Aubrey Duran is a foodie and is always on the search for her next food fix. A few years back, The Wicked Garden in Dana Point was her favorite restaurant for good times and good eats. Chef Jordan Hamada was the executive chef and added his Pacific Rim fusion culinary skills to the menu. Aubrey got to meet her favorite chef and was a little star-struck. Foodies are always star-struck when we meet a chef that we follow. They are like rock stars in the culinary world. Unfortunately, The Wicked Garden closed and was replaced by Caliente. But, Aubrey had a dream to bring the fine dining plate experience to the masses at decent prices. In June 2010, her dream became a reality with The Refresh Truck partnering with her favorite chef, Chef Jordan, at the culinary reigns. They have a few staples on the menu, but as the climate changes, so does their menu - every two weeks or so. With so much locally grown foods in California, the sky’s the limit! They pour their heart and soul into the food and the service is both energetic and friendly.
Let’s hang-ten! Pork Belly Sliders is shredded pork belly on a Hawaiian roll and topped with Cojita, guacamole, Asian slaw, and sour cream sauce. All I have to say is “WOW”! You’ll definitely have an OMG moment or two. The pork belly is absolutely divine! It is tender and packed full of flavor. The guacamole is refreshing and creamy. The Asian slaw is sweet and tangy. When you put all of these flavors together and you end up with a symphonic masterpiece of flavor, tantalizing your taste buds. Thumbs up, way up!
The Crab Cake Sliders are served on a Hawaiian roll and topped with mango salsa, Asian slaw, and orange creme anglais. The crab cakes are made with lump Blue Crab meat and it’s heavy on the meat, the way a crab cake should be. The crab mixture is seasoned just right to add to the sweetness of this delicate crab. They are grilled to perfection with a perfect brown crust on the outside. The mango salsa is explosive! I’ve never had a mango salsa that was this kicked up in flavor – bright, sweet, tangy, and a little kick of spice! Another explosion of flavors packed into a slider. Thumbs up, way up!
The Tri-Tip Bruschetta is three mini open-faced thinly sliced tri-tip sandwiches topped with mushroom aioli, bruschetta, pickled red onion, and balsamic reduction. This is actually a recipe that Chef Jordan came up with during his tenure at The Wicked Garden and one of Aubrey’s favorites. The tri-tip is so tender and juicy. I’ve never had tri-tip served so elegantly before. Usually, it’s sliced thick and slathered with BBQ sauce at your local BBQ joint. But here, it is so delicate and delectable. The pickled red onions add a tangy zing. The balsamic reduction adds a deep, rich sweetness. The mushroom aioli is creamy and ties all of the elements together. Beautiful presentation! Thumbs up, way up!
Look for the light blue truck which will remind you of tropical coastal waters. Refresh your palate and check out The Refresh Truck!
Service: 5 out of 5 stars
Food: 5 out of 5 stars
Upcoming Events:
- Every Friday – The Village at Irvine Spectrum (18000 Spectrum, Irvine, CA), right across the street from Irvine Spectrum, from 7:00pm-10:00pm
- Wednesday, October 26, 2011 – Technology Park (1 Technology Dr, Irvine, CA) from 11:30am-2:00pm
- Thursday, October 27, 2011 – University Research Park (101 Academy Dr, Irvine, CA) from 11:30am-2:00pm
- Saturday, October 29, 2011 – OC Great Park from 10:00am-2:00pm
- Tuesday, November 1, 2011 – Curb Side Bites at La Habra High School (801 W Highlander Ave, La Habra, CA) from 5:30pm-9:00pm
- Thursday, November 3, 2011 – College Park Elementary Family Night (3700 Chaparral Ave, Irvine) 5:30pm-7:30pm
- Saturday, November 5, 2011 – Sunny Hills High School Fundraiser (1801 Warburton Way, Fullerton) from 5:30pm-10:00pm
For more information:
The Refresh Truck
Trucking around Southern California
Comments