The Great Food Truck Race rolls into Atlanta for its penultimate episode and the teams know they have a lot to prove after Memphis. The Lime Truck plans to add a Southern twist to their regular menu, Roxy knows that different neighborhoods have different tastes, and Hodge plans to jack up the prices a couple of bucks. It’s interesting how each team goes into a challenge with a plan, knowing full well that Tyler Florence always has a curveball to throw at them.
The first Truck Stop Challenge required the teams to prepare a dish in one hour using Georgia staples — peaches and peanuts. Except, even though they were given a basket of ingredients, each team had to scavenge for their own peaches and peanuts. Roxy and Lime did well with either fresh or dried peaches, but Hodge could only get a peach cobbler! Not easy to create a dish with something that’s already been put together into a dish. Guest judge Kevin Rathbun gave the win to Roxy for their good combination of flavors (they were the only team to have fresh peaches), and for their trouble they were awards a $1000 advantage.
At this point in the game, the teams are stressed and it’s stressful watching them because no one knows when Tyler will show up with the Speed Bump. Everyone got to their locations and started taking orders just so they could get food out before that dreaded call. Hodge Podge lucked out with an exclusive location at Atlantic Station, the busiest shopping area in town. They killed at the location, and the mayor even stopped by for a bite to eat. Roxy and Lime weren’t doing so well, and that $1000 advantage quickly melted away. Hodge ended up doing in one day what they did all weekend in Memphis.
Day two and still no call from Tyler. Lime got the Atlantic Station exclusive on Sunday and Hodge got a bad location … until a customer told them how well Rocy was doing just a few blocks away, so they quickly packed up and moved in on their territory. One thing I think is not cool, even if it is a competition, is having a team member go to another truck’s line and start poaching customers. Hodge has done this at many locations, and this time was no exception … but they only got one customer from the Roxy Line.
The dreaded Speed Bump call came and Tyler sent the three head chefs on a day of arts and leisure, leaving the other two team members to man the truck with absolutely no communication for the rest of the day. Lime Truck had a huge advantage with two trained chefs on board so they had no worries. Roxy was also in good shape — the only worry was the two brothers would bicker the entire day (they didn’t). Hodge Podge was in the worst shape because neither Chris Hodge’s sister or girlfriend ever prepared food on the truck, but he trained them well and they got the job done.
There was no real drama this week as the three remaining teams were whittled down to two. The three trucks combined raked in over $24000 (remember how exciting it was when seven trucks pulled in over $25000?), but the winner of this leg was Hodge Podge with $8937. Unfortunately for Roxy, it all came down to location and not the monetary advantage as Lime Truck placed second with $8447. With the extra $1000, Roxy managed $7121. I was a little disappointed that the Roxy guys were sent packing back to Boston because I would have liked to have seen them go up against Hodge Podge. Lime Truck certainly makes great food, but their arrogance does little to make me a fan (and, of course, that could just be the editing … every show needs a villain). Next stop — Miami, and I’m rooting for the boy and girls from Cleveland to bring home the win. Who do you think should win The Great Food Truck Race? Take the poll and sound off below.
Clacked by Chuck Duncan 
on Sep 19, 2011 @ 00:42 EST5EDT
