ARLNow has the news on an interesting compromise in the perceived battle between brick and mortar restaurants and food trucks (the press release isn’t yet posted on the BID’s website).

Starting with today, the BID will set aside free parking for food trucks at 18th & Crystal Dr (same location as the farmer’s market), but only on Thursdays.  Also, trucks that sign up to participate have to agree to not serve anywhere else in Crystal City at any other time.  Today’s line-up includes: Hot People Food, Red Hook Lobster, Willie’s Po’Boy and Doug the Food Dude.

A new ice cream truck is now serving in DC, named Street Cream.  In addition to customized ice-cream, they also serve pastries, cakes and drinks.  Check out more info and links on their page!

I stopped by Union Station today and confirmed that the Chick-fil-a truck has launched.  The operation is run like a mini-Chick-fil-a restaurant with someone assisting customers on the sidewalk and a cook handing the food to that employee.  There was also a Chick-fil-a pick-up truck parked in front of the actual food truck, indicating that there is definitely some oversight from the higher-ups.

I chatted with one of the employees who told me that, yes, they are definitely getting on Twitter after this pilot phase is over.  They also said that the truck will be totally redone, meaning that it will get a new wrap (artwork).

There are no waffle fries on the menu and the CFA Deluxe sandwich is covered up with a coming soon sticker.

Here are some photos!

I just received an unconfirmed report that the Chick-fil-a truck is at Union Station today.  Would someone care to send me a photo to post? 🙂  Ah, here is one photo on Twitter (from yesterday, though).

It looks like the PB&J truck launched last Friday!  Today, they’ll be at Franklin Park. 🙂  The menu is listed on the front page of their website, with sandwiches ranging from $3 – $6.

On Friday, June 29th from 7pm – 10pm @ Rhino Bar in Georgetown, Wonky Promotions and the Canadian Embassy team up to host DC’s first ever official Poutine Party. The event is hosted by former Eat Wonky Food Trucker Owner Jeff Kelley, DC’s original mobile food truck source of all things poutine.

For the low price of $25 (pre-order), you get an all-you-can-eat poutine buffet and open bar!  It’s kind of a no-brainer, right? 🙂

From the press release:

“While the Wonky Promotions team has been working on a ton of exciting projects since selling Eat Wonky, we wanted to create an event for all the poutine fans out there that have been asking us to bring back the gravy and cheese magic. This will be a fun event and I’m digging up all the best truck mix tapes to set the ambiance right,” said Jeff.

Poutine enthusiasts can get tickets available in limited quantity at www.eventstir.org/events/poutine for only $25. Door tickets will be $35 if any remain. As a part of the event, Wonky Promotions is supporting the new DC-based ticketing startup Eventstir.

Get pumped for the next Truckeroo on June 8 at Fairgrounds DC!  Truckeroo runs from 11am – 11pm and is free admission.  Location: Half & M St SE, by Nats Stadium and Navy Yard Metro

Some changes have been made to the venue since last year.  Most notably, the space is no longer called Das Bullpen.  It is now called Fairgrounds DC and features a blue & orange shipping container theme along with a dedicated, covered seating area, stage for bands and a fun upper-deck standing area near the M St entrance.  There are also a handful of arts vendors on-site.

Here is the line-up for the June 8 event (subject to minor changes):

• BBQ Bus
• Big Cheese
• Cajunators
• CapMac
• Curbside
• DC Empanadas
• DC Slices
• Doug the Food Dude
• Feelin’ Crabby
• Hot People
• Hula Girl Truck
• Mojo
• Pepe
• Red Hook Lobster Pound -DC
• Rolling Ficelle
• Sinplicity
• Stella’s PopKern
• Stix
• Surfside
• TaKorean
• TOPS

Tasha’s Cookies and Treats is turning her online bakery into a food truck!  Coming in the summer of 2012, she will be serving Montgomery County and will offer traditional cookies like chocolate chip pecan, oatmeal, sugar, and other varieties as well as cake-like sandwich cookie flavors like red velvet, carrot cake, sweet potato, German chocolate, and banana nut.  See their page for more info + links!

After just 8 months of service, Far East Taco Grille is happy to announce their plan to open a brick and mortar restaurant AND a 2nd food truck! No location details or dates have been announced yet for the restaurant, but I will keep you updated.

Food trucks continue to incubate brick & mortar restaurants.  Far East Taco Grille joins the ranks of other food trucks that have graduated to start restaurants, including El Floridano, PORC, DC Empanadas, Pleasant Pops and District Taco.

Captain Cookie and the Milk Man will be opening this week in DC, serving up fresh-baked cookies, local creamery milk, and made-to-order ice cream sandwiches.