Beloved in cities like New York and Los Angeles, food trucks recently became a Chicago craze, too. Here are two—one with savory offerings, the other with sweets—that can cater meetings and events.
1. Launched in July, Gaztro-Wagon slings creative sandwiches on Indian naan bread—the owners refer to the snacks as "Naan-wiches." The menu changes seasonally; flavors have included the "Fidel Gaztro," made with pork shoulder, ham, and Manchego cheese, and a veggie option stuffed with goat cheese, fingerling potatoes, and mushroom puree. The truck can cater city events with as many as 300 guests, working curbside, dropping off snacks, or setting up shop at an on-site kitchen. A minimum order of 75 sandwiches is required to take the truck off the streets, but there is no hourly charge. Sandwich costs range from $7 to $12 apiece.
2. Husband-and-wife team Chris Seawall and Tiffany Kurtz founded Flirty Cupcakes in April. Decked with pink tassels, the mobile bakery can pull up curbside at event spaces or offices in the city and suburbs. The all-cupcake menu includes the red-velvet "Devil in Disguise," topped with cream cheese frosting. Custom flavors are also available. Kurtz and Seawall have been hired to dole out parting gifts and meeting-break snacks, and recently catered a Notre Dame event with more than 2,000 guests. The rate is $125 per hour plus the cost of each cupcake served. Cupcakes are $3.25 apiece.
