There’s been a lot of talk of food trucks in Maine in recent months — between Portland’s strict regulations on the kitchens-on-wheels and the Food Network’s “Great Food Truck Race” stop in Maine a few weeks ago. Bangor’s been bitten by the food truck bug, too, as chef Kim Smith unveiled her truck, Street Bistro, last week.
Smith formerly owned and operated the Unbridled Bistro and Bennett’s Market, located in two locations on Main Street in Bangor. They closed up shop last spring, and Smith took a year off to retool her culinary attitude — the end result being her food truck.
“I wanted to try something different, so my husband and I bought a Snap-on truck, gutted it and built a kitchen inside,” said Smith. “So far, so good. It’s a lot of fun.”
Smith’s cooking combines a variety of traditions, from French to Tex-Mex and Thai to American, and it’s reflected in her menu items. Tuesdays, there are gourmet tacos such as beef short ribs with blueberry and braised pork with coconut rice. Other days, there are mini meatloafs, cornbread and truffle fries. She makes a mean crab BLT, too.
“It’s always going to be a little different,” Smith said. “We’ll keep switching it up.”
For now, Street Bistro will be located behind the parking garage in downtown Bangor from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, at the Outdoor Market in downtown Bangor on Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m., and at the Hampden Farmers Market from 2 to 6 p.m. on Fridays. It’s also available for events, including weddings and reunions, and certain festivals. You can catch up with Street Bistro’s movements on Facebook at facebook.com/streetbistro or on Twitter at twitter.com/StreetBistroKim.
“It’s like a little food game,” Smith said.
Anyone remember Bills coffee wagon? That went around the streets of Bangor/Brewer for years.
Yup! Bill’s roach coach. Great Burgers. Great “egg LaBill”
Yum! Can’t wait to stop by and try some food.
This is great news. I’ll be stopping by for sure.
There’s a new taco truck, “Taco Libre”, in the Camden, Hope, Rockland area along the same lines. Well worth trying.
i love those greasyspoons!!
I can’t understand why the city would allow this when they spennnnnd so much on promoting downtown businesses that serve food. .. Sort of like why spend millons on a permenant stage on the waterfront when your building a new Arena. It’s like water and oil, one takes away from the other.
“spennnnnnd” “millons” and “permenant” ?
You should stick to your day job. Oh, and the last time I checked, water and oil don’t mix. They don’t take away from each other. They just don’t mix.
13 hours a week? Seems like random times for a food truck to be serving food. Only two days a week for lunch.