Truckin’ Four food trucks worth the (mini) road trip
By Gary Howe
There's nothing quite like the allure of the owner-operated food truck. It provides a personal, visceral link straight from the grill, through the window, and into stomachs and minds. Thankfully, northwest Lower Michigan is bursting with new and established mobile culinary delights. And while we love the graze-all-day deliciousness that’s readily found at dedicated multi-truck destinations like The Little Fleet (448 E. Front St.) in Traverse City or The Back Lot in Petoskey (425 Michigan St.) and Charlevoix (230 Ferry Ave.), hitting the road to hunt down a few farther-flung trucks is a worthwhile exercise in summer adventuring. Here, four lesser-known favorites you can — and should — hit on a daylong cruise along a stretch of US-31.
Elk Rapids ALLEY CATS EATS & SWEETS Located 2 miles south of Elk Rapids in the parking lot of Townline Ciders is Alley Cats Eats & Sweets. Allie Gualcos the owner, opened this past spring in a truck with dreams of moving into her own restaurant one day and is all about spreading the love of community, connection, and fine eats. The menu's highlight is The Fat Cat, a refreshing take on the ubiquitous pulled pork sandwich. It's light, original, and majestically balanced with just the right amount of her tangy apple slaw. The
10 • july 19, 2021 • Northern Express Weekly
locally sourced pork is a cider-braised Carolina BBQ and served on brioche buns from Common Good Bakery. Even on a hot summer day, it doesn't land too heavy and still is substantive enough to pull you through a day of beaching, shopping, or wine and cider touring. For dessert, the polenta pound cake, made from a half polenta and half almond flour mix, is delicate and equally delightful. It's topped with fresh fruit bought daily from the end of the driveway at Altonen's fruit stand. Townline Ciderworks offers a quiet place to enjoy it all with a fantastic view, comfortable facilities, and an excellent selection of ciders.
