"I know," said Bates Nut Farm spokeswoman Linda Gluckman. "Generally you expect a stale taco and an overcooked hot dog from a food truck, but people should get ready to have their gastronomic socks knocked off ---- 15 times in a row!"
Gluckman is talking about an event taking place from 3 to 9 p.m. at Valley Center's Bates Nut Farm, in which 15 of SoCal's top gourmet food trucks will be lined up for the first-ever VC Gourmet Food Truck Fest. The event will feature a wide range of mobile cuisine, including Thai-style wings, pastrami sandwiches, bacon burgers, Hong Kong Phooey (you got me there), BBQ, squash tacos, BLTs, brisket melts, and more unique and tasty offerings than you can shake a skewer stick at.
"This is something quite unique for the backcountry," Gluckman said. "It's not easy even finding restaurants that serve food this well-prepared." I've seen these beautifully painted and decorated trucks set up before in downtown San Diego. It's a treat for the eyes as well as the taste buds.
There's plenty more going on: music, pony rides, face painting, a kid bounce, and the Bates Farm Zoo. Parking and admission are free.
Tanks for the memories: Heck, it seems I can't go anywhere in the backcountry without someone asking me how pumping my septic tank went. To you 'frontcountry' readers, that might seem like an odd topic of social discourse, but out here in the boonies, that's just chitchat.
The whole thing started as a result of my joking last week that I had decided to have my family's tank pumped after 17 years whether it needed it or not ---- and it sure needed it. It's recommended that a family of four get its tank emptied every two or three years.
Also good to note: A good septic tank worker will rinse out your tank after he has emptied it to look for any deterioration of the cement walls or pipe fittings leading out to the leech field. If you're concerned your guy might not remember to do this, casually mention that you lost a diamond ring down the disposal ages ago and have no idea where it might have ended up. Clean as a whistle, guaranteed.
The man who pumped our tank told me a newly cleaned unit needs a little bacterial help to get it started doing that voodoo it do so well. Stale beer, as it turns out, works beautifully. If Martin Mull's observation, "You don't buy beer; you rent it," is true, you may at least be able to get some personal use out of that brew before sending it off to do good elsewhere.
Finally, make a note to schedule your outdoor Ladies' Christian Aid Society social on a day other than the one you get your tank is being pumped. ‘Nuff said!
Stay back and to the right: Finally this week, lots of readers have commented on last week's column item describing Murietta mom Jennifer Sailles' terrifying ordeal when a flatbed trailer truck made too shallow a turn in front of her and sheared off much of the front of her minivan. Jennifer expressed concern that she didn't know what she could do differently to avoid a repeat of the incident.
Several people noted having similar experiences or near experiences and suggested that drivers stay as far back as possible when waiting at any intersection ---- certainly never nosing past the stop sign or light. They also suggest staying as far to the right as possible without restricting the ability of drivers coming up behind you to make a right turn.
