S05.E05: Beat Me In St. Louis

[radishcake]

When the final four teams hit the streets of St. Louis, Tyler is there to give them a challenge illustrating how a premium product is as good as money in bank. The next morning, Tyler gives them a truck stop challenge with the ultimate prize — the winning team will see their week's till doubled. Emotions are high at elimination as only three teams will get to head southward on the next leg of the Great Food Truck Race.

 

[Skyfall]

I love the mentoring aspect, why havnt they done this in the other seasons?

[KitKat]

Excited

Edited September 15, 2014 by KitKat

[Lillybee]

That was something that should have happened earlier in the season.

[xaxat]

That was something that should have happened earlier in the season.

 

Seriously. They waited until only four trucks were left before Tyler showed up and told everyone their food sucks and they don't know how to run a food truck?

Edited September 15, 2014 by xaxat

[HunterHunted]

Of course the show waited until the final four to do another taste challenge. And of course the profoundly mediocre Lone Star won the taste challenge. I would have been fine with Middle Feast, Let There Be Bacon, or Beach Cruisers being in the final 3. Everything I've seen of Lone Star Chuck Wagon has been underwhelming.

[GaT]

I knew Beach Cruisers was going home just by the amount of times they had Greta in a TH talking about how she's been trying to get a truck for a year.

[candall]

I lived in STL for years and the people there ARE nice.  I'm really pissed off at Lonestar selling their crappy dry quesadilla or whatever for $25.  You can find a decent steak dinner there for that price.

 

Yay!  We ripped off all our customers!  We win!

*********************

So after the toasted ravioli segment, they were on their own for shopping?  I heard Middle Feast say they didn't want to take the time to find "their ingredients."  But the two giant chain groceries--Schnuck's and Dierbergs--have a zillion locations and they would have had pita, for crying out loud, and probably even za'atar.  

 

International Market (shown) has two locations and is a blast to visit for all the authentic imported ingredients, but they aren't the easiest stores to find.

[walnutqueen]

Yay!  We ripped off all our customers!  We win!

 

 

That has been their only strategy, and it makes me sick that it has worked so well for them.

[Wings]

The editing telegraphed the losers, for sure!  Reality TV gives us spoilers in their previews and diary talks all the time!

 

FIRST of all, they should cast people whose food does not need tweaking!  That should not be a daunting task.   Christian from Masterchef has a goal of buying a food truck and he is an excellent chef.  

 

Okay, so they didn't.  I agree that this mentoring should have been done early on.

 

Texas winning again says customers want what they are serving.  Quesadillas are something I make regularly; they are a quick dinner.  And I put all the stuff in them sometimes, too.  Noting new there. 

 

Pita bread is dry and crumbly no matter what you do to it.  Terrible stuff. Middle East has no chance if they continue to use it.  A place in the food court at a local mall bakes their own (from frozen) and it is unbelievably good and very soft.  

 

Out of the taste test, I would have chosen the fish taco, it looked good.  They would have had a better shot at winning had they lost the attitude. 

 

I don't get the bacon truck.  They just put bacon on everything?  I have watched this show with one eye and found it hard to pick up on some of the trucks specialties. 

 

If toasted ravioli is a local favorite they probably have a freezer full to pop into the toaster oven for an after school snack.   They bought them already made!  

 

Selling a local favorite is not the way to go.  Offer something different.  That is the fault of production. 

Edited September 15, 2014 by wings707

[cooksdelight]

I think the point of the toasted ravioli was to give some PR to the local restaurant where it was invented. They had no money to buy any food, so they took what the ravioli people gave them. It looked like each truck got the same amount of everything. How they priced it or any additional seasonings was up to them.

Texas people should have had an awesome quesadilla when they got there. I think the reason Tyler waited and snuck up on them is that people may have been complaining about the high prices vs quality of food they were getting. Sometimes, it takes several stops before word gets out that they are serving sucky food.

[potatoradio]

Selling a local favorite is not the way to go.  Offer something different.  That is the fault of production.

 

ITA.  And if there's no "twist" to a local favorite, that's ridiculous. I can get a local fave any time. I can't visit a particular food truck any old time I want to and, if I were going for a type of cuisine I really wanted and found out they were serving stuff I could get any day of the week? No way I'd pay money for it.

I think the point of the toasted ravioli was to give some PR to the local restaurant where it was invented. T

 

 

Aha! I see. Product placement. Dang but it's hard to run an entertaining competition when there's so much product placement to do. /smallest violin playing for producers.

