Lasagna Cupcakes and Beyond: Heirloom-LA Food Truck

If you ask me, 2010 was Heirloom-LA’s year. The catering company, armed with its “farm-to-plate” ethos and lasagna cupcakes, was suddenly everywhere—food blogs, coffeehouses, wine bars, neighborhood grocers… you name it. They even showed up on this blog when I tried and loved their hearty Wild Boar Bolognese.

As it turns out, this year might be even more momentous for Heirloom-LA, seeing that they just launched a food truck. Yeah, I know, it’s hard to get excited by the latest food-on-wheels concept, but Heirloom does it right. For one thing, Heirloom’s food is locally sourced from small farms, and for another, their menu will change daily. None of the usual food truck doldrums here.

Last week, during a media event at Covell wine bar in Los Feliz, I was lucky enough to sample some of the menu. At the suggestion of Heirloom co-owner, Matt Poley, I tried the Colorado Lamb and Fresh Mozzarella Lasagna Cupcake. More than just a gimmick—though it is an ingenious gimmick—the lasagna cupcake is ideal for people who, when presented with a tray of lasagna, make a beeline for the crispy, crunchy edges. This self-contained pasta dish is surrounded by edges, but the insides are a bit more delicate and perfectly gooey. They were also offering a pumpkin and brown butter sage version.

I also tried the Jidori Chicken Roulade, stuffed with ciabatta and sausage. The chicken was a bit dry, but the beautifully seasoned skin made up for it while the bread made for a savory center. It was served with generous portions of warm potato salad and cauliflower carrot caponata.

Other menu options of the night included Neiman Ranch Braised Brisket, Lentil Soup, Ricotta Cavetelli, Pork Belly, and Banana Chocolate.

Big points for the bamboo plates and flatware.

You can find the HeirloomLA on Twitter @WPHeirloomLA.

-Valentina