After School Special: Food Truck of the Week

Deliciously messy fried chicken sandwich

By Lesley Balla

The only thing the After School Special truck doesn't serve is the classic after-school special, grilled cheese and tomato soup. But we already have trucks that specialize in grilled cheese roaming the streets of LA, so why would they? Instead, two seasoned hospitality vets - James Bailey (the chef) and James Campbell (the front of house guy) - serve comfort food on a bun, like braised pork and provolone with arugula, fried chicken with jalapeno slaw, and pot roast with horseradish mashed potatoes. There's also old-timey drinks like Bubble-UP and cream soda, and a mac-and-cheese cupcake that's wildly popular with kids and kids-at-heart.

The two Jameses launched the After School Special in honor of their moms, especially Campbell's mom, Elizabeth, who passed away suddenly from cancer. As a school teacher, she worked with and helped many children, which is why the truck also donates 1% of sales to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The two have also promised to make one kid's wish come true every year. Wholesome food with a heartening twist - sounds delicious to us. The truck makes its debut at the Downtown Art Walk tonight, roams Southern California daily. Check out where via Twitter and Facebook.