Tips Tri-Tips celebrates 1 year anniversary

Only in Sonoma will get you get stuck in traffic behind a suped-up trolley modified into a food truck that peddles tri-tip. That’s TIPS Tri-Tip to be exact, and they are celebrating their one year anniversary today.

Tri-tip is a California thing. It was first offered as steaks or ground beef in Oakland in the 1950s, before becoming the local speciality in Santa Maria, where it was served as a grilled steak. Its an inexpensive cut of meat from the bottom sirloin of a steak. TIPs cubes it, cooks it, and slathers it with a tasty chipotle sauce and slaw and pops it on a toasted roll. It’s comforting, tasty and well, meaty.

It is one of the few food trucks in Wine Country where carnivores and herbivores can eat together. They have vegan and vegetarian offers, including Susie’s Salad, with fresh greens, goat cheese, cranberries, candied walnuts, Chef Thaddeus’ Champagne Vinaigrette, and optional tri-tip, of course. Other offerings include gumbo, chili, and veggie bowls topped with shittake bacon.

Rumors started early about this…tri-tip trolley. The trolley was being modified into a moving kitchen for a few months at Sorento Imports, where it sat on display for the curiosity of locals and tourists alike, prior to it’s opening. When it launched at the 2014 Valley of the Moon Certified Farmers’ Market, a fan base grew quickly, even in a town where crazy, new ideas can be slow at catching on. That wasn’t the case for TIPs, says owner Susie Pryfogle, “Everybody was so nice and welcoming and supportive and loved the look of the trolley, but more importantly they loved the taste of our food and that made us smile.”

But, being a food truck in Wine Country isn’t always easy. It is different than Oakland or San Francisco, where food truck exclusive parking lots and events attract thousands of hungry folks throughout the year. TIPS and other local food trucks have their off season (Winter through early Spring), which means parking outside of various wineries and local businesses to attract tourists and promoting a delivery service, where Sonomans can text or call in orders for local delivery. They also cater special events, showing up at Broadway Under the Stars, weddings and birthday parties.

During the off season, Pryfogle (and many other local food truck owners) dreams of a day when Sonoma has a special food truck festival or event, perhaps monthly, in a designated area of town. Think of it as a small version of San Francisco’s SOMA Streetfood Park, where locals and tourists alike can enjoy lunch and dinners from Wine Country food trucks during specially designated days. Perhaps a Wine Country Food Truck Fiesta, where trucks, wineries and other craft beverage makers come together to celebrate Sonoma Valley’s bounty. It would be free to attend – just buy the food and drinks. (OK, I got a little out of hand here, but, I love this idea!)

But don’t fret Sonomans, Pryfogle, doesn’t want to cause too much of an disruption “The food truck scene is new to Wine Country and we’re hopeful that cities like Sonoma will figure out creative ways to embrace this trend while still protecting the culture we all love.”

While food truck fiestas float in foodie dreamland, TIPS is now selling Glen Ellen Star’s amazing ice cream. Pryfogle hinted to me at the concept of a ice cream trolley of sorts, which can’t come any sooner now that Grandma Linda’s is closed indefinitely. While Pryfogle envisions a trolley empire, she’s focused on the present and enjoying a summer full of sandos and fun.

Tonight only, at the farmers’ market, the first 100 customers to order an entree (i.e. a sando) get a TIPS Tri-Tip canvas tote, which will be perfect for farmers’ market shopping and about 10 tri-tip sandwiches. tipstritip.com