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February 27. 2015 2:00AM Great Outdoor Grill offers healthful options The Great Outdoor Grill food truck keeps its menu simple and straightforward — perfect for people on the go who want healthy options for a quick lunch. A drizzle of hot sauce adds piquancy to the Thai Veggie Peanut Curry at The Great Outdoor Grill. Photo by Vickie Aldous The Great Outdoor Grill food truck keeps its menu simple and straightforward — perfect for people on the go who want healthful options for a quick lunch. The truck is usually parked in the lot at the corner of Barnett Road and Medical Park Drive, across the street from the Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center entrance sign. Look for a white truck with a yellow stripe and logo emblazoned with a rugged mountain and people skiing, snowboarding, kayaking, mountain biking, climbing and grilling. It operates from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, weather permitting, or until the food runs out. A grill on the back of the truck is where the friendly, upbeat staff cooks its ginger citrus marinated chicken. An order of Teriyaki Chicken comes with a hearty portion of boneless, skinless chicken chunks on brown rice. A regular order costs $6 and the large goes for $9. For a well-rounded meal, I tried the Teriyaki Chicken & Veggies. The staff heaped hearty whole-grain brown rice, chicken and steaming broccoli, crinkle-sliced carrots and pea pods in a to-go box with closable flaps. Using bottles on a table by the food truck, patrons can add their own flavoring to their meals. Choices include a sweet, mild teriyaki sauce, hot sauce and soy sauce. I added plenty of teriyaki sauce and then dots of hot sauce to give my lunch added spiciness. The vegetables were fresh and perfectly cooked, and the chicken was flavorful. Patrons who want to enjoy sunny spring weather can sit in camp chairs complete with built-in side trays and drink holders. My regular order of Teriyaki Chicken & Veggies cost $9, and I had enough left over for lunch the next day. The large size costs $12. On another day, I tried The Great Outdoor Grill's third and final item — Thai Veggie Peanut Curry, which comes in one size for $6. Brown rice and freshly steamed vegetables came topped with a creamy Thai sauce. I added a drizzle of hot sauce for extra spice. There were no peanuts or cashews in the meal, which I would have preferred, but with so many food allergies out there, I can see why the staff would hesitate to add nuts. Again, the portion was large enough for a second lunch the next day, and I sprinkled on some peanuts. The box folds up neatly for storage in the refrigerator. In operation since 2010, The Great Outdoor Grill has built up a loyal following of regulars who have their favorite menu items. It also draws in new customers. The people eating there included construction workers, medical facility employees working in nearby buildings and patients stopping by for a quick, healthful lunch. My food came in less than five minutes both times I ordered. The Great Outdoor Grill has cans of Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Mountain Dew and Sierra Mist for $1. Or for $2, try a San Pellegrino Italian sparkling drink made with lemon, orange or grapefruit concentrate. I had the San Pellegrino Limonata, a tart, lightly carbonated drink made with real lemon juice. For more information, call 541-324-8424 or see www.thegreatoutdoorgrill.com. —  Vickie Aldous   http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20150227/ENTERTAINMENT/150229754 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->