Kolobok--Bay Area (Russian Soul Food Truck)

I consider myself a pretty good culinary detective. I seek out answers to questions, and in doing so, I usually find acceptable pieces that fit some part of a puzzle. My search for decent Russian food, however, has led me to very few tangible results. After giving up for a few months, this food truck fell in my lap when it stopped by my workplace. The universe works in mysterious ways.

I made a purchase as an afterthought and absently took a bite of a crepe with low expectations. My brain was not able to compute how delicious it was. Once my neurons regained awareness, I did some research.

I was not surprised to learn that both owners were born in Moscow, given their accents. I was, however, surprised to learn of their long culinary history, particularly that of the main chef, Ellen. She acquired culinary training in New York, with years of experience under her belt working for high-end restaurants, and has even fed members of the Warriors basketball team as a personal chef.

The memory of that crepe continues to haunt me, and I have since been hungrily obsessed with their ever-changing whereabouts.

Here are some of the things I've enjoyed.

https://kolobokfood.com/



Piroshki. A bread bun filled with savory mushroom, potato and spices. It was brushed with egg wash and then baked until golden. This was a great appetizer and it would make an easy portable snack.

St. Petersburg Crepe. I was very impressed with this crepe. It was thin, tender and soft with a gentle sweetness that complemented the smoked Norwegian salmon and caper filling. The topping of sour cream and green onion added a nice freshness and creamy tang.

Siberian Meat Dumplings. Cute little dumplings were filled with savory, juicy meat and spices. The side of jalapeno cabbage salad was wilted enough but still had a nice crunch. The adjika, made with three types of chili, coriander, garlic and tomato, was an amazing dipping paste.

Plov. This was a very comforting dish of seasoned rice made with carrot, onion and garlic. The bits of "seven spice" chicken were succulent and tender. The sides of jalapeno cabbage salad and that wonderful adjika gave it a nice complement and contrast of textures. It was savory, the spices were totally infused in the rice and I enjoyed every bite.

I will happily visit this truck again and again. I hope to try their other Russian specialties and I really hope they stick around.