Castillo: Zimzala Food Truck is bringing the beach vibes!

Last weekend I caught up with Misty Thrower at her newest endeavor, the Zimzala food truck. For those not familiar with Misty (I wasn’t) she was the previous owner of the popular downtown spot formerly known as Bel Air Bar and Grill.

Ahhh, Bel Air.

The name brought back fond memories of laughter, music, fun, and the ongoing lessons served up by this thing called life. One lesson I won’t forget? Never consume an alcoholic beverage served in a fishbowl. Nothing good will come of it. Nothing but a headache if you’re lucky. Another lesson: their ribbon cut Bel Air potatoes had a cult like following akin to Outback’s Bloomin’ Onion. Unfortunately, food came secondary to socializing back then, so I don’t recall giving the menu much thought.

We reminisced, noting the parallels of our lives while traversing transitions.

One might think that making the switch from running a brick-and-mortar restaurant to a food truck would be as gentle as an island breeze, but the behind-the-scenes work is probably more like holding on to your hat in a hurricane.

From daily considerations such as logistics and learning to haul a 26-foot trailer behind a huge truck, parking, gas prices and guesstimating how the weather will impact interior temperatures, there are always on-the-fly adjustments to be made. Luckily, with the help of loyal family and friends, Misty is up for the challenge while managing to make it look easy.

First, I ordered a jerk chicken taco (the only kind of jerk I’m interested in these days), which was comprised of a soft tortilla topped with chunks of chicken drenched in a sweet, tangy, smoky, lightly peppery jerk sauce along with bits of pineapple, slivers of red pepper, and chopped cabbage to round out each crisp fresh bite. The deliciously rich flavors made me yearn to be lounging poolside with a beach view.

Next up, I indulged in a cup of the Mexican street corn. The corn concoction made of creamy mayo, cheese and chili powder is always a favorite, so I was happy to unexpectedly find it on the menu. I was even happier after taking the first bite.

As I closed out the impromptu interview, it was easy to see and appreciate how decades in the food service industry have resulted in the ease and cooking confidence Misty projects today.

In a world full of people always wondering, “Is this where I’m meant to be?” I think Misty has the right idea. We may not always have a beach, but we can always have the beach vibes if we try.

You can track down the Zimzala Vibes food truck on Facebook or call (573) 450-4969 to schedule a special event or party.

Mary Ann Castillo has more than 50 years of eating experience with no plans to stop.