I just received word that a new gourmet popcorn truck, named Popped! Republic, will be opening in DC in February 2012!  The hot air-popped popcorn will come in a variety of flavors and seasonings.  Check their page for more menu details, links and photos of the truck.

DC Empanadas is hosting a toy drive for My Sister’s Place, a local shelter that serves victims of domestic violence and their kids.  DC Empanadas is collecting new toys for kids that range in age from newborn to 15 that need to be unwrapped and delivered directly to the DC Empanadas truck.  Donations will be accepted until December 9.  And, everyone who brings a toy gets a free empanada!

The new seasonal menus keep coming and I’m trying my best to keep you updated! The Rolling Ficelle has significant updates (click the image below for a slightly larger version).

Pedro and Vinny’s probably needs no introduction.  John Rider has been operating the burrito cart K St NW for as long as I can remember.  You have probably heard that one of his daughters was operating a cart in Arlington, too.  Well, now I just received word that a second daughter is operating a third cart, in Arlington!  They are also getting in on the Twitter game and have started to tweet.  All three carts will now show up on the Food Truck Fiesta map as they announce their locations. 🙂

UPDATE (11/15/2011): Some changes have been made to the new menu. Unfortunately, dirty style has been removed because it slowed operations down too much.

One of the more exciting things about tracking food trucks is seeing how their menus evolve over time. Almost every new truck refines their menu after gaining a few weeks of service experience. To that end, Far East Taco Grille is adding new selections to each step of their menu (colored in red below).  The new menu launches on Monday (Nov 14, 2011).

Prices:
1 taco @ $3 and 3 tacos @ $8
Get your tacos DIRTY STYLE for an additional $2 (ask for details)

Step 1 (meat) choose 1:
Powerful Steak (rib eye steak)
Bang Tang Chicken (Breast)
Sweet Sexy Tofu (Soy Beans),
*NEW* Spicy Flying Pig (Pork)

Step 2 (Sauce) choose 1:
*NEW* Salsa Roja (medium)
Sriracha (hot)
#15 Sauce (sweet/mild)
Spicy mayo (mild)
*NEW*Jalepeno puree (hot)
*new* Sesame puree (sweet)

Step 3 (Slaw) choose 1:
Kimchi-Lime (upgraded)
Sweet Chili Romaine (upgraded)
Grilled Bean Sprouts (now chopped)
*NEW* Zucchini-Radish (natural & refreshing)

Step 4 (Toppings) unlimited:
Lime-Crema
*NEW* Cheese
Onion
Cilantro

According to Thatsalata’s facebook page, they are launching today in downtown Silver Spring today (11/9)!  More info about the truck is on their page.

I received a couple of reports of a food truck shake-down at Union Station today.  Here are some pics.  It looks like DC Slices, Eat Wonky and SOL Mexican Grill were all affected while serving customers.  No word yet on the reason for MPD action, though it could have been as basic as a permit check.  UPDATE: It does appear to have been a quick license check.

BTW – Please sign the petition to Mayor Gray to release the “secret” food truck regulations so that we can protect DC’s food trucks from future shake-downs like this!

Thanks to one helpful reader, I present you with Fairfax’s newest food truck, named Uncle Paulie’s!  Their open-faced sandwiches (called smushies) come with a side, including redskin mashed potatoes.  More info is on their page!

Chupacabra just tweeted that they are launching today and are shooting for the 7th & H St NW area! serving at Metro Center (12th & G St NW).

I don’t have too much info on these trucks at the moment. Dorothy Moon’s is, as the name suggests, a gourmet burger truck.  Chupacabra plans on serving a mix of traditional and not so traditional taco’s and plans to launch on Monday!

Don’t forget that Juice Revolution launches today at Farragut!