Off The Grid Fort Mason, 2014

I’ve been going to Off The Grid, the street food event at Fort Mason since it first began, five years ago. Each year the event grows and evolves. Early on there was a mostly Asian theme that linked all the vendors and there were just a handful of food trucks relegated to a small section of the parking lot, now it’s really spreading its wings. 

So what’s new this year? There is no theme as there has been in some previous years, and the food is a little more approachable, perhaps a little less adventurous. But it’s still pretty darn delicious. Also this year? A DJ before and after the live music begins, arcade style games and extended hours (5-11pm). Here’s an inside tip, if you can’t deal with crowds, arrive between 5 and 6:30 pm before it gets too jam-packed. 

I got a chance to check out a number of the new vendors and some of the new food from returning vendors. Here are some my top picks:

Nora Spanish Cuisine featured a savory paella with pancetta, bacon and chicken. It's a great dish for sharing. 

This is just a sample of the shrimp taco done nacho style from The Taco Guys. Plump juicy perfectly cooked spicy shrimp are offset by cool and creamy avocado. If the taco tastes like the nachos, I’m in! 

From Il Pipila, Guadalupe Guerrero’s nopales sope was bright a fresh tasting, very herbal and earthy. This is a specialty from Guanajuato, by the way.

Drewski’s fried macaroni and cheese bacon balls were ooey gooey comfort food, reimagined. 

While sadly the Hapa SF truck has ceased operation, Jeepney Guy’s deep fried kettle pork is destined to become a new classic. It’s basically a riff on Filipino lechon. 

I’m a big fan of Casey’s Pizza. While normally I would never choose pepperoni, Casey’s is made by Zoe’s Meats in Petaluma and is outstanding. It's spicy and dry and makes this pizza something special. 

New this year is a roaming beer cart from Magnolia. I recommend the Oysterhead Stout. 

The Boneyard is offering Texas style brisket and pulled pork. I wrote about The Boneyard for 7x7 last year. 

Looking for something sweet to nibble on while waiting for your turn at skeeball or shuffleboard? You might want to try some Sugar and Spun cotton candy in flavors such as li hing or matcha green tea. A little too sweet for me! 

Another sweet treat that’s messy but not a bad choice if you’re willing to share, is the Johnny Doughnuts version of a Cronut, the CroDo with layers of flaky dough and a pastry cream filling. Next time I think I’ll try the lime mascarpone bismark….