Building a new facility within the underserved parts of campus wasn’t feasible, so students at Kent State University, in Ohio, now have the choice of Fork in the Road, the campus’s new food truck.
“We’re looking at going where it’s convenient,” says Rich Roldan, director of dining services. “A lot of students just don’t want to walk more than three or four minutes to get to the Kent Student Center. We want to service those needs on that side of campus, as well as for commuters and folks who don’t want to worry about parking.”
The truck officially debuted in April at a campus event. The menu is focused on culinary excellence, serving a menu of classic and signature items, from burgers to tacos and salads composed of seasonal and local ingredients. “It’s going to be street food but in a different fashion,” Roldan says of the inclusion of seasonal flavors.
Pre-prep is done within a campus facility and all items are prepared on the truck, fresh to order. Current signature items include the Summit Burger, a fresh housemade beef patty topped with cheese and bacon that was prepared with brown sugar and cracked red pepper; Chef Christian’s Strawberry Salad tossed in a housemade vinaigrette; fish, pulled pork and chicken signature tacos; and fresh-cut fries with a choice of housemade garlic aioli, ketchup and dipping sauces. “It’s the kind of food people don’t expect from a food truck,” Roldan says. And the name “Fork in the Road” allows for the culinary team to modify the menu as ingredients are available without limiting it to a signature dish.
Kent State Executive Chef Christian Booher, who runs the truck, and his staff, used the summer to get a feel for the truck and the campus traffic. In the fall, the team will serve lunch and dinner and across campus, as well as at athletic events, campus festivals and other special venues, tweeting the truck’s location each day. In the future, late-night and breakfast service may be added.