From hot dogs to 'haute dogs' -- food trucks turn on the culinary charm

Thu, 04/12/2012 - 13:45 — Anonymous by Rachel Sang-hee HanLater this year a
team of British cooks and chefs is planning to head to New York to compete
with counterparts in the United States.  But don't expect any Michelin stars
or fancy restaurant napkins to be wafted around.  These guys are street food
vendors, and their willingness to cross an ocean to show off their skills is
the surest sign yet that food trucks, also known as mobile kitchens or
container restaurants, have fled their Southeast Asian nests to take on the
world.  "At a time when consumers are cutting back on their restaurant
spending, a van serving up fresh and inexpensive lunches and dinners is an
easy sell to the public," says food journalist Richard Johnson, who also
founded the British Street Food Awards.  Where the props grow, Street
Kitchen goes. read more