Food trucks that cook worth seeking out

August 10, 2013 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- The breakfast sandwiches from the Eastman Egg Company are truly one-of-a-kind. Made on-board, to-order, they arrive on either English muffins or pretzel rolls. But their location is typically random.

"Every day we go out, we have a set schedule, because it is breakfast and people like to know what they're gonna get, so we let them know in advance, but we gotta find that spot every morning," said Eastman Egg Co. owner Hunter Swartz.

The city has 30 zones for food trucks, each with a two-hour parking limit; they also have to remain at least 200 feet from a restaurant. Seek out the Fairfax, with its farmer's cheese and spinach, or the Eastman, with local ham, cheese, cucumbers and sweet chili. The Scoundrel is also noteworthy: a Labriola pretzel roll slathered with a spiced honey mustard; eggs and smoked turkey from Slagel Farms, plus wilted spinach and white cheddar.

Based in Schaumburg, the Toasty Cheese truck is another mobile gem, offering all sorts of freshly-griddled sandwiches.

"Anywhere from a traditional grilled cheese all the way up to one with duck bacon, provolone, spinach, arugula, cherry tomatoes on Panini bread," said Toasty Cheese owner Greg Barnhart.

Other options include grass-fed ribeye with mozzarella and red onions, but you can design whatever combo you'd like. Barnhart says finding parking spaces in the 'burbs is quite a bit easier.

"They're much more relaxed in the suburbs and they're very welcoming to food trucks, so it's been a very good experience so far," said Barnhart.

But don't expect fast food. Remember, they still have to cook your order.

"But once they see that once they place their order and we're actually cooking their food right there, right then, they're definitely worth the wait," he said.

Both trucks are available for private parties, but if you want to just find them during the week they're on the road seven days a week and the easiest way to find out where they're going to be on a given day, go to their website or their Facebook page or their Twitter feed.

Eastman Egg Co.
Http://www.eastmanegg.com
@eastmanegg
(the Eastman Egg Co. is also at The Nosh at Wicker Park every Saturday (2009 W. Schiller)

The Toasty Cheese Truck
http://www.toastycheese.com/
@MyToastyCheese

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