Mobile kitchen offers students convenient meals

CALIFORNIA, Pa. — By noon on a recent sunny day on the California University of Pennsylvania campus, the aromas drifting from the school's food truck proved tempting to students.

Joe's Food Truck, prominently parked on Third Street Monday through Friday, is a campus staple since 2013, when the Washington County school began ongoing renovations at the Natali Student Center.

“We temporarily moved the Gold Rush — our primary dining service — to Gallagher Hall, across from the Convocation Center. The food truck saves a few steps for students who are short on time and need to grab a bite without traveling to the far end of campus,” said spokeswoman Christine Kindl.

The popular mobile kitchens are often visible at large, urban campuses, drawing lines of customers ordering everything from coffee to crepes.

At Cal U, the truck was part of an effort to ensure a “zero impact” for students while the dining facility renovations continued, said Kiran Nunna.

District manager of the school's dining vendor, AVI Foodsystems, Nunna said the truck fills a temporary dining gap with a “fun element.”

And a tasty one, according to the line of students forming, many handing over their meal plan cards as payment.

“I'm here every day. It's on my way to class,” said freshman Ashley DiCioccio, 19, of Center Township, Beaver County.

“It's good food. The fries are my favorite,” she said, adding condiments to her burger.

“It's convenient to my classes,” said Hayley Whittaker, 21, as she ordered a chicken tender combo.

“I probably come a couple of times a week. It's delicious,” said Whittaker, a senior from Baldwin.

Across from a cooler of water and soft drinks, a menu board listed hamburgers, chicken tenders, french fries and the regionally popular “Pittsburgh” salads.

“It's been a real engaging place for our students,” Nunna said.

“It's a fixed menu. Some are student-created. We have a lot of students from Philadelphia. They said, ‘Let us show you how to make the right Philly steak sandwich,'” he said.

Custom made, with a fully functioning kitchen, the truck has proven popular at campus conferences, alumni and sporting events and summer camps.

Nunna anticipated the truck's use will continue after dining renovations are completed.

“It's going to evolve,” he said. “We are going to look at where it is needed.”