Even though this is only the 6th official episode of Saveur Seeking, I am by no means new to mobile food vendors. Since my very first bite of a Hebrew National hot dog on the streets of New York, or that first time I heard the ding of an ice cream truck and chased it through the neighborhood like a dog chasing the mailman, I have held a weird fascination with mobile food vendors.
As I’ve grown up my obsession with them has only become more relevant with the explosion of mobile food vendors across America, and after traveling far and wide to visit food trucks, trailers, and carts in places like Portland, Seattle, New York and Boston, I felt like I had seen it all when it came to mobile food vendors. That was until I tried Cazamance Cafe.
Located on East Cesar Chavez in the garden of the CTC International, a non-profit group that raises money for community development around the world, Cazamance Cafe is the newest offering from the guys behind the popular Cazamance trailer on Rainey Street. To put it lightly, I was more than a little excited when Cazamance co-owners Scott and Iba invited me to come check out their new trailer. They told me it would be a little different than a typical food trailer visit. I didn’t know what that meant at first but after visiting Cazamance Cafe and talking to them I realized that there are a number of reasons that make Cazamance Cafe completely unique. The most sensible way for me to explain this is by listing them:
1. The location is just minutes from downtown yet the space makes it feel like you’re somewhere else entirely. The trailer is nestled in a comfortable shady area of a courtyard-like space that feels like a cross between a spa and a life-size bonsai garden. Surrounded by statues of Buddha and Krishna and beautiful plants of all types, I felt simultaneously relaxed and stimulated by the environment. I know this sounds crazy when referring to the location of a food trailer but trust me on this.
2. The food is spectacular and unlike any food I’ve ever tried, not just from a trailer. Head Chef and co-owner Iba Thiam uses his West African upbringing as sort of the platform for all the dishes, but the food is in no way specifically African. Besides his roots, Iba is also a traveler who prides himself in his ability to use his surroundings as a large influence for the food. Almost every dish is created on the basis of what is locally available from farmers and merchants. Iba and his cooks go out of their way to make this happen and it shows. Everything I ate, especially the veggies, tasted fresh and delicious. Just watching the food be prepared I could see the enormous amount of dedication and care that goes in to making each dish beautiful in both presentation and taste. Iba and his cooks are passionate about what they do and their love for food is obvious in everything they do. The food is gourmet but not pretentious. I would go through and describe each dish I ate but that’s what the show is for.
3. Whether it is through their trailers or catering business, the Cazamance guys are intent on cultivating strong relationships with their customers. This is true for many food trailer businesses, but the guys use this as the basis for everything they do. Their philosophy is that when you visit their trailers and try their food you do most than just that. You enter an environment that is a relaxed and friendly vibe. From their view there should be no such thing as a one-time customer.
With Cazamance and Cazamance Cafe there is a deep love of food and people that can sometimes be hard to find even in a city as friendly and food-obsessed as Austin. After eating at Cazamance Cafe and talking to Scott and Iba I felt as if I had experienced something new and different. The location of the trailer, positive vibe, and delicious food made my experience almost surreal. That is a word I never thought I would use when referring to mobile food vendors.
Visit their Facebook Page and website for more info.

Follow Neil on Twitter and Facebook