FOUR SEASONS HOTELS ROLLS OUT A FOOD TRUCK
The Four Seasons Taste Truck: at each property the executive chef takes over the menu. Photo: Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
In a first for Toronto-based Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, the luxury chain rolls out the FS Taste Truck. Fueled by the culinary expertise of Taste by Four Seasons, this gourmet kitchen on wheels will begin its journey September 16 through three states, seven cities and 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometres) from Palo Alto, California to Santa Fe, New Mexico, leaving behind a trail of delicious dishes and mouthwatering events.
Each of the eight participating Four Seasons hotels and resorts will take over the truck for one week, playing host to pop-up parking lot parties, street-food chef showdowns (where spectators play judge), and even the unveiling of a brand new brew, made exclusively for Oktoberfest.
During a Savvy Traveller visit to the Taste Truck at the Palo Alto Farmer's Market, Four Seasons Silicon Valley executive chef Marco Fossati was serving up tasty Italian-style donuts known as bambolini, fresh home-made pasta, among other delicacies.
A portion of the tour proceeds will go to Chefs to End Hunger - a charity that works with hotels, restaurants, and food service operations across the country to redistribute excess prepared food to those in need.
The chain says the vehicle and its tour provides a new, mobile stage for the brand’s culinary talent to connect with their local communities.
“Food is a passion for us at Four Seasons and we are always seeking to share that in inspiring and exciting ways, whether it’s through a Michelin-star dining experience or the perfect beer and burger pairing at one of our gastropubs,” says Guy Rigby, vice president of food & beverage in the Americas. “We want to keep our chefs engaged in something that is very relevant and the food truck movement fits the bill. It’s fun, unexpected and will foster the notion that Four Seasons does things differently.”
The food truck’s journey will provide an entertaining, moveable feast for all to enjoy. Examples of events include:
Chef Showdown, LA-style – Chef Claudia Fossa from THE Blvd and Chef Hugo Bolanos from CUT by Wolfgang Puck will go head-to-head via the truck in an epic battle of anticuchos at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel. Guests will play judge as they will decide who has mastered this popular South American street food consisting of small bites of grilled skewered meats.
Prost! – The FS Taste Truck will stop in Santa Barbara's popular “Funk Zone” rolling up on October 4 to Telegraph Brewing Company for the ultimate Oktoberfest. Guests will taste fare including pork bratwurst, Polish sausage with sauerkraut, beef goulash, chicken schnitzel, steak frites and, for dessert, a German triple-chocolate cake. On tap at Telegraph to complement the menu will be the 1927 Ale, which is brewed exclusively for Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara.
Tales of the Chile Pepper – An ingredient-driven “passing of the keys” will take place during the final leg of the journey between Executive Chef Mel Mecinas of Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North and Executive Chef Andrew Cooper of Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe. The two chefs will serve multiple dishes featuring chile peppers, a staple of Southwestern cuisine, and fans will be invited to vote for their favourite by posting images to Instagram. The winning dishes will be featured on the menu at Terra Bar at the Santa Fe property for the final week of the tour.
The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, Calif. will offer short rib quesadillas with Oaxaca cheese and spicy salsa, shrimp tostadas with chipotle remoulade and avocado and tres leches cake with Mexican-chocolate ice cream.
The FS Taste Truck will be rolling into the following cities throughout the fall:
- September 16-22 – Palo Alto, California
- September 23-29 – San Francisco, California
- September 30 - October 6 – Santa Barbara, California
- October 7-13 – Beverly Hills, California
- October 14-20 – Los Angeles, California
- October 21-27 – Westlake Village, California
- October 28 - November 3 – Scottsdale, Arizona
- November 4-10 – Santa Fe, New Mexico
If the venture is successful, the brand is reportedly planning to send the truck to more destinations around the country next year.