the food truck cookbook

It’s not everyday we celebrate a cookbook—but the truck food cookbook is unique and it’s just in time for the dog days of summer.

One of the most fascinating culinary and urban trends, food trucks offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to share their passions and customers to sample small bites, usually for a small price.

The collection of 150 recipes—along with menu items from food trucks around the country, special tips and techniques—also includes full-color photographs that capture the fun and whimsy of a new type of al fresco dining.

behind the shoot: 5411 empanadas

Ironically, it was a ‘roadblock’ to growing a small business that forced 5411 to find a solution— one which created the first empanadas food truck in Chicago.

Specialty food trucks have redefined the old breakfast and lunch take-away versions found at industrial or construction sites—starting on the West Coast and in New York just a few years ago, food trucks have helped small catering businesses get off the ground by keeping overhead low and mobility high.

Created by three Argentine friends—Mariano, Andrés and Nicolás—each with a wildly different profession before leaving them to pursue a dream. But they kept two key aspects—the savory flavors and the telephone connection to their home—54 is the country code for Argentina and 11 is the area code for Buenos Aires.

Word-of-mouth is one of their favorite elements of being a small food business—ironically— and how we learned about 5411 in the first place. So share the news, it’s good business.

one of a finds: tru(n)ck

From Jodhpur to New Delhi, heavy duty trucks of all kinds jam the roads of India decorated in colorful and symbolic art. With kitschy images of everything under the sun—from stylized sunset scenes and Bollywood movie stars to flowers and religious symbols—these handpainted rolling metal canvases enliven the dry landscape as the driver’s take pride in their personal statement.

This funky and functional storage tru(n)ck is handpainted by original “truck artists” with birds of freedom, the sacred lotus and “OK Horn Please”.

It is truly a small piece of national tradition that helps sustain its artistic creators and will instantly transport you to the roadways of Mumbai.