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MUNCHIN’ ON THE WOOD RIVER VALLEY’S FOOD TRUCK SCENE

By Hayden Seder

While it may not rival cities like Portland or Austin, that are known for their food trucks, Ketchum and the surrounding Wood River Valley certainly holds their own. Between trucks with permanent spots at The Pod in Ketchum and trucks that roll in for events to ones that are for catering and private events, the area is home to 12 trucks serving various foods and beverages.

Joe’s Juice

Open Since: 2022

Where to Find Them: Ketch’em Alive, Hailey Alive, Ketchum and Hailey Farmers Markets, Rebecca’s Private Idaho, Sun Valley Arts and Crafts Festival, Riverfest, Summer Solstice Party

Serves: juices, small snacks

Joe L’Heureux, a Ketchum local on and off since 1988, started slinging juice from his solarpowered bus in the summer of 2020 in Ohio, where he and his wife had temporarily been relocated by her company, Decked. Leading a healthy lifestyle is a passion of Joe’s, which is why he wanted to offer a healthier food truck alternative; he bought a truck, spent four months converting it, and after two summers, returned to the Wood River Valley last summer to operate his truck locally. The menu has five organic, cold-pressed juice options, as well as a juice shot and small snacks, which Joe hopes to expand in the future. Juices are available in bulk and juice cleanse packages, and the truck is available for private events and catering.

Nona’s

Open Since: 2021

Where to Find Them: The Pod in Ketchum (next to Whiskey’s)

Serves: Mexican food

If you’re looking for a quick, affordable bite of delicious Mexican cuisine, you can’t go wrong with Nona’s. Though this food truck has only been in Ketchum for three years, it has made quite an impact on those who thought (wrongly) that it would be hard to find good, authentic Mexican food in a resort town. Nona’s makes a great lunch spot mid-week as they’re only open from 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. On Fridays and Saturdays, the truck opens at 11:30 a.m. and stays open for the late-night crowd all the way until 2:30 a.m. The menu has a wide variety, whether you’re interested in tacos (try the blackened fish or carne asada), burritos or quesadillas. There are veggie options for each, and the empanadas are one of their specialties.

Tater Trailer

Open Since: Summer 2021

Where to Find Them: Ketch’em Alive, River Run Music Series, Sawtooth Valley Gathering, Hailey Alive, and base of Warm Springs in the winter

Serves: Baked potatoes, fries, tater tots, occasional hoagies

In a word, Tater Trailer serves potatoes. And considering the popularity and ubiquity of potatoes in Idaho, it’s crazy it took as long as it did for someone to jump on the potato food truck game. Owners Cody Richmond and Brycen Prokasky started Tater Trailer in the summer of 2021 after seeing the need for affordable good food in Ketchum, particularly in the late-night scene. For their first year of operation, Tater Trailer parked in The Pod next to Whiskey’s in Ketchum, but the grueling late nights and popularity of their menu convinced them to go completely mobile, setting up shop at various events in the summer and the Warm Springs base in the winter. Tater Trailer’s entirely gluten-free menu starts with a potato base—your choice of baked potatoes, fries, or tater tots—and then includes a variety of toppings and extras, including vegan options. Try their most popular menu item, tater tots with BBQ pulled chicken, or follow them on social media to see when new items, like their popular hoagies, will be on the menu. In addition to public events this summer, Tater Trailer is available for catering and private events.

Roadbars

Open Since: 2016

Where to Find Them: Ketchum and Hailey

Farmers Market, Summer Solstice Party, Ketch’em Alive, Wagon Days

Serves: Craft beverages some of those years were in a brickand-mortar restaurant in Bellevue). Owner Pascual Cano and his family have built a loyal following by serving delicious, traditional Mexican cuisine over the years. Their Al Pastor (rotisserie pork), for which they are named, is not to be missed and comes with small corn tortillas, cilantro, onion, and optional hot sauce. The truck also serves a mean torta, a Mexican-style sandwich that comes on a freshbaked roll. Or try the “alambre,” which allows you to build your own tacos from a delicious mound of meat and grilled Anaheim chili peppers. Find them in the parking lot of Chevron in Hailey, where they’re open until the food runs out.

After years of working in sustainable agriculture, Roadbars owner Christina Giordani was looking for a new way to connect to people and local and seasonal ingredients. The result was Roadbars, a mobile bar serving craft cocktails and sodas made with fresh, local ingredients. With the help of family and friends, Christina renovated a 1959 Security trailer and a 1960 Kenskill trailer as mobile bars. At the base of all of Roadbars’ beverages are Christina’s house-made shrubs; depending on the event and the seasonality of ingredients, you’ll find drinks like a gin basil lemonade or rhubarb bourbon sour on the menu. This summer, look for Christina’s new take on childhood classics like Shirley Temples and Capri Suns.

Catering & Special Event Trucks

If you can’t get enough food trucks, hire one to cater your next event!

KB’s: Catering options for up to 500 people.

Taqueria Al Pastor #1

Open Since: 1999

Where to Find Them: Next to Chevron in Hailey

Serves: Mexican food

Certainly, the longest-running food truck in the Wood River Valley, Taqueria Al Pastor #1 has been serving authentic Mexican street food for almost 25 years (though

Wood Fire Pizza & Grill

Open Since: 2019

Where to Find Them: The Pod in Ketchum (next to Whiskey’s), Ketch’em Alive, Hailey Alive, Rebecca’s Private Idaho, Wagon Days, River Festival Days, River Festival Serves: Wood-fired pizzas

If you’ve wandered into the food truck area known as The Pod in Ketchum, you’ve likely spotted the bright red truck serving delicious personal pizzas. Wood Fire Pizza and Grill was started by owners Luis Rios and Erika Calderon three years ago to make wood-fired oven pizza more accessible. The couple loved artisanal pizza but didn’t always have time to enjoy it in a restaurant. Wood Fire Pizza and Grill was born, and the couple enlisted the help of the eldest of their two children to help man the truck in the summers. There are six pizza options available, as well as a few other menu options. The truck can also be found at private and public events, though you can almost always find them at The Pod Thursday–Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. g

Sawtooth Brewery: Their truck, known as “The Outpost,” is available for catering and is also found at certain events such as Sawtooth Valley Gathering, concerts, Riverfest and Ketch’em Alive.

Diavola: From the Masons, the family behind Enoteca (formerly Town Square Tavern and Ketchum Grill), comes a pizza truck serving wood-fired oven and hand-tossed gourmet pizzas for your next private event.

Grumpy’s: Get your fix of burgers and brews at your next event with Grumpy’s catering food truck; sadly, schooners aren’t on the menu here.

The Haven: The OG food truck, The Haven, now primarily operates out of a brick-and-mortar establishment, but their food truck is still used for catering private events. Owner and chef Kellee Havens brings her creative culinary experience to create a menu designed for your specific event.

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