Some of the best news I’ve heard all week: SapSap, the Lao food concept created by local Lao-American chef Alex Hanesakda, is coming for us – and not in a pop-up form but a permanent residency at Zócalo Food Park (636 S. Sixth St.). Hanesakda set his opening day as May 22. His food has earned a well-deserved cult following so I’d expect to see lines at his truck. But go; the menu looks incredible!
Hanesakda has been doing pop-ups around southeastern Wisconsin for years. In 2010, after his Mama’s Eggrolls came in first place at Milwaukee Asian Fest, he launched a catering business. Then, after working at Hometown Sausage Kitchen in East Troy, Hanesakda expanded the concept to include smoked beef snack sticks and fresh Lao sausage. The SapSap brand evolved from there and has included Lao barbecue and traveling “Pho on the Farm” pop-ups. Hanesakda also briefly operated a brick-and-mortar in Mount Pleasant.
Tell us who you’d pick to be a Betty this year!
At Zócalo, SapSap steps up its game with so much yum. The menu includes Mamma’s Eggrolls (of course), sticky rice and jeow (a spicy Lao dipping sauce), four kinds of fried rice (smoked brisket, surf and turf, chicken, and SapSap – a mix of Lao sausage, shrimp and steak), three kinds of banh mi sandwiches, a Filet O Lao fish sandwich, a SapSap platter, Lao fried chicken wings and laap gai – a cold minced chicken salad. Price range (for most items) is $13-$24.
The truck’s hours will be Tues-Sun 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
You can experience more of Lao – and Filipino and Taiwanese – cuisines at the special food event “Hidden Flavors of Asia: A Culinary Journey,” happening Sunday, June 1 (noon-3 p.m.) at Pilot Project (1128 N. Ninth St.).
Hanesakda partners with Alexa Alfaro (co-founder of the late, great Filipino food truck Meat on the Street) and Judy of MKEeeeEats (a Taiwanese chef) to offer this five-course dining experience that zeroes in on Laos, the Phillippines and Taiwan.
The menu:
Appetizer Trio:
Laotian beef jerky
Taiwanese pork dumpling
Filipino chicken lumpia
Main Course #1:
Taiwanese beef noodle soup
Main Course #2
Laotian chicken laab served cold on lettuce with hot sticky rice
Main Course #3:
Filipino pork lechon and pork adobo served with garlic rice
Desserts:
Filipino ube ice cream and leche flan
Take-home Taiwanese pineapple cake
Take-home goodie bag
Cost: $107 per person (includes and all food, to-go items, one beverage and the ticketing fees)
Seating is limited; they strongly recommend making your reservation early.