 

I don't know if the Middle Feast team keeps kosher, but appears that next week they're being asked to cook another non-kosher item (shrimp). Real kewl, show. I didn't particularly appreciate it when they made vegetarian teams in past seasons work with meat, either. Sure, you're supposed to adapt to customer tastes and be flexible, but I would be interested to see a challenge where the novelty of a cuisine is pitted against old standbys. I mean, yeah, I'm assuming local gulf shrimp are a great option and expected, but again, if I lived there and could have it every day, I'm going to be more tempted to try a kabob. Plus, I'd feel a little weird buying a burger from a veggie truck or a pork sandwich from a truck that kept kosher or somewhat followed tradition.

 

The MIddle Feast team handles themselves really well, though. Which is why I am SO happy the snotty Beach Cruisers were sent packing insetad. Man, what babies. I thought for sure all the TH were meant to fool us into thinking they were leaving and then *surprise* they're staying! Whew. Take your attitude and your fried avos outta here --  and strip down to your bikini somewhere other than on my teevee.

 

Tyler still just ain't doin' right.

[cooksdelight]

Sure, you're supposed to adapt to customer tastes and be flexible, but I would be interested to see a challenge where the novelty of a cuisine is pitted against old standbys.

 

So would I. In fact, if you are a food truck selling YOUR brand of food, you should be able to stick with it. That's why all of the contrived challenges Tyler makes them do ruins this show for me.

 

Maybe people in the Gulf region would like to try some Middle Eastern food. I know there's no one selling it here where I live and if someone opened a food truck with something novel and different, I'd be first in line.

[MortysCleaningLady]

The food presented to Tyler was a significant improvement to the food served to patrons for the past couple of seasons.  I nearly fell off the couch when Tyler pointed out that the food wasn't worth the prices being charged.  Immediately, I was taken back to the Hawaiian truck last season.  Remember their fried spam sandwich, served with mayo on white bread and a small handful of potato chips?  That team even joked about serving lean food -- they marketed the heck out of their food though. 

 

Want to know why Tyler waited so long on the tasting challenge?  He didn't want the Military Mom's menu!  Talk about price gouging -- pb&j, hot dogs, and grilled cheese.  I love those foods, but I want them in a manner I either can't make them at home or with elevated ingredients I might not have readily available.  (This is only a critique of foo, not of their association to the military.)

 

I loathed the bikinis instead of shirts in the food truck, but think the California beach fish taco sounded tasty.  I probably would have eaten their cuisine.  Bok choy/ spicy fish/ fried kale sounds delish!  I'd also try the Middle Feast because I adore shwarma and kabobs.  The Texas truck -- I don't know.  Quesadillas are so easy to make at home with leftovers or grab an inexpensive one at Moe's/ Chipoltle/ QDoba/ Baja Fresh/ etc...And I adore bacon, but I don't know that the bacon guys are creating anything that special either.  I sort of think they should be making their own bacon out of pork belly, but they don't have that kind of time.

 

I had incorrectly assumed that California had this thing wrapped up. 

[tv echo]

I was disappointed that Beach Cruisers were eliminated because I liked their healthy approach to food and their attempt to price reasonably.  Now we're left with three food trucks who all make heavy cholesterol, meaty foods.

 

I am completely turned off of Lone Star's price gouging the customers.  I hope karma bites them next week.

 

Maybe it was the editing, but Tyler seemed to help Let There Be Bacon more than any of the other food trucks.  He not only gave them tips but also actively helped them prepare their food.

Edited September 15, 2014 by tv echo

[potatoradio]

I'm not so sure how healthy the Beach Cruisers' cuisine was. When they presented their fish taco, I heard "fried avocado" and "flash fried kale" and "infused oil." Granted, it's far and away healthier to have kale under a bunch of oil than bacon, but it bugs me when restaurants try to promote themselves as 'fresh and healthy' and then offer fried items. A grilled quesadilla from the Lone Star truck might end up being healthier than the fish taco. 

 

I did appreciate their attempts at keeping prices reasonable, though. For that, I can't completely snark on them. 

Edited September 15, 2014 by potatoradio

[mlp]

So far this season, the truck I thought should be eliminated has gone home every single week.  I hope my luck holds and the arrogant Texans go next. 

 

Every challenge that requires the teams to sell something they don't deal with annoys me.  I totally agreed with the bacon guys and the Israelis last night.  Why would anyone expect them to be selling ravioli?  The Feast team has said they keep kosher so making them sell shrimp (next week) is several levels beyond annoying.  They are never, never in their real working lives going to cook and sell shrimp so what is the point of forcing them to do it?  AFAIK there's no good substitute for real shrimp that they could use and market successfully.  This show is not like Chopped where contestants sign on knowing full well there might be anything in those baskets and they agree to take their chances.  This show is about cooking and selling whatever they cook and sell.  Or should be.

