Praise the Lord, Athenians (and engaged couple) Rachel Barnes and Alfredo Lapuz Jr. are just a few steps away from launching their food truck, Manila Express, which should start serving at various locations very soon. You might have seen the truck, with its temporary sign, parked next to Holy Crepe at Boulevard and Park.

Barnes says Manila Express gets its name from Lapuz's dad's band, and will likely set up shop on East Clayton next to Atomic or on Hancock at Creature Comforts, as well as elsewhere. She points out that Filipino street food goes well with brews, and describes the truck's offerings as "pulutan-esque items," which translates as "to pair with beer."

Foods we can expect include: several kinds of lumpia (spring rolls, basically), turon (sort of a banana-and-jackfruit spring roll), ukoy (shrimp fritters), shrimp chips, adobo (Lapuz's special recipe) and sisig (a kind of sour sauté of organ meats).

Here's to more food trucks, and to this one in particular for doing something adventurous.