>> WILMINGTON'S CATCH RESTAURANT IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE
SOUTHEAST'S TOP DESTINATIONS FOR FRESH LOCALLY-SOURCED SEAFOOD,
AND CATCH'S CHEF AND OWNER, KEITH RHODES, HAS MADE HIS MARK
AS ONE OF THE REGION'S RISING CULINARY STARS.
ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THAT IS THAT RHODES IS ALWAYS LOOKING
FOR WAYS TO INTRODUCE HIS SKILL WITH SEAFOOD TO MORE PEOPLE, IN
DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND IN DIFFERENT FORMS.
AND THAT'S THE REASON BOB GARNER WENT TO CHECK OUT HIS
FOOD TRUCK OPERATION.
HERE'S BOB WITH TONIGHT'S HOUSE SPECIAL.
>> Bob Garner: AT A RECENT BEACH OYSTER ROAST, CATCH'S CHEF WAS
TALKING ABOUT HIS FOOD TRUCKS AS AN EXTENSION OF THE
BRAND AND IMPACT.
>> WE CAN'T FORCE FOLKS TO COME THROUGH THE DOOR SO WE NEEDED TO
HAVE AN OPTION TO BRING OUR DOOR TO THEM.
>> Bob Garner: WE DECIDED TO CHECK OUT ONE OF
CATCH'S TWO TRUCKS.
WE FOUND IT IN DOWNTOWN WILMINGTON AT FLYTRAP BREWERY.
BARS AND BREWERIES ARE SOME OF THE FAVORITE STOPOVERS FOR FOOD
TRUCKS WITH AMPLE ROOM THE SPREAD OUT.
>> THE TACOS, BLACKENED AHI TUNA TACOS, CRAB CAKE SLIDERS, LOADED
FRIES AND THE BRUSSELS SPOUTS.
I GUESS THAT COVERS THE RESERVATION.
>> THANKS.
>> Bob Garner: NO MATTER THE VENUE, THE TRUCK'S MISSION IS
ALWAYS THE SAME.
>> THE FOOD TRUCK IS VERY ACCESSIBLE.
IT'S A LITTLE EXTENSION OF THE RESTAURANT.
IT REALLY ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE OUR BRAND AND WHAT WE
STAND FOR, LOCAL SEAFOOD SUSTAINABLY RAISED AND ALL THAT
KIND OF GOOD STUFF.
AND YOU CAN GET A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.
>> Bob Garner: CHEF RHODES WINS LOTS OF AWARDS FOR HIS CRAB
CAKES SO I WASN'T GOING TO SKIP THE FEATURED CRAB CAKE SLIDER.
I HAPPEN TO KNOW ONE OF HIS SECRETS IS HE DOESN'T PUT BREAD
CRUMBS IN THERE.
THEY HAVE SOME CRACKER CRUMBS, JUST A LITTLE BIT, JUST ENOUGH
TO HOLD IT TOGETHER.
OH, MY, GOODNESS.
I JUST DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO TELL YOU ABOUT THAT.
THAT IS SO RICH AND SUCH A GOOD CRAB CAKE.
WOW.
>> YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE HEARD THE CROWD HERE
TALKING ABOUT MORE THAN ANYTHING, THE CRISPY FRIED
BRUSSELS SPROUTS.
AREN'T THOSE ATTRACTIVE AND THEY'RE TOPPED WITH PARMESAN
CHEESE THERE.
MMMM, CAN'T WAIT.
MMMM.
THOSE GO EXQUISITELY WELL WITH SEAFOOD OF ANY KIND.
>> Bob Garner: FISH TACOS ARE THE PERFECT FOOD TRUCK FARE.
I STARTED WITH THE BLACKENED TUNA.
>> IF YOU'RE DOING FISH TACOS YOU CAN DO A CRISPY FISH OR
NON-CRISPY.
THIS IS BLACKENED SO IT'S SPICY BUT NOT CRISPY ON THE OUTSIDE.
MMMM.
WHAT A GREAT CHOICE.
BLACKENED AHI TACO.
CAN'T ALL BE MAIN DISHES.
HAS TO BE SOME SIDE DISHES TOO, AND WE'RE GOING TO GET IN HERE
AND HAVE A LOOK AT THEIR BEAUTIFUL LOADED FRIES.
YOU KNOW SOMETIMES WHAT REALLY WORKS WELL IS NOT
AT ALL COMPLICATED.
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, THIS IS FRENCH FRIES, IT'S BARBECUE
SAUCE, IT'S SLICED FREEN ONIONS AND IT'S FETA CHEESE.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
PERFECT.
GENIUS.
AND HERE WE HAVE OUR CRISPY SEAFOOD TACO OF THE EVENING.
THIS IS A CRISPY CAJUN SHRIMP TACO.
AND THAT LOOKS PERFECT.
MMMM.
HAS THAT CAJUN KICK TO IT.
OH!
THAT IS DELIGHTFUL TO EAT OUTDOORS THIS TIME OF DAY.
>> Bob Garner: WELL, ANY TIME OF DAY AND ANY LOCATION WILL WORK.
INCLUDING EVENTS WITHOUT DIRECT RETAIL SALES.
>> VERY POPULAR THESE DAYS WITH WEDDINGS, ALL KINDS OF BAR
MITZVAHS, PRIVATE PARTIES AND ALL THIS KIND OF THING.
SO IT'S A GREAT THING.
IT'S A GREAT THING FOR THE COMMUNITY AND AGAIN IT ALLOWS US
TO BRING IT OUT TO THE PEOPLE AND IT'S A LITTLE EASY ON THE
POCKET, TOO.
GIFTS YOU A LOT OF THINGS TO TRY.
>> FOR "NORTH CAROLINA WEEKEND," I'M BOB GARNER.