Edited September 15, 2014 by mlp

[cooksdelight]

There's fake crab and fake lobster (I think the lobster is made from tofu, it was what Chopped contestants got once), but I don't know about fake shrimp.

I don't mind a little sabotage now and then. Boots on their tires so they have to scramble around and pay a fine. That happens in the real world if you're not careful. Equipment break-downs. But the challenges this year and last are borderline absurd, I think. It's become less about cooking good food and serving customers and more about how much money can you gouge people for.

ETA: Found some!

http://www.adventuresinfakemeat.com/2011/10/yves-veggie-shrimp.html

[xaxat]

Earlier I wrote that the show must have a solid viewership given that they are about to premier another food truck competition show. I'm beginning to rethink that though. 

 

They are giving away a truck an episode on the new show. I wonder if that's a way to get rid of the ones the losing teams have been using for this show.

[needschocolate]

I was a little sorry to see Beach go home - they are the only ones that make food I would want to try (not that them winning would have given me any chance of trying their food, but whatever).  There are plenty of middle eastern restaurants where I live, the Texans don't have anything original, and , I am tired of the whole everything-is-better-with-bacon craze (I like bacon, but apparently not as much as the next guy - I find bacon tends to overwhelm the taste)

 

On the other hand, I will not miss Greta's (is that her name? - the Beach woman that does 90% of their THs) Valley Girl "accent" - the whiny-ness of it and the way she paused at odd moments (like she paused for emphasis but nothing was worth emphasizing) were starting to really bug me.  I started mimicking her every time she talked, which, unfortunately seems to be what I do when someone's way of speaking bothers me, and I end up annoying myself). 

 

I agree with apparently everyone else - making them serve local dishes is ridiculous.  When Tyler was telling each of them that food wasn't good enough and listing additional ingredients they should add, I was really hoping one of them would say, "Well, if we win this thing, we will make more authentic food, but as long as the competition is going on, we are not going to buy extra, non-essential ingredients just to be stuck with them when you tell us that all we can sell is the local specialty.   

 

And as much as I respect Beach for not gouging their customers, I have to say that the Texan's have a point - if people are willing to pay it, then go ahead on charge it.  People are probably only paying a small fortune for a quesadilla because of the chance to be on tv, but, as long as the winner is based on who made the most money, then you should sell for whatever you can get.  If people don't want to pay that much, they will not stand in line, sales will drop, and then so will the prices.  If they win this thing and get a food truck they will quickly learn that $15 tacos won't keep you in business. 

[LexiconDevilOne]

There is zero chance you'll ever get me to spring for $25 a plate off a food truck. Never.

[mlp]

 

http://www.adventure...gie-shrimp.html

 

This stuff has mixed reviews so I guess it isn't terrible.  However, if I went to a food truck that advertised a cuisine I can't get locally and they were selling ersatz seafood instead, I'd be ticked.  And I wouldn't buy it so they'd lose the sale.  I'd be even more disgruntled if I were the truck owner and had been forced into that position.

[Totale]

And as much as I respect Beach for not gouging their customers, I have to say that the Texan's have a point - if people are willing to pay it, then go ahead on charge it.  People are probably only paying a small fortune for a quesadilla because of the chance to be on tv, but, as long as the winner is based on who made the most money, then you should sell for whatever you can get. 

 

Which exposes the whole problem with the basic concept of the show, setting this game up for who makes the most dough rather than who makes the best food.  It's been a problem more than once, with the Bad Team from a former season trying to cheat by stuffing the drawer, and throughout customers getting a raw deal because the shiny Klieg lights blind them to the fact that they've just paid $20 for a quesadilla that's not as good as Taco Bell serves up for $4.  It's a fatal flaw in the basic structure of the show, and why I think this will be the last season.

Edited September 16, 2014 by Totale

[In Pog Form]

God, that cook guy from Beach Cruisers was on full-on whining mode. SHUT UP!

Also, the Middle Feast guy expected the Italian cook to suggest how to put a "Middle Eastern spin" on the ravioli? He's supposed to be the damn Middle East specialist, isn't that his job?

And it's not raviolis! It's raviolo or ravioli, nothing else!

[In Pog Form]

I don't know if the Middle Feast team keeps kosher, but appears that next week they're being asked to cook another non-kosher item (shrimp). Real kewl, show. I didn't particularly appreciate it when they made vegetarian teams in past seasons work with meat, either.

