Author |
Message |
Nickovtyme
Member
07-28-2004
| Sunday, August 22, 2010 - 6:58 pm
I figured I'd start a thread about it. So far am liking it better than I thought I would. Though, it really smacks of TAR with wheels. I was kinda disappointed Cajun guy went home. But they kinda shot themselves in the foot. Its kinda looking like Nom Nom is gonna run away with this...but that could all be editing. They're pretty smart, but now everybody is gonna be doing the same thing. Its kinda like in TAR when a local lets a team follow them to the next location. The producers didn't think that far in advance.
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Kappy
Member
06-28-2002
| Sunday, August 22, 2010 - 8:05 pm
TAR on wheels with food for sale - perfect! You have to hand it to Nom Nom in that they all have phones but Nom sees to be very business savy. Same with the French guy who went to a restaurant to buy part of the food they needed for a better price. Some just seem to know the business better. I'm waiting for one of the teams to call a tv news station and suggest they send out a reporter to where they're parked. The tv cameras alone would attract people to see what the fuss is all about.
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Monday, August 23, 2010 - 10:01 am
Nom Nom has some serious business, and marketing, chops. I'm not surprised they blew everyone else away this time, and laughed when they declined to participate in the challenge. Really wasn't sorry to see Ragin' Cajun leave. They never seemed to get their act together. I think you need to have an effective business plan when you start up a food truck, and then stick to it.
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Karen
Member
09-06-2004
| Monday, August 23, 2010 - 10:23 am
I've never heard of this, but TAR + food = happy Karen. Where/when can I see this?
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Tntitanfan
Member
08-03-2001
| Monday, August 23, 2010 - 11:02 am
Sunday nights on Food Network. It was on last night at 8:00pm CDT -
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Kappy
Member
06-28-2002
| Tuesday, August 24, 2010 - 8:06 am
Our local paper ran a front page story on food trucks and mentioned this show. The city council had passed an ordinance where they won't allow them to park beyond 30 minutes and some are trying to change that. They also talked about how hard the work is for the money. You can make a decent living but you're working long hard hours for it.
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Tntitanfan
Member
08-03-2001
| Tuesday, August 24, 2010 - 1:21 pm
Our Sunday Life and Travel section - which I finally read today - has a looooong article on the emergence of food trucks in Nashville. The possibilities range from Mas Tacos Por Favor which is probably the safest (cleanest) of the Mexican cuisine offerings to a cupcake truck. The Great Food Truck Race was featured in a sidebar to the article -
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Tuesday, August 24, 2010 - 3:21 pm
San Diego is still a bit sparse in the food truck department. Most of the food trucks tend to be taco trucks. There are a few others (and I'm following them on Twitter) but often they aren't anywhere near where I live. One of these days I'll be able to catch one of OUR local food trucks and I'm hoping I'll be WOWED! Still bummed I didn't eat at Nom Nom when they were here. Wish I'd known that they were doing a Food Network thingie. 
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Nickovtyme
Member
07-28-2004
| Tuesday, August 24, 2010 - 3:54 pm
As smart as Nom Nom is...I'm not enamored with them. I forget her name, but their leader is just a little to cocky for my taste...but she knows business and maybe they'll grow on me. I was rooting for Cajun guy because I heard an interview with him on the Adam Carolla Show before the race started and he seemed really down to earth...much different then he came across on the show...So I gave him a pass with his over-the-topness. If you ask me, the French guys seem to be the most out of their element. I'm sure they make great food, but not sure it's the right kind of food for the race. I get the feeling they're much more used to a slower pace of cooking and serving their food. I noticed that last episode they went so far as to put out their tables and walk out to serve their customers...this episode they kinda just said Screw that! Now rooting for Grill 'Em All and the press sandwich guys....It would prolly kill me, but I would love to try one of Grill 'Em All's "Behemoth Burgers". Oh and btw...did anybody think the "Detour" /Roadblock" (I think its called a "Pit Stop" in this show) was that much of challenge? Cook up a few chili peppers...no where near "This can turn the game upside down" I mean Nom Nom went so far as to toss it out the window.
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Tntitanfan
Member
08-03-2001
| Sunday, August 29, 2010 - 12:09 pm
Any of you Dallas/Fort Worth people get a chance to see the race crews - or, better yet, taste their foods?
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Tntitanfan
Member
08-03-2001
| Sunday, August 29, 2010 - 6:05 pm
What SMART merchandizers the Nom Nom Truck is! Having a great location is key in doing good business! I am sure their food is great, but, if there is no one around to buy it, that doesn't matter!
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Kappy
Member
06-28-2002
| Sunday, August 29, 2010 - 9:44 pm
I agree Tnt ~ I'm really surprised the other trucks don't catch on to what they're doing. Happy for the French guys that they came in second. Happy for the grill guys that they won the side challenge. Happy for the little league that was given a donation by the press group. Spoiler: Sorry the crepe guys are out as I would love love love to try their food! Next week ~ New Orleans and rain!
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Reader234
Member
08-13-2000
| Monday, August 30, 2010 - 7:48 am
the new orleans guys should try and figure out how to get better locations!! ITA Kappy - I am noticing more crepe places popping up around here (Chicagoland area) In one of our train stations they are trying to do a 'fresh like Paris" food stands, markets, cheese, wine, and a CREPE place - I was so excited, ordered their popular one (they wrap it to go and eat while walking) I was so not impressed - I do want crepes now tho!!
