First Bites: Gaztro-Wagon's Plantain Chips

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Jun 16, 2010 6:20PM

Was caught in a downpour on the bike leaving work yesterday that cleared up by the time we reached Edgewater. We resembled a soaking wet opossum in clinging lycra when we stopped for a bite at Matt Maroni's newly opened Gaztro-Wagon storefront (5973 N. Clark, twitter: @wherezthewagon). Kept it simple while we dripped all over Maroni's floor: a short rib naanwich and an order of plantain chips.

The naanwich was damn good (and we'll touch on that in a full on review of Gaztro-Wagon's naanwiches later), but for $2, the plantain chips are one of the best deals in the city and probably epitomize what Maroni is trying to achieve with his street food advocacy even more than the sandwiches. Plantains are sliced lengthwise, allowed to dehydrate a bit, then baked and served with some of the tangiest chimichurri sauce we've ever tasted. It's a great-tasting, healthy snack for folks on the go. We wouldn't be surprised if children took to them like a duck to water.

Right now, Gaztro-Wagon is only serving food from the storefront while Maroni waits for the city to finally grant a food peddler's license to his truck. Once that happens, these plantain chips will be in high demand.