BEVERLY — Calabria Imports debuted its new food truck Monday at the Ridge Run and the subsequent Beverly Hills/Morgan Park/Mount Greenwood Memorial Day Parade.
"Calabria on Wheels" served its popular meatball sandwich — "The Stenger." Inspired by Chris Stenger of Mount Greenwood, the sandwich features meatballs, red sauce and provolone cheese stuffed inside a long bread roll.
The sandwich is topped with garlic butter and briefly baked, said Jacquelyn Roberto, Calabria's promotions coordinator. The Italian deli's brick-and-mortar shop is at 1905 W. 103rd St. in Beverly.
Despite the Ridge Run's 8 a.m. start, Roberto said the truck sold quite a few sandwiches at the race. The menu also included stuffed Italian beef and sausage sandwiches and cold turkey and caprese subs. This sandwich is served on a crusty baguette with fresh mozzarella cheese, tomato, fresh basil and balsamic vinegar.
painting day 1 ✔️✔️ pic.twitter.com/Jj8wXYgr9z
— Calabria On Wheels (@calabria_wheels) May 28, 2017
The neighborhood food truck will make its second appearance June 9 as part of Cork & Kerry's Food Truck Friday series. This summer promotion brings a different food truck each week to the tavern's beer garden at 10614 S. Western Ave.
Roberto expects Calabria's food truck to be more extensively decorated the second time around. In fact, the former Turano Baking Co. delivery truck was painted just days ahead of the Ridge Run.
The menu might change a bit as well. Among the items being considered are the fresh-cut potato chips that Roberto's father, Pat, is known for making at neighborhood festivals. These spiral cut chips are made by pushing a potato through a slicer using a handheld drill.
Previously, Calabria served the chips and other favorites at the Beverly Area Planning Association's Family Fun Nights, Beverly Hills Cycling Classic and other such events using tents and cooking equipment set up outdoors.
It's taking a bit of time to get used to the new food truck, but Roberto expects that it soon will become a staple at such events as well as at private parties. She encouraged those interested to follow the truck on Twitter and be on the lookout for other social media promotions.
The Ridge Run "was our first appearance, so I think we did well," Roberto said Tuesday.
