Food Truck Wars Back in Altamonte

I'm so excited about Food Truck Wars II, being held at Crane's Roost in Altamonte Springs, Fla., this Sunday! Where else can you choose pretty much whatever you want to eat, from 40 different gourmet and international food trucks? In addition, the event features live music by Cactus Jack & The Cadillacs, a kids' play area, and a beer garden. 


Of course, the main attraction of this event is the competition: all those attending will be able to vote on the food trucks that they want to see win the following titles: People's Choice Award, Most Fun Food Truck Experience, Largest Single Food Item, Chef's Taste Off, and Favorite Dessertt. The Food Truck Wars event last year was so successful - nearly 38,000 people visited the trucks throughout the day.


Tastebuds Catering will be among the trucks featured. I tried their Latin American-inspired cuisine at the Winter Park Food Truck Stop last night, and would highly recommend it. A few of the other trucks in attendance include: Blue Bayou, Dimple Delights, Twisted Cuban, Gorilla Gurt, Kona Doug, Claw Daddys, Cafe Cocoa Mo, Mi Casita, Ice Cream Social, Cluster Funk, and Silver Bistro. 

If you are new to food trucks, this will be a great experience, but you may want to seek out one of the smaller weekly food truck gatherings. Expect big crowds and long lines to get your food. However, if you want to hang out for a couple of hours, enjoy a beer, and visit with other foodies, this is the event for you! Who is going?


When: July 15, 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.


Where: 150 Cranes Roost Blvd., Altamonte Springs, Fla.

Metrowest's First Apartment Food Truck Pod

Cluster Funk's Rich Boy: Fried Shrimp on Garlic Roll

Sigh. I often wish food trucks would just come to my house, and serve me their delicious fried & gourmet food. Tomorrow, the residents of the Estates at Park Avenue in Metrowest - and everyone else in the area - will get to experience just that. The apartment community is hosting its first Food Truck Mini Pod, featuring Cluster Funk, Honey Dripper, VI Vibes (authentic Virgin Islands food), and another truck - to be announced.


I haven't heard of apartment communities hosting food truck events before, but I think it is a great idea. It not only exposes the residents to the wide variety of food served from trucks, but also involves all those in the local community. Metrowest doesn't have a regular food truck event, so this is really needed in the area. "We are going to try to make it a monthly event or an every-other-month event," said Kelly Robinson, marketing manager for the Estates at Park Avenue.

Estates at Park Avenue

Flavorful Excursions knows Cluster Funk well: it is the one that primarily serves yummy Southern food, including boiled crawfish, crab, corn and potatoes. The truck also offers a wide range of sandwiches and desserts. And Honey Dripper features 100% organic fruit frozen ice - perfect for this hot weather. If you head out to this event, be sure to post your review below or on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/flavorfulexcursions.


When: July 12, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.


Where: 2801 Biltmore Park Drive, Orlando, FL 32835.

What is a Cluster Funk?

Signature Dish: Cluster Funk

When the Cluster Funk Truck made its debut on the Central Florida food truck scene earlier this year, its name was the first thing to grab my attention. "What is a Cluster Funk and what type of food do they serve?", I wondered.


Then, I noticed the truck's mouth-watering photos of boiled crawfish and crab legs as well as yummy desserts such as the "Red-Headed Step Child" - a concoction of red velvet cupcakes, New York-style cheesecake and cream cheese frosting. Still, I wondered how the truck owners, Stacie and Dino Smith, came up with the unique name.


"We created all the dishes ourselves, and the menu seemed random at the time: seafood, barbecue, and other random items. We figured, it's a cluster you-know-what, so we'll go with that for the name of the truck!" Stacie Smith told Flavorful Excursions. "Cluster Funk" is also the name of the truck's signature dish: a mix of snow crab legs, red potatoes, and corn on the cob, cooked in a garlic butter sauce.

Red-Headed Step Child

One of Cluster Funk's most popular dishes is The Boogie Boat, which is garlic-sauteed scallops, shrimp, onions and peppers on top of a garlic bread boat. The other most popular dish is The Sunset, a casa dia filled with sauteed shrimp, scallops, onion and Pepper Jack cheese and accompanied by mango salsa.


Cluster Funk serves up primarily seafood dishes but has created other delicious options for those allergic to seafood, including a Steak and Cheese Sandwich and "Fingers on Fire" - a fried chicken finger sandwich and spicy seasoned fries topped with Bayou Mayo and Guava Spicy Drizzle.


Where: Cluster Funk's schedule changes weekly, so check their Facebook page for updates. You can find them most Wednesdays at the intersection of Conway Rd. and Gatlin Rd. for "Wild Wednesdays" - a gathering of a few local food trucks.