London Calling: Reviewed by Gabriella Wuller

With a multitude of options for food trucks in Springfield, Missouri, The Mirror has decided to try some of the trucks within the area for review.

My review was on London Calling. With both a food truck and a location within the Battlefield mall, London Calling, a gourmet pasty company is well known throughout the community. The menu for these two locations is different. At the location inside the mall, there are more options, including the classic fish and chips, but this is not offered at the food truck. The food truck has seven various pasties called; Traditional, Cheesy Chicken & Bacon, Bangers and Mash, Bacon Cheeseburger, The Pizza Pasty, Chicken Tikka Masala and the Bombay Pasty.

Pictured is the Traditional Pasty that I had. The description of the menu describes the pasty as “Tender bites of steak, onion, golden potato, and rutabaga baked together to create a warm satisfying meal.”

The pasty was certainly unlike anything that I have had before. And the components were not bad, but I certainly wouldn’t seek them out again. The flavor was entirely pepper, and was overpowering. I was also joined by junior Matthew Dalton who has this to say on the pasty, “The outer pastry was flakey and soft. I enjoyed the flavor and texture of the steak and potatoes inside as well, but as far as I could tell, pepper was the only seasoning used for the inside of the pasty. The portion is a good size given the $8.99 price tag. Overall, I would get another pasty, but I’d shoot for something other than the traditional.”

In addition to the pasty, they also had a dessert option which I found delightful. This is the Banoffee Pie, which is described as “An English favorite! Graham cracker and butter crust filled with caramel, french bananas, and whipped cream”.

This miniature pie was great! Costing only three dollars, this treat was creamy with a soft crunch of the crust. Then combined with the flavor of bananas, the dessert was my favorite part of the overall meal.

That being said, everyone has different options regarding flavor, and items so if you are interested, London Calling is a new place to try out!

La Chiva Colombiana: Reviewed By Julia Chamberlain

La Chiva Colombiana is not technically a food truck– it’s a food bus. It’s a renovated school bus painted in the vibrant yellow, red and blue of the Colombian flag. Between Glenstone and National on St. Louis, La Chiva Colombiana sits in a lot specifically dedicated to food trucks. The other two locations had loud colors and plenty of seating, but what they were missing was the traditional Colombian music coming from speakers attached to the bus. Each window of the bus had different images of Colombia, from scarlet macaws to pictures of life in the cities and villages and even a picture of Shakira. 

I ordered a cheese empanada, an arepa con queso and passion fruit juice. The wait was around 10 minutes, but was incredibly worth it. They came wrapped in tin foil and were warm and perfectly greasy. The cheese pull on the empanada was insane, and the cheese-to-dough ratio was perfect. The dough itself was chewy and wonderfully cooked. 

I always forget that I like the look of arepas more than the actual taste, but this one was an exception. The dough wasn’t too grainy, which is usually the biggest problem with the dish. The grill level on either side was a little uneven, and I found myself really enjoying the more toasted part. Again, an incredible cheese-to-dough ratio.

I’ve never tried passion fruit juice, but I’ve had the flavor before. The juice was tangy, refreshing and balanced out the saltiness and greasiness perfectly.