If you're funding your own business, then sure, stick to your principles and only buy what you want to cook. But this is a reality show. You have to be ready to do anything, you can't expect Production to tailor the challenges to your specific needs. In your example, it wouldn't have been fair on the other teams to exempt the vegetarian truck from butchering those carcasses in the previous season.

This is why it's always a losing proposition to be a vegetarian or vegan chef and go on a cooking competition, unless you're prepared to practice cooking with meat. Because it's going to happen.

[biakbiak]

In your example, it wouldn't have been fair on the other teams to exempt the vegetarian truck from butchering those carcasses in the previous season.

 

However, as of next week half of the challenges will have had them cook non-kosher items (bacon wrapped hot dogs, had to make the bacon teams menu, and now shrimp) and no one else has had a similar challenge. It's not necessarily that they shouldn't have expected it and they handled it well but I still thinks the producers are assholes for knowing that they had cast a team and still at least half the challenges have been not kosher.

 

I did love that the Beach Cruiser dude kept bitching about losing out to a quesadilla when he made a fish taco. 

Edited September 16, 2014 by biakbiak

[backformore]

I'm so glad to see beach cruisers leave. The girl who spoke for them had the worst combination of vocal cry and uptalk that I ever heard.

[jhlipton]

Tyler, you lovable lunk, Texas would have been safe, but would not have won without the double.

They made $10,400 after the double, or $5,200 before. Bacon made $5500. Either Tyler can’t divide by 2, or doesn’t know that $5,500 is more than $5,200.

Any way it went, Middle Feast or Beach Cruiser (both with around $4,000) would have been out. I’m glad it was BCs.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
 

I don't know if the Middle Feast team keeps kosher, but appears that next week they're being asked to cook another non-kosher item (shrimp).

The Feast team has said they keep kosher so making them sell shrimp (next week) is several levels beyond annoying. They are never, never in their real working lives going to cook and sell shrimp so what is the point of forcing them to do it?

However, as of next week half of the challenges will have had them cook non-kosher items (bacon wrapped hot dogs, had to make the bacon teams menu, and now shrimp) and no one else has had a similar challenge. It's not necessarily that they shouldn't have expected it and they handled it well but I still thinks the producers are assholes for knowing that they had cast a team and still at least half the challenges have been not kosher.

One challenge where they couldn’t keep kosher would have been one thing. But to have multiple challenges – to their religious principles, mind you – is absurd. (If it was a Christian truck that was forced to defer their religious principles, it would have been on Fox News for a week!).

I hope Feast wins – they’re the most likable team and I’ve always enjoyed what they put out.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
 

On the other hand, I will not miss Greta's (is that her name? - the Beach woman that does 90% of their THs) Valley Girl "accent" - the whiny-ness of it and the way she paused at odd moments (like she paused for emphasis but nothing was worth emphasizing) were starting to really bug me. I started mimicking her every time she talked, which, unfortunately seems to be what I do when someone's way of speaking bothers me, and I end up annoying myself).

My wife feels the same way.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
 

There is zero chance you'll ever get me to spring for $25 a plate off a food truck. Never.

The Lime Truck (which came in 2nd or 3rd one season) sells food for more than $15 per item. It’s what the market will bear.

[LexiconDevilOne]

I live in Los Angeles CA. My nieces school (specifically), as well as the city, has food truck events all the time. I've never seen stuff priced that high, ever.

Again, not a chance they'd get me to pay that much, ever.

edit:clarification

Edited September 18, 2014 by LexiconDevilOne

[zillabreeze]

I just don't get the high prices on this show. I have been to art festivals, etc. in Dallas & Chicago. I always gravitate to something a little unusual - never subs, burgers or tacos. I never fail to get filled up on something in the $6-8 range, and I am a big eater!

Right now at Oktoberfest, delicious brat-pretzel sandwiches and the like are in that same price range.

[DHDancer]

I did love that the Beach Cruiser dude kept bitching about losing out to a quesadilla when he made a fish taco. 

 

THIS -- a million times!!   And as a general comment, the reason I would go to a food truck is to get good food CHEAP:  there's no way in hell I'd pay these prices.

[JenMcSnark]

I went to a food truck/food festival today in Oakland and the prices from a lot of vendors were significantly lower than their normal rates.  I know for the Eat Real Food Festival, they guaranteed that all food would be $8 or less.  I did see some trucks getting around that by charging for "extras".  But I do think that festivals and events do limit prices.

 

I would never pay $15 for a quesadilla let alone $25.  But I also agree that I wouldn't buy a quesadilla from a food truck in the first place. With one exception (The Chairman Truck) that I always eat at, I try to buy something that I wouldn't normally eat or have easy availability.