Andrew Zimmern Debuts Food Truck

AZ Canteen, Andrew Zimmern's foray back in the kitchen after a decade's absence, has hit the road. The food truck made its debut Saturday at the Minnesota State Fair.

"After eating at hundreds of food trucks and street stalls around the world, and after creating several airport restaurant concepts with OTG including Minneapolis and New York City, it just hit me like a ton of bricks that instead of a booth at the Fair, we needed to have something more flexible and mobile. A food truck was a natural," says Zimmern.

Instead of the bizarre foods Zimmern is known for eating on his television shows, AZ Canteen will offer its own custom-blended Pat LaFrieda goat sausage and meats. The menu includes Andouille, oyster, and crab gumbo; crispy pork belly with green papaya salad, chiles, lime, and a fried egg; a cabrito (goat) butter burger with roasted tomatoes, charred onions, and pickles; cabrito sausage grinder with cabbage slaw; and griddled veal tongue on a toasted Parker roll with lemon, capers, arugula, and tonnato sauce.

"The debut was a smashing success. Goat is like soccer in America, everyone likes it but so few understand it. Today that all changed," said Zimmern. "The cabrito grinder, cabrito burger and the rest of our menu are widening the world of food choices for food-truck devotees. And they are loving it."

Sweet treats include Izzy's ice cream sandwiches and Nicaraguan dulce de leche shaved ice with "Loly's style" pound cake.

The truck, emblazoned with vintage travel stickers and suitcase decals designed by Spunk Design Machine, has built-in video monitors that showcase clips from Zimmern's travels and is set up to allow Zimmern to Skype with people in line while he is traveling.

The truck is in the Twin Cities but is expected to travel nationally, following Zimmern to events and appearances. Fans can follow the truck on Twitter @AZCanteen, on Facebook, or on the AZ Canteen website for the truck's location and hours.

Lauren Mack is the Travel Editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @lmack.