Introducing: Gourmet Gringos, a new food truck serving Latin American fare (including handmade empanadas)
The Gringos themselves, Terry Nicolaou and Krystian Catala (Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
Joining the ever-expanding herd of food truckers, the Gourmet Gringos (not to be confused with the Gourmet Bitches, or the Food Dudes, for that matter) are keen to make their mark on the scene. After noting the relative scarcity of empanadas in town, longtime friends Krystian Catala and Terry Nicolaou decided that they’d take things into their own hands and open up a Latin-inspired food truck. In all, the duo has a combined 30 years in the food biz, and with the addition of chef Arturo Gress (Le Select, Maléna, One) , the Gringos were ready to go.
The truck serves up their beloved empanadas, alongside burritos ($8), tortas ($8), quesadillas ($7) and, of course, the ubiquitous taco (two for $6). When we swung by the truck’s perch across from Union Station, Catala was pressing empanadas by hand. He explained just what makes a proper Argentine empanada, the kind he’s been inhaling his entire life: good beef, caramelized onions, hard-boiled egg, olives and cloves ($3). The truck also serves an Ecuadorian version, packed with cheese, fried and then tossed in sugar for added crunch ($2.50).
There’s a roster of fillings available for the various tortilla-based meals, like cochinita (slow-roasted pork) and mole-braised short rib. When we visited, there’s was also a fish taco special: beer-battered mahi mahi, packed with cabbage and carrot slaw, smeared with guacamole and finished with chipotle aioli (two for $9). With a rotating menu planned, expect to see all manner of Latin favourites, like tamales, arepas and pupusas, making guest appearances.
162756 Short rib burrito ($8) (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Gourmet Gringos Introducing: Gourmet Gringos https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-gourmet-gringos-6-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-gourmet-gringos-6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-gourmet-gringos-6.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-gourmet-gringos/slide/sept12-gourmet-gringos-6/ sept12-gourmet-gringos-6 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
162755 Tinga pollo burrito ($8) (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Gourmet Gringos Introducing: Gourmet Gringos https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-gourmet-gringos-5-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-gourmet-gringos-5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-gourmet-gringos-5.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-gourmet-gringos/slide/sept12-gourmet-gringos-5/ sept12-gourmet-gringos-5 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
162758 Beer-battered mahi mahi tacos, packed with cabbage, carrot slaw, guacamole and chipotle aïoli (two for $9) (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Gourmet Gringos Introducing: Gourmet Gringos https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-gourmet-gringos-8-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-gourmet-gringos-8.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-gourmet-gringos-8.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-gourmet-gringos/slide/sept12-gourmet-gringos-8/ sept12-gourmet-gringos-8 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
162759 A tray of Argentine empanadas ($3 each), filled with beef, caramelized onions, hard-boiled egg, olives and cloves (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Gourmet Gringos Introducing: Gourmet Gringos https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-gourmet-gringos-9-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-gourmet-gringos-9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-gourmet-gringos-9.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-gourmet-gringos/slide/sept12-gourmet-gringos-9/ sept12-gourmet-gringos-9 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
162757 Catala pressing empanadas (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Gourmet Gringos Introducing: Gourmet Gringos https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-gourmet-gringos-7-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-gourmet-gringos-7.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-gourmet-gringos-7.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-gourmet-gringos/slide/sept12-gourmet-gringos-7/ sept12-gourmet-gringos-7 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
162754 Catala pressing empanadas (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Gourmet Gringos Introducing: Gourmet Gringos https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-gourmet-gringos-4-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-gourmet-gringos-4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-gourmet-gringos-4.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-gourmet-gringos/slide/sept12-gourmet-gringos-4/ sept12-gourmet-gringos-4 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
162753 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Gourmet Gringos Introducing: Gourmet Gringos https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-gourmet-gringos-3-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-gourmet-gringos-3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-gourmet-gringos-3.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-gourmet-gringos/slide/sept12-gourmet-gringos-3/ sept12-gourmet-gringos-3 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
162752 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Gourmet Gringos Introducing: Gourmet Gringos https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-gourmet-gringos-2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-gourmet-gringos-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-gourmet-gringos-2.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-gourmet-gringos/slide/sept12-gourmet-gringos-2/ sept12-gourmet-gringos-2 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
162760 The Gringos themselves, Terry Nicolaou and Krystian Catala (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Gourmet Gringos Introducing: Gourmet Gringos https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-gourmet-gringos-intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-gourmet-gringos-intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-gourmet-gringos-intro.jpg 656 440 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-gourmet-gringos/slide/sept12-gourmet-gringos-intro/ sept12-gourmet-gringos-intro 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
162751 (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Gourmet Gringos Introducing: Gourmet Gringos https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-gourmet-gringos-1-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-gourmet-gringos-1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-gourmet-gringos-1.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-gourmet-gringos/slide/sept12-gourmet-gringos-1/ sept12-gourmet-gringos-1 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
Gourmet Gringos, gourmetgringos.com, @GourmetGringos