I recently finished reading the 2011 science fiction novel “The Martian” by Andy Weir. Are you impressed?

Don’t be. I only read the book because a few weeks ago I went and saw the movie adaptation starring Matt Damon. Afterward, I felt bad about seeing a movie based on a book without ever having read the actual book. Guilt made me read, is basically what I’m saying. 

So, needles to say I’ve been thinking a lot about space. Not just space, but also the strength of the human spirit, how complicated science is, and food. 

Oh yes, I have definitely been thinking about food. A huge chunk of the movie and book focused on food. What the stranded astronaut — Mark Watney — will eat, how he will grow it, and how much of it he needs in order to stay alive.

This whole concept got me to thinking – what would I want to eat if I were an astronaut stranded on a desolate planet and could only have one type of meal?

The answer is simple — I would want tacos. Lots and lots of tacos. I would cover the surface of Mars with the taco leftovers because, if I could, I would have an unlimited supply.

And if I could choose where they came from, they would be delicious Mexican treats served from the window of the Lake Area’s own Sloppy Taco food truck.

If you haven’t heard of this little piece of heaven on wheels, then allow me to provide the business’ details as I know them. The truck is new. Like, really new. Their Facebook page was created in March of this year and it has around 4,000 likes to date.

The truck is a family endeavor because the man at the helm, Brett Stutes, works alongside his wife, Amanda Stutes. Brett’s brother, Derek Stutes, also works in the truck.

So that’s neat, right? Well, it gets better. The truck is a hipster-chic blend of classic culinary fair and new school tricks. The menu features about six items that are made to perfection. The taco types include The Sloppy Taco, Chipotle and Shrimp, Crispy pork, Chicken, and Boudin Shrimp. There are also ribeye rolls, corn and crab bisque and an assortment of drinks.

Sloppy Taco moves all over the city because, you guessed it, it’s a food truck. They do a good job of keeping their locations up to date on social media. Check their pages regularly because the truck is known to sell out quickly once the lunch crowd finds it.

Earlier this week, I caught the truck at the Imperial Calcasieu Surgical Center located on Imperial Boulevard.

Keeping it simple, I ordered the Sloppy Taco. Anytime I go to a restaurant, if the business is confident enough to slap its name on one item in particular, I’m usually going to order that item.

The Sloppy taco comes with grilled rib-eye, braised pork, grilled shrimp, Monterey Jack cheese, purple onion, pickled jalape?os, all drizzled with the truck’s own remoulade sauce.

I’m not exaggerating when I say this, but eating this taco is like taking everything you’ve ever loved about food and wrapping it into a tortilla. It’s experimental while being classic. It’s spicy and mild, while being tangy and somewhat sweet. This taco makes no sense in its deliciousness. Luckily, I am not one to ask questions. The meats were cooked to perfection with everything containing the perfect balance of seasoning and natural flavors.

The Sloppy Taco ran me $9. The rest of the items cost between $6 and $9. It’s easy to walk away from the truck having spent less than $10, even if you toss in a drink. 

So, back to the book. If I could have any type of food while stranded on another planet, it would be tacos from Sloppy Taco. I would kick back on some red rock and stuff my face with these delicious treats. It’d be bliss. In fact, it would be so nice, I’d probably reconsider coming back to Earth. I mean, on Mars I wouldn’t have to share the tacos.

Being alone on Mars isn’t looking so bad now.