You can sample a new food truck park in southwest Illinois. Here’s how
Soulcial Kitchen will hold a “super fun” preview party Friday in preparation for its grand opening in October, according to a Sept. 8 press release.
The event will take place Friday at the park’s location at 127 North Belt East in Swansea. The food and fun begin at 11 a.m. and will last as long as the food does.
Organizers for the event encourage folks to bring their kids, bring their pets and enjoy themselves with food, beverages, games and music.
Those who attend the event will be able to meet Soulcial Kitchen’s new head chef and preview the dog park, the food truck garden and the upcoming restaurant and bar. Guests will also have the opportunity to learn about Soulcial Kitchen’s platform and mission to reduce food insecurity in the metro-east, the release included.
Food available at the event includes barbecue from A Fine Swine BBQ and tacos from El Guaqo Taco, which was officially rolled out earlier this week. Between the two concepts, foodies will be able to enjoy the pairing of “authentic Mexican fare fused with competition-quality smoked BBQ meats,” an earlier release stated.
“Beef barbacoa tacos, grilled chicken asada tacos, and smoked pork carnitas tacos will be regular features on the El Guaqo Taco food truck, with pork belly tacos with grilled pineapple salsa and avocado crema as one of the surprise recurring specials,” said David Stidham, co-founder of Soulcial Kitchen and founder of A Fine Swine BBQ.
“Our new head chef [Chris Stein] developed the menu and he has such strong chops, I guarantee you his carnitas tacos will make you want to cry. I sure did,” Stidham said.
Stein, a Southern Illinois native, is an honors graduate from the Culinary Institute of America. He spent the last 10 years working for the Wrigley family’s Santa Catalina Island Company on Catalina Island, according to the release, and eventually “ran every restaurant the company operated there.”
“It’s always been my goal to come home and I am super excited to join the Soulcial Kitchen team,” Stein said in the release. “Not only are they on the culinary cutting edge, I strongly believe in their mission of giving back to the community.”
A Fine Swine BBQ and El Guaqo Taco are currently booking food truck locations and catering orders. Delivery and takeout services are planned for its virtual kitchen at the end of September.
For more information about the two food trucks and their schedules, visit afineswinebbq.com and facebook.com/El-Guaqo-Taco-Food-Truck-100496442320158. For information about Soulcial Kitchen, visit soulcialkitchen.com.
