Which Montreal food truck has the best pulled pork?
Sabrina Marandola | CBC News | Posted: May 7, 2016 1:20 AM | Last Updated: May 7, 2016
On the 1st Friday of the month, more than 40 food trucks are parked at the Big O
Friday evenings in Montreal just got tastier.
Montreal kicked off its food truck season today with First Fridays.
Until October, people can head down to the Olympic Stadium every first Friday of the month to get a taste of some of the city's most flavourful bites.
With more than 40 food trucks parked in the esplanade of the Big O, there is something to please everyone's taste buds.
We decided to have a pulled pork showdown. The CBC's Sabrina Marandola went to three food trucks to sample three delicious pulled pork dishes.
Mi Corazon
Dish: Pulled Pork Taco
Price: $8
Review: I'm not a big fan of tacos. Having said that, this dish was absolutely delicious. The pulled pork was smothered in a sweet barbecue sauce and was seasoned to perfection. It had a nice mix of toppings and the taco itself was tasty and held together very well. The wedge of lime served on the side not only made for a beautiful presentation but was the perfect touch to finish off the dish with a light squeeze of zestiness and freshness.
If you like the sauce in your taco, your only chance to buy it is at the food truck. It's not available anywhere else.
Rating: 9/10
2. Air de Boeuf
Dish: Pulled Pork Panini
Price: $10.50
Review: I love a good sandwich. At the Air de Boeuf food truck, the portions are generous and your order comes with a side dish. I got coleslaw with my pulled pork panini. The pork was tender and just succulent enough to be tasty, without drenching the bread. The sauce coating the meat is a Jack Daniels and apple sauce. Yummy. The bun was fresh, soft and topped with sesame seeds – a must for me! It's served on a sturdy paper plate. You know this won't fall apart while you're eating standing up.
Rating: 8/10
3. Queen B Bol Burrito
Dish: Pulled Pork Burrito
Price: $7 for 16 oz. or $11 for 24 oz.
Review: I must say, I was surprised to be getting my dish served in a bowl. But the name of the food truck clearly states it's Bol Burrito! So the concept is that you get a burrito – minus the flour-tortilla wrap. Makes sense given that you're probably going to be eating it standing up or walking around.
All the elements of the dish are nicely spread out in the generous-portion sized bowl: the pulled pork -- this one spicier than the others I had – with sauce on the side – corn, rice and lettuce.
Very tasty, and good bang for your buck.
Rating: 7.5/10
First Fridays: 5 things to know
Here are some things to keep in mind when you head off to First Fridays.
1. Take the Metro
With Pie-IX Boulevard under construction and reduced to one lane in both directions, your best bet is to take the Metro. The closest station to the Olympic Stadium is Pie IX, on the Green line.
2. Hours of business
The food trucks will be parked at the Big O on the first Friday of the month, until October, from 4 p.m. until 11 p.m.
3. Bring cash
Not all food trucks were equipped to accept debit or credit card payments. Bring some cash, just in case. There are also ATM machines on site.
4. Dinner and a show
It's not only a place to eat. This year, the esplanade is set up with four stages so that people can enjoy live musical performances.
5. Extra time
Give yourself some extra time to arrive. You may be waiting in line for a few minutes while security guards check the contents of purses and backpacks of everyone entering the site.