Catching Up With Rocket Truck Food Truck
Friday, March 09, 2012
A new food truck has blasted onto the Providence scene, and it's called the Rocket Truck. Its already been seen feeding the hungry people of College Hill, Kennedy Plaza, and Pawtucket, and its menu of "fine street food," with items like high-quality grilled cheese, burgers, and soups, has generated some buzz. Run by husband and wife duo chef Joe Meneguzzo (a Providence College grad) and baker Patricia Natter, the Rocket Truck is here to stay.
GoLocal spoke with Natter about the truck and about the Providence food truck community.
How long have you been in operation?
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTAbout a year and a half, but this is only our fourth week in Providence. We were located in northwest Connecticut before coming here.
Why did you decide to relocate here?
Connecticut was pretty sleepy in the winter months, so we looked around and Providence seemed to have a real food culture and people interested in good food. It has a burgeoning food truck scene, and is generally a very food truck-friendly city, plus it has seen the birth of mobile food vendors, with places like Haven Bros.
Why did you open a food truck in the first place?
My husband Joe and I have always been interested in food. He's been cooking and I've been baking for as long as I can remember. A restaurant is a big undertaking, so we thought about something small, but then the food truck craze came about a few years ago, and we thought, "We can do this!" And it's been so rewarding. It's ten times more work than we thought, but it's ten times more rewarding as well. Getting to interact one on one with customers and see people happy about eating your food is great, and I think that one on one aspect is part of the appeal of food trucks.
What is the relationship like with the other food trucks in the area? Is the atmosphere one of friendly competition?
Definitely. We share food and interact all the time. We actually spoke with Mijo's Taco Truck before coming here and they were very helpful. We have gotten together with other trucks, and three of us made a commitment to go to Kennedy plaza together twice a week, because a group of trucks creates more of a destination. It creates more safety for the trucks and gives customers more variety, so it's better for everyone when trucks get together. We complement each other, and I think the other trucks are of the same opinion as us.
What is your food philosophy?
Our philosophy is "Honest food." That means food cooked all from scratch and with the best local ingredients at a reasonable price. We are all about supporting local producers, for example we get bread from Seven Stars bakery and produce from the Pawtucket Farmers Market. We want to come together with people and be a part of a community, not just sell our food and leave. Fostering local involvement is important these days, as it's the way of the future. It takes some extra work, but it's worth it for us so we can create the best most delicious food that we can.
How has the response been so far?
We've done well these first few weeks. I think people understand what we are trying to do, and have responded well.
Any plans for expansion in the future?
That's tough to answer right now. People always ask us that, and I don't really know. We still have a lot of room for creativity, and for now we will focus on the present. Maybe we will try something different in the future.
Do you foresee Providence becoming a major food truck city based on the recent explosion of trucks?
Well I can't say for sure, but I do know of a couple of trucks that will be coming on line soon. But then again, some trucks have already come and gone, so you never know. But I do think we will see more and more, which is good because they bring people into the city.
To find out when the Rocket Truck may be near you, check out their fun, space-themed Web site.
For more Food coverage, don't miss GoLocalTV, fresh every day at 4pm and on demand 24/7, here.
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