Debe Ann Chen rolled her latest culinary undertaking, the Fork In The Road food truck, into the town of Mandeville this past Tuesday. A long-harboured dream brought to fruition for the always-bubbly Chen (who gave Thursday Life exclusive access), the 26-year Jamaican resident beamed with pride, though there were hints of underlying second-guessing as to what public reaction would be to the truck parked along Ward Avenue in front of the old Tudor Theatre.

Fears were quickly allayed. Curiosity heightened, business steady and feedback positive for the food truck’s menu offerings of Jamaican, Trinidadian and Venezuelan fare that began service after 11:00 am and wound up at 3:00 pm.

For the Manchester-based caterer and Jamaica Observer Food Awards multiple winner, it was sweet justification that her venture could hold long-term promise.

“I like the idea of the mobility,” Chen, who was born in Trinidad, shared with us just ahead of the arrival of the first customers of the day, employees from Sagicor Bank. “I’m not the restaurant operator type. I don’t like the idea of à la carte service but admire the chefs who do it. I enjoy the idea of being in one place now, and perhaps pulling up to the beach the next day,” she added.

Tuesday’s debut of the Fork In The Road food truck, manned by the two-person team of server Charmaine Fagan and chef Robert Williams, both decades-long in the employ of Chen, acted as a litmus test to identify the unique strengths of the model as well as iron out the kinks.

What worked well, Chen said, was the multinational food choices. “I didn’t expect Mandeville folks to respond so favourably to Trini food,” she explained, as orders for aloo pie, doubles, and bake and shark came in swiftly with in-stock supply quickly disappearing.

Pinpointing first-day shortcomings, Chen identified the need for quicker turnaround time as a matter she will have to address.

It’s a learning curve she’s ready to take, given the enthusiastic reaction to her new venture that she divulged should remain in the town until tomorrow, Friday, October 9 for roadside lunchtime service.

Next up for the food entrepreneur will be a food truck visit to New Kingston, hopefully along Knutsford Boulevard if all goes well.

— Omar Tomlinson

(PHOTOS: LIONEL ROOKWOOD)