The Sad Sunday Search for the Sandwich
Excitement was mounting all week for the Maverick's Surf Competition which hadn't happened for 3 years. They thought they'd have the swells last year, but then didn't call it, but one lone food truck arrived in hopes of catching early gawkers, and I caught up with it. I was curious because we had just returned from Peru, and this truck specialized in Peruvian sandwiches...so I tried their lomo saltado. After ordering, I noticed business cards showing their other restaurants, one of which is a local high-end favorite, La Costanera.
I brought it home since I was only 5 minutes away and enjoyed every bite of the delicious meat, coleslaw, and fries on their housemade bread. An unusually-flavorful sandwich, which I then craved for the next year.
So while everyone else was excited about the surf contest, I was excited to learn the Sanguchon food truck would be back in Princeton! I posted about it on Facebook and many friends asked me why it was so good. My hopes were up...
Two former students wrote they were coming over the hill, so I offered them a parking space here and we walked down to the harbor together. Traffic was backed up and stopped on the highway much of the morning, but they managed to get through and be here around 12:30. We headed over and searched all over the area for the truck.
This year, the event planners had to change how people view the contest--three years ago, a rogue wave or sleeper wave, surprised onlookers (who had been warned about sitting too close to the water's edge), and several suffered injuries. We had hiked the bluffs to watch, but with thousands coming to see Mavericks in action, the bluffs got trampled and which was obviously not good for the environment. This year, they charged people to get into the event center, which was the parking lot at the harbor's hotel, and blocked off the bluffs and harbor. People paid $10 online or $20 at the door to sit on the ground and watch one video screen, which wasn't really that easy to see in the bright sunlight. They also had music and guess what? the freaking food trucks were INSIDE THE EVENT AREA! We weren't about to pay $20 just to pay for a sandwich!
Eddie headed over to the woman at the entrance and managed to sweet-talk her into letting us go inside without paying so we could buy food. I have no idea what he said to her, but she allowed Ericka to wait nearby with his backpack (both were collateral that we'd return). We had to walk through many people standing, sitting, lying on the pavement to find the truck, but finally saw it at the far end of the perimeter. Sam's Chowder House had a huge line, so I was surprised to see no line at Sanguchon. No line? Really? Why could that be? because they were SOLD OUT. The only thing they had left was Sprite.
We dejectedly headed out and walked back home. Eddie and Ericka headed out awhile later to sit in traffic on the highway, and I had yogurt and an apple. Not the lunch I anticipated.
I brought it home since I was only 5 minutes away and enjoyed every bite of the delicious meat, coleslaw, and fries on their housemade bread. An unusually-flavorful sandwich, which I then craved for the next year.
So while everyone else was excited about the surf contest, I was excited to learn the Sanguchon food truck would be back in Princeton! I posted about it on Facebook and many friends asked me why it was so good. My hopes were up...
Two former students wrote they were coming over the hill, so I offered them a parking space here and we walked down to the harbor together. Traffic was backed up and stopped on the highway much of the morning, but they managed to get through and be here around 12:30. We headed over and searched all over the area for the truck.
This year, the event planners had to change how people view the contest--three years ago, a rogue wave or sleeper wave, surprised onlookers (who had been warned about sitting too close to the water's edge), and several suffered injuries. We had hiked the bluffs to watch, but with thousands coming to see Mavericks in action, the bluffs got trampled and which was obviously not good for the environment. This year, they charged people to get into the event center, which was the parking lot at the harbor's hotel, and blocked off the bluffs and harbor. People paid $10 online or $20 at the door to sit on the ground and watch one video screen, which wasn't really that easy to see in the bright sunlight. They also had music and guess what? the freaking food trucks were INSIDE THE EVENT AREA! We weren't about to pay $20 just to pay for a sandwich!
Eddie headed over to the woman at the entrance and managed to sweet-talk her into letting us go inside without paying so we could buy food. I have no idea what he said to her, but she allowed Ericka to wait nearby with his backpack (both were collateral that we'd return). We had to walk through many people standing, sitting, lying on the pavement to find the truck, but finally saw it at the far end of the perimeter. Sam's Chowder House had a huge line, so I was surprised to see no line at Sanguchon. No line? Really? Why could that be? because they were SOLD OUT. The only thing they had left was Sprite.
We dejectedly headed out and walked back home. Eddie and Ericka headed out awhile later to sit in traffic on the highway, and I had yogurt and an apple. Not the lunch I anticipated.
Bummer Patt. What is it about a certain taste that we long for and is oh-so satsified when we finally get it. I'll go searching for the Sanguchon truck with you throughout the Bay Area. I'm sure they have a website noting upcoming offerings of the lomo saltado...
ReplyDeleteLaura, I see a field trip in our future! They do post where they'll be, but it's usually in SF or across the bay. Let's do it!
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