Image via flickr.com/photos/tonx/1897706/

A few weeks ago I did a ‘from the desk of’ blog post for the Gerdeblog where I may have unintentionally questioned the quality of a local coffee roaster here in Columbus, Ohio. Well, the good people over at Crimson Cup read my blog post and invited me to their office to sample their goods. We discussed our favorite brands of coffees, different experiences I had at their retail location here in Columbus, and we laughed about Starbucks sizing nomenclature—particularly how their baristas act like you’re speaking another language when you use foreign terms like small, medium or large.

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Images property of Chute Gerdeman

It’s without a doubt that the food truck trend is sweeping the nation by storm. From creative deli sandwiches to gourmet seafood dishes to classic French desserts, food trucks aren’t just for hot dogs anymore. What started out as a quirky way for small businesses to introduce their culinary craft to a broad market quickly and affordably is now a full-on marketing strategy used by national chains like Jack in the Box, In-N-Out Burger, Subway and California Pizza Kitchen (just to name a few). It’s such a hot topic that Food Network is on their second season of The Great Food Truck Race. So what exactly is driving this trend?

Some local retail establishments are using the mobile food model as an extension of their business (Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams) while others are creating awareness for a new retail concept (The Pickled Swine). Others have packed up their storefront (in some areas) in favor of a mobile model (Spinelli’s Deli downtown location). Some may even use the mobile method as a cost-conservative way to determine if a food concept will work in a new market. It’s potentially cheaper to launch a food truck versus an entire build out of a new or existing space. Plus it can be used to test menu items, determine what items are fan favorites and where others may fall short of interest.

What’s the appeal on the consumer side? A few things—convenience is king and eating locally produced food is an ever-increasing theme that resonates with consumers. It’s low commitment compared to many dining options—you stand in line, you order, get your food and go. And for the constantly evolving palettes of foodies in search of new things, it increases the amount of intriguing options available over the typical food chains.

Taking advantage of this phenomenon, Columbus hosted their first annual Food Truck and Cart Festival at the new Columbus Commons. Our team of food fanatics and trendspotters set out just to see what our capital city had to offer. We split up to assess the experience from corner to corner and find our favorite food truck offerings.

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© 2011 Google, Map Data © 2011 Google. Inset image property of Chute Gerdeman.

It’s been raining, I mean pouring, for days in Tampa. What’s a girl to do but to go shopping! I don’t want to venture too far off, so I head towards the local Citrus Park Town Center Mall. As I dry myself off and walk the mall, I notice two cool skater boys walking into a store called CCS. I have never heard of CCS and since I am a very curious person, I follow them in! Read more…

Remember a few months ago when we introduced you to the website They Draw & Cook? The premise: an online collection of recipes from cooks and creatives around the world. Why write out a recipe when it can be illustrated instead? Or maybe you don’t know what to cook for dinner. Perhaps a vibrant watercolor will be on tonight’s menu!

Image via theydrawandtravel.com

We’d now like to introduce you to sister site, They Draw & Travel, a “celebration of art and exploration.” The collection of maps and artwork is the latest extension from Nate and Salli, the team behind TDAC. “We think that to truly experience a place, it’s all about the nooks and crannies, the off-the-beaten-path, locals-only spots. The magic of knowing a place means plugging into its local pulse and flow—the little moment-in-time things.” We couldn’t agree more. How many times have you avoided a place just because it was “too touristy” or purposefully gone down the road less traveled for a more authentic experience?

Image via theydrawandtravel.com

Whether or not you’re an artistic individual, most everyone feels inspired by travel. Explore the site and maybe end up exploring a few new parts of the world!

1. A prized golden spoodle for graduating from Domino’s Pizza Prep School!

2. My Crimson Cup coffee mug. Not as good as Starbucks, but I’m keeping it local.

3. My state-of-the-art rubber ball iPod. Actually, it’s just a rubber ball with headphones coming out of it.

4. A book of stock photography—the biggest waste of paper, in my opinion. Hey stock photo companies…there’s this new thing called the Internet.

5. Must-read magazine—Fast Company.

And here’s a little bit about the man behind this desk…

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Images via psfk.com, weheart.co.uk, and parkandbond.com

Editor’s Note: Once in awhile we come across something noteworthy and we we want to share it with our readers. However, due to a variety of reasons (it’s too new to obtain research, it’s in a far-away land that we can’t quite reach, etc.) we don’t quite know what to do about it other than tell you “Hey. This is amazing and you should know about it.” Show & Tell is a collection of those recent things.

1. A new “wickedly stylish” hotel just opened in Miami. Lord’s South Beach Hotel, “America’s first gay hotel chain,” doesn’t hold back when it comes to cheeky decor, glamour and glitz. Designed by New York design firm BHDM, the soon-to-be-hotspot is a perfect addition to the SoBe scene. You can learn more here and here.

2. Nordstrom’s Seattle flagship has created a truly interactive window display. Using Microsoft Kinect technology, the windows track customers’ hand-gestures, virtually painting their motions on the windows. Want more?

3. Park & Bond is the latest online authority on men’s fashion, brought to you by the people behind Gilt Groupe. Not only is it a curated collection of tasteful attire, but it also provides tips, tricks and guides from how to pack a suit in a carry-on to how to get the perfect dimple in a tie. It’s everything for the sartorially in-tune, as well as for those less fashionable men who might need a tune-up. See for yourself.