Help the Rocket soar!

Looks like this blog is a star maker! OK, maybe not, but it looks like friend of the blog Rocket Fine Street Food is blowing up, baby! The Rocket is currently fighting it out with other food trucks from around the country to appear on Food Network's The Great Food Truck Race. Exciting, right? Absolutely! But the Rocket needs your help! Please vote every day though September 12th. Each time you vote (you get 10 votes per day - give 'em all to Rocket!) you'll be entered to win a trip to NYC for the NY Food & Wine Festival. Let's make it happen!

Rocket! Yeah!*

In Philly, we've got food trucks. Shiny silver boxes with wheels where you can make a quick stop on the way to work for a greasy egg sandwich, or a quick stop on your lunch break for a greasy cheesesteak. I can't dog Philly too much for having what are universally referred to as roach coaches; they're everywhere and they all serve pretty much the same thing: grease. With a side of grease. The hour you'll spend in the bathroom later is free of charge.

But I'm proud to announce that Connecticut is leading the way in the food truck revolution. The town of Torrington, CT is home base to the most wondrous of mobile food establishments: Rocket Fine Street Food. Rocket takes the idea of standing in line on a street corner and waiting for some grub to atmospheric heights of deliciousness and style. First of all, there's the Rocket itself. No tiny silver box, this truck means business:

And lest you think it's all style and no substance, belly up to the window where the lovely Patricia will take your order. How about some organic tomato soup? That's right - I said organic! Rocket uses fresh, locally sourced ingredients whenever possible with no hormones, antibiotics, or high-fructose corn syrup. That means your green chili cheeseburger wasn't pulled from a freezer and zapped in a microwave. Would you like a side of frites with that? Yes, you would. But don't take my word for it, feast your eyes:





There are staple menu items and as well as a rotating list of other goodies, depending on what's in season and what chef Joe feels like cooking. Beef tacos, mac n' cheese, grilled cheese; as well as dessert items like homemade cupcakes and cookies. You can even order homemade loaves of crusty bread. I'm going to stop since I'm making myself hungry but if you can handle it there's more great stuff on the "Food Porn" section of Rocket's site. And, bless their hearts, you can even call ahead and place your order so you don't have to stand outside in the cold during these damned New England winters.

But there's something cooler than just great food at work with Rocket; there's fellowship, too. While you're waiting for your order you run into friends, or make new ones. You tell those new to the Rocket what the best thing on the menu is (which, really, is everything) and have some fun preparing them for how much they're gonna love it. And if you're standing at the Rocket, chances are you're already at some fun community event like a street fair or an art show. It's a chance to slow down, talk to your neighbor, and participate in your community. That is a mission I'm totally willing to sign up for.



*Sorry, Def Leppard.
Rocket truck photo courtesy yourFAVORITEmartian
Rocket food photos courtesy 60b Photography