Seth and Melissa Bryan, owners of the Fire Within food truck based in West Palm Beach, are having dinner on Dixie. And, yes -- you're invited.
It's a date South Florida foodies won't want to miss, because it marks a "first" for West Palm Beach: It's the city's first regularly scheduled food-truck round-up.
Featuring only Palm Beach County-based food trucks, the event -- set to take place every Tuesday night starting October 18 -- has been aptly dubbed "Dinner on Dixie" by its Fire Within creators.
Now, instead of just having lunch on Dixie, they're having dinner as well.
"When we opened [the Fire Within in August], we had hoped for a significant amount of business to flock to us, and that just didn't happen," Melissa Bryan told New Times. "So we decided that we needed to organize a PBC event on a weekly basis. That way, everyone who has been wanting to eat at local food trucks could have the chance to do that."
"If no one else was going to step forward and organize a weekly event, we decided we would be the ones that were going to make it happen."
- Melissa Bryan, cofounder of "Dinner on Dixie"
Who's invited? To begin, several trucks will be making an appearance, including Press'd Street Food, 4 Alarm Pizza, Out of Many, PS 561, and Kona Ice. And -- of course -- the Fire Within, a truck that, at first glance, isn't as flashy as its competitors'.
The old converted church shuttle bus hasn't been repainted, hooked-up, or pimped-out. But, as with people, it's what's on the inside that counts. And, for the Bryans, it's all about good food and creative cooking.
Since the couple's first date ten years ago, cooking has been a shared passion. And when they moved to South Florida two years ago from Seattle, they made another commitment to each other: They would start their own business.
"We knew having a food truck was something that would be perfect for us," said Melissa, a former stay-at-home mom who, with husband Seth, a construction industry veteran, transformed the old bus into a full-sized commercial kitchen in just seven months.
Normally stationed on the stretch of Dixie Highway between Belvedere and Okeechobee Boulevard, the Fire Within specializes in meat with a Caribbean and Latin twist. From house-made spices, sauces, and marinades to made-to-order guacamole and salsas, nothing you eat has ever seen the inside of a can, container, or premade package.
The menu has up to five daily specials, alongside a standard list of items always available, starting with "The Firestorm," a Caribbean rice and bean bowl topped with your choice of meat and accented with fresh pico de gallo and Melissa's own handmade crema. There is also "The Firebomb": The same thing, but a larger portion and served in a gigantic "hubcap" tortilla, then grilled for crispy bite.
"The menu is constantly changing and evolving, so you can be sure you'll never eat the same thing twice," said Melissa.
Specials include grilled mahi-mahi fish tacos, served on a colorful bed of cabbage, with fresh pico de gallo and the truck's own chipotle lime crema. There are also slow-cooked pulled-pork carnitas tacos, dressed in a zesty salsa verde. Or try the grande chicken or steak quesadilla, with cheddar and Chihuahua cheeses.
The truck is perhaps best known for its Fire Burgers, by far the best-sellers, said Melissa, who does a single grind on her own special mix of brisket, top butt and Argentinian chorizo for a course, dense, beefy burger.
There is also fresh guacamole on the menu daily, made from scratch -- and to order -- served with fresh corn chips. But get there early: Once the truck is out of advocados, there's no more to be made.
Our pick: a unique twist on Buffalo chicken, with the Fire Within's own mix of batter and breading. Served in strips as a wrap or sandwich, it comes with homemade buffalo sauce in mild, medium, and "Holy Cow, That's Hot!"
For more information about Palm Beach County food truck round-ups, visit foodtruckroadtrip.com or check out the Fire Within Facebook page.
DINNER ON DIXIE
WHEN:
Tuesday, October 18, from 6 to 10 p.m.
WHERE:
Flamingo Park on Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach
WHO:
Follow Clean Plate Charlie on Facebook and on Twitter @CleanPlateBPB.
