Restaurant Review: Drift Food Truck

DRIFT FOOD TRUCK & EATERY Wherever they are parked! ~ driftfoodtruck.ca Instagram: @drift_foodtruck ~ Twitter: @driftfoodtruck Co-Diner: Tim Golem

On the streets since 2011, Drift is pretty much one of Edmonton's OG food trucks. They were one of the first on the scene when food trucks really started to become a "thing." The best part? After a decade they're still probably the best food truck in the city. VUE Weekly named them #1 Best Food Truck 2018 and the show Eat St. featured them in season four. Plus they've been on the Worldwide Faves list on this website this entire time. Locals know that this is the truck that you want - especially for their legendary pork belly sandwich. (If they ever took it off of the menu I think the planet might implode? It's science.) The best way to figure out where Drift is going to be on any given day is to check their website where they've got an up-to-date calendar of their whereabouts. The truck shuts down for the winter so it's always exciting when the end of April rolls around and you know that you're going to be able to start stalking them again. I went to find the truck on the seasons opening of the 124 Grand Market in Westmount, a wonderful farmers' market. Drift does sometimes sell out, so if there's something in particular that you want to eat from them, I'd recommend arriving early. (This will also help you to avoid waiting in a giant lineup.) It's always exciting when the turquoise-painted truck comes into view. These days, the menu on offer is usually pretty standard. They've got four different sandwiches - all amazing. (Although back in the day they used to sometimes do a duck confit sandwich that you don't see anymore and I'd love to see that one make a glorious return!) They've also got some sides that are very good as well. You know the drill, you approach the truck window to make your order with the friendly people inside, then wait a few minutes until they call your name and hand you a brown paper bag filled with goodness. And they do take cards as payment these days. To drink they usually have interesting local canned beverages and they're often different from one visit to the next. I spotted the Troubled Monk Ginger Ale Soda (from Red Deer) and decided to give it a try.

This craft ginger ale was quite possibly the best ginger ale that I've ever tasted. The flavour was so real! You could tell that it's made with real ginger but it also had a very unique and wonderful molasses flavour that I really enjoyed. If you see this soda around you should definitely grab some! Next, I moved in on the Sides. We were going to have a true Drift feast on this day! There were four different items to choose from and I had to try the Poutine ($6.50) because I think that this might be something a bit new that they're doing.

Made with beef gravy & fresh cheese curds.

First of all, their hand-cut fries are already super famous and they season them with "Drift spice" which involves cumin, fennel, mustard seed and chili. (They also do their own housemade ketchup made with cardamom and ginger, which is excellent.) So the fries alone are already something special... But then they went and turned them into a poutine. This very well may be the best poutine happening in Edmonton right now. I'm super picky about poutine (as you may already know) and this one crushes it on every level. The fries are ultra crispy and golden (likely double fried) and dusted in their delicious seasoning. The cheese curds were fresh and squeaky, piled on high. And the gravy was hot and savoury. THIS is the poutine that Edmonton needs to know about. I also ordered the Broccoli Salad ($4.75), because health!

Broccoli, apple, carrot, raisin & herb aioli.

Loved this little salad. This is a great way to add something a bit more fresh to your Drift meal and I loved the bright combination of veggies and fruit. The broccoli was crunchy and the apple and raisin gave it a nice sweetness. You really can't go wrong with this salad and you'll feel like you ate vegetables. And then it's sandwich time. The Pork Belly Sandwich ($9.00) is truly of Edmonton legend and I doubt that I'll ever be able to get myself to order anything else.

Chili mayo, pickled carrot & daikon, fresh cilantro.

This sandwich is everything. I dove in immediately and reveled in the symphony of flavours. First and foremost is the pork belly that has taken on an incredible caramelized glaze which gives it a bit of a crunch. It's sliced thin and the fat is rendered down perfectly. Next, the pickled vegetables and cilantro give the sandwich a definite Vietnamese vibe, and the slight kick from the chili mayo is the perfect way to round everything out. The bun reminds me of the soft and crusty Portuguese type. It's a perfect sandwich. Incredibly delicious and consistently amazing for a whole decade, this sandwich must never, never go away. I love Drift. They're a major part of the culinary tapestry in this city and they've certainly played a huge roll in making the food truck scene everything that it is today. They've really cracked the code by offering a small handful of items on their menu and you always know that each one is going to be absolutely perfect. They're a special truck. I will be tracking Drift down repeatedly all summer long and you should too.