For about a year and a half three native Argentines have been operating the catering and delivery service 5411 Empanadas (5411empanadas.com), named for the country’s international area code. Now the team’s poised to start a food truck. They’re awaiting inspection and hope to hit the streets beginning on Valentine’s Day. Co-owner Nicolás Ibarzabal says that they’re also looking for a retail space. Currently there’s a minimum order of 24 at $1.99 each, with 24-hours advance notice; catering—they bring in an oven—is $20 per person. The empanadas, which are made at Kitchen Chicago, come in beef, barbecue chicken, onion and Parmesan, ham and cheese, spinach and cheese, and corn with red peppers and sauteed onions; they’ll be available individually from the truck, still priced at $1.99. None of the trio has a background in food service, Ibarzabal says: he studied communications at Northwestern, Andrés Arlia is in advertising, and Mariano Lanfranconi is working on his PhD in economics at the U. of C.
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Taco Joint (1969 N. Milwaukee, 773-687-8200), an “Urban Taqueria and Cantina” from Edgar Castaneda of Zocalo, opened in Lincoln Park on Tuesday, offering tacos, tortas, huaraches served with house-made salsas, and handmade tortilas. There’s a full bar and late-night hours, and a takeout window is in the works.
