One silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic, or, really, any disaster, is the way neighbors communicate and rely on one another. Social networks like Nextdoor and neighborhood Facebook groups offer useful news and tips for navigating the current crisis on a hyperlocal level.
It was on Nextdoor that my wife and I learned that a cheeky food truck from A Little Nauti, a local catering company, would be nearby. After seeing how hard caterers have been hit by the pandemic, we decided to place an order with the food truck — but, once we ate chef Christopher Murphy's decadent loaded shrimp fries, it was clear that A Little Nauti did us a favor, and not the other way around.
As you’d expect from a seafood-first kitchen, the fried shrimp studded atop the bed of french fries were perfect. A crunchy cornmeal coating gave way to mild, tender shrimp. While the combination of cheese and seafood typically is a nonstarter, mellow Mexican white cheese was a tangy complement to the fried shrimp and hearty, salty fries. More Mexican flavors — from smoky chipotle sauce, lime crema and scallions — tied all the components together. The fries themselves were wonderful, providing a tasty canvas on which the lively flavors could stand out.
When I picked up our order, protectively bagged and placed responsibly on the food truck’s exterior counter, the server said business had been “pretty good.” On a beautiful spring day, with the mouthwatering smell of shrimp fries filling my car, my trip home from A Little Nauti was a small bright spot in a dark time.
A Little Nauti. Location varies. 678-294-5894, facebook.com/ALittleNautifoodtruck.
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