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Tishala
Member
08-01-2000
| Monday, August 30, 2010 - 12:03 pm
I found an article about Nom Nom in the Daily Bruin, UCLA's student newspaper. It's from earlier this year, but it's kinda interesting: They're on a mission to feed the city, weaving in and out of traffic in a giant, neon-colored truck, bringing their innovative Vietnamese cuisine to the masses and to UCLA. The Nom Nom Truck is one of the newest members in a growing convoy of Los Angeles-area food trucks, and this one was created by three recent Bruin grads who craved a business adventure — and their favorite Vietnamese sandwich, the banh mi. David Stankunas '03, Misa Chien '04 and Jennifer Green '06 all met as undergrads at UCLA's Hapa Club. ("Hapa" is a term used to describe an individual of mixed Asian-Caucasian heritage.) Green and Stankunas, both half-Vietnamese, used to drive all the way to Orange County whenever they were craving banh mi, a Vietnamese sandwich served on a baguette, usually with cucumbers, meat, pickled carrots and cilantro. They decided to start a mobile food truck last summer to bring this dish a little closer to home, and Stankunas recruited Chien to help them out. [...] last week, the Border Grill truck was on campus. Those who watched Top Chef Masters and some other foodie show--Next Iron Chef, maybe?--have seen the owner of the Border Grill restaurants, Susan Feniger (she was a contestant on TCM and was involved in a competition on the other show). Well, I've eaten in her restaurant and wasn't impressed, but the truck? I had the best breakfast burrito of my life. I told my students that it was so good that they had my permission to leave class to go to the truck if they wanted. 
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Carlpsmom
Member
01-03-2004
| Monday, August 30, 2010 - 3:59 pm
I know Nom Nom is probably the best and I would like their food. But, their attitude kinda turns me off of them for the win. I like the grill guys and the press sandwich ones. The crepes looked pretty good like a neatsy wrap sandwich. 
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Tntitanfan
Member
08-03-2001
| Sunday, September 05, 2010 - 6:04 pm
All these BIG cities and now they are headed for Jonesborough, TN??? This should be a real "trip," in more ways than one!
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Closetfanfour
Member
07-11-2009
| Sunday, September 05, 2010 - 9:09 pm
Just saw this for the first time tonight. The Austin press guys were an embarrassement to Austin food trucks, IMO. I wish I could say differently, but they deserved to go home. Food/trailers eateries are huge in Austin...these guys missed the boat and were too random and unorganized...and Cory was unappetizing as a food vendor with the greasy hair/hat to me.
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Kappy
Member
06-28-2002
| Sunday, September 05, 2010 - 9:28 pm
Lol, Closet ~ That was my exact take on Austin Press the first week. The French guys might not sell as much but I'm happy they're in it for at least one more week as they really do seem to be good cooks. And I love French food! As tired as I am of Nom Nom winning, they certainly know what they doing and how to turn a profit. These 'kids' do their research! The grill guy's sandwiches look like heart attacks waiting to happen and yet I would love to try one!
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Tntitanfan
Member
08-03-2001
| Monday, September 06, 2010 - 3:37 am
Jonesborough is in upper East Tennessee, not far from Johnson City. In the previous census (2000) it had a population of about 4100. However, for a small town, it has a lot going on - Google it and see!
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Tishala
Member
08-01-2000
| Tuesday, September 07, 2010 - 1:44 pm
Nom Nom was on UCLA's campus today, so I finally decided to go. I also took pics with my camera phone I took to myself but, somehow, they haven't arrived in my email yet and I deleted them from the phone on the way home. Verdict: I had a lemongrass chicken bahn mi and the food was very good. Not great, but better than lots of Vietnamese food I've had in restaurants and the bahn mi only cost $5 for a 12" roll filled with chicken, carrots (seemingly in some kind of vinegar solution), cilantro, and some other delicious something or another. Very fresh ingredients and great bread--it's hard to find bread in LA that's like this, although NY and Philadelphia has tons of it, crispy on the outside and soft but not too doughy on the inside. The line was really long and people other than me were taking pics of the truck, so I felt less dweeby asking the lovely woman who seems to be the boss on Great Food Truck Race to pose for a pic...twice, cuz the first was all blurry. It's hackneyed to say, but she is even more lovely in person than on TV. Oh and they had an AMAZING limeade with mint. OMG the only thing that could have made it better would have been a touch of carbonation. If the other pics arrive--I only got one and it's just of the truck--I'll post them.
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Tuesday, September 07, 2010 - 1:46 pm
Awesome, Tish! I was wondering if their bahn mi was as good as it seemed to be (according to those eating it). And their rolls DO look like they are to die for. That can make or break a good sandwich (or bahn mi, as the case may be).
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Tishala
Member
08-01-2000
| Tuesday, September 07, 2010 - 2:25 pm
Oh I should also say that the lovely boss type woman told me this week's episode would be really good. I asked whether they won but she's not at liberty to say.
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Tuesday, September 07, 2010 - 3:18 pm
LOL @ the fact that you asked though! I actually like Nom Nom. I think they are doing really well. They've got lots of business savvy. And they won this week without doing a lot of advance planning.
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Tntitanfan
Member
08-03-2001
| Tuesday, September 07, 2010 - 4:13 pm
I am wondering how they will do in redneck TN!! JK! We love good food here too!
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Tuesday, September 07, 2010 - 5:57 pm
Oh Tish. The other yummy veggie in the bahn mi was probably daikon radish. I've been trying to remember... I think they showed them slicing up daikon once...
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