Flat Rock cellars…

I met Adam Hynam-Smith and Tamara Jensen — of El Gastronomo Vagabundo – earlier this summer as I visited Flat Rock Cellars in Jordan. Adam and Tamara operate out of a truck, which you can find during the weekends at Flat Rock, and from this truck they serve fresh tacos and other delicious treats.

After eating at the truck a dozen times, I can tell you it’s no gimmick, the food is delicious and a lot of thought has been put into how the food pairs with the Flat Rock wines.

The menu changes often as Adam and Tamara try to adapt to what is available seasonally and locally. There are noticeable Asian influences in some of the dishes, and pork belly regularly makes and appearance. Here are some examples of dishes I’ve had there.

The concept of a gourmet food truck may be new to Ontario, but its quite popular in the States. Food trucks from New York to DC to California are hugely successful. On a recent trip to the nation’s capital, I spotted a food truck specializing in cupcakes to-go. Many of these trucks use social media tunnels like Twitter to announce their location and daily menu. The appetite for this movement can be blamed on the desire for alternative yet casual street food, and the proliferation of Twitter. I spent nearly four days trying to track down the Koji food truck in LA to no success. The aforementioned cupcake truck in DC sold out within minutes of pulling over (there was a ghost line up of about a dozen people that knew beforehand that the truck would be there at that time).

The flexibility of the city’s ‘a la carte’ program has given these trucks the necessary freedom and mobility they require. Even big shot chefs like Daniel Boulud and David Chang have tested out the concept.

Unfortunately we don’t have the same kind of freedom here in Ontario. Adam and Tamara have created an online petition to help persuade local and provincial lawmakers to revise current restrictive vending ordinances that hinder the flourishing of street food culture, and to implement a regulatory system that encourages culinary entrepreneurship and accessible food options. Take a look at their petition here.  Here’s a video with Adam and Tamara talking a bit about what they’re trying to do.

El Gastrónomo Vagabundo is parked at the Flat Rock green roof patio at the following times, through to the end of October:

Friday: 3pm – 7pm
Saturday: 11am – 6pm
Sunday: 11am – 6pm
Holidays: 11am – 6pm

For more up-to-date information, please visit www.elgastro.com or follow them on twitter @elgastronomo.

Flat Rock Cellars
2727 Seventh Avenue (Map)
Jordan, Ontario
1-905-562-8994
www.flatrockcellars.com