Counter Culture: Truck on over to Napa Valley for Tacos Garcia lunch

The news came via e-mail, straight from tiny Yountville in the Napa Valley: “The toque of the town is the Michelin Guide’s 2011 awards, sharpening Yountville’s culinary edge with six coveted stars within six walking blocks.”

Very impressive, given that the guide’s star system (one to three stars) has a measurable impact on a restaurant’s success. Stars can make a chef’s reputation ? and make getting reservations a challenge. Conversely, the removal of stars can mean calamity.

As for Yountville, Michelin stars for 2011 went to the French Laundry (three), étoile at the Domaine Chandon winery (one), Bouchon (one) and Redd (one). Of course, other Napa Valley restaurants boast stars and other honors of their own.

Shortly after the announcement, somebody brought up the subject of Tacos Garcia. Oh, yeah ? it’s a taco truck licensed by the town of Yountville in July to set up and serve food in the parking lot alongside Pancha’s dive bar on Washington Street, the main drag.

What a delicious concept: a taco truck serving cheap eats in a town “that boasts the largest concentration of Michelin stars per capita on the planet.”

Hmmm ? what would happen if I asked the executive chef of one of those star-winning restaurants to be my lunch pal at Tacos Garcia?

We’d heard how the food truck-bar scenario works: Customers drive into the lot and park, then order lunch off the truck, take it into Pancha’s, order a beer or whatever, and nosh at the bar or a table.

Obviously, that’s a far-less-costly and quicker lunch than the white-tablecloth alternatives nearby, and locals ? from vintners and politicians to laborers and merchants ? flock to the truck, mostly for takeout.

Find entire article <here>