Green shoots are starting to sprout in Greene County, and winter’s Lion is slowly being replaced by the Lamb of spring. With the days getting longer and brighter, we’re starting to venture out again after the chill of winter snows and negative temperatures, and we have found ourselves looking for that next adventure just waiting to be discovered. Fortunately, our local food trucks are speeding on scene at just the right time and are ready to provide the quality service and hometown flair that will pique our taste buds.
What’s Smokin’ BBQ, owned and operated by Troy and Lori Hellen of Waynesburg is a full-time enterprise of family love and commitment. Troy grew up enjoying the preparation (and consumption) of barbeque and always sought the opportunity to share the flavor of his homestyle creations with others. “It was a dream of mine since about 18 or 19 years ago,” Troy shares.
In the wake of the 2020 COVID pandemic– a time when many businesses were forced to close– the Hellen family saw the shutdown as an opportunity to try something new and share it with customers who were ready for some good food and a unique way to get out of the house. The food truck business was a safe and exciting means of food preparation during the pandemic, and the family built a strong customer base right away.
Troy explains that, once registered, the business was invited to various locations and traveled to 10 different neighborhoods in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. It didn’t take long for the catchily-named kitchen on wheels to become a permanent fixture in the greater Waynesburg and Carmichaels areas.
However, both Troy and Lori were still working full-time at that point. “It got so big in a short time, we got our daughter [Jenna] on board,” Lori says. “It’s a lot for a few people.”
As the company– and the family’s passion for their new endeavor– grew, Troy and Lori both knew they needed to make another big change. The couple quit their day jobs and decided to commit to full-time work on the food truck.
The key part of this commitment is the quality that What’s Smokin’ BBQ stands on. “We gained so many customers being able to serve the same quality food day after day,” Troy explains. “It’s not the size of the menu, but the quality that takes utmost priority,” Lori elaborates.
However, the food truck is certainly not lacking in menu items. “We started basic and expanded, forming everything around the meats we carry and [putting] a twist on it,” says Troy. Each protein-based, made-from-scratch item is a hand-fired work of love, from mouth-watering classics like brisket, burgers, and sandwiches, to inventive concoctions like loaded nachos, “garbage plate” style baked potatoes, and a family-developed top-secret mac & cheese recipe.
“Juggling life is a big challenge,” Lori says. “The days start really early– around 1 am.” “That’s the life of a pit master,” Troy adds, laughing.
Giving back to the community is another focus of the company. What’s Smokin’ BBQ now offers a scholarship for one graduating senior in the five local school districts, in addition to providing gift cards to families in need and often donating their catering services at fundraising events.
What’s Smokin’ BBQ is available to cater events for up to 500 guests. Visit WhatsSmokinBBQ.com to find out where the food truck will be heading next.
Troy and Lori are grateful for the support of this community and are proud of their numerous culinary accolades, including the GreeneScene’s Greatest in Greene BBQ Award. “It makes us work harder– lots of responsibility,” Troy says gratefully.
But hard work on wheels is happening in many other places in the county, including on the Greene County Career and Technology Center’s CTC Eats Food Truck.
Chef Dan Wagner and his students in the Culinary Arts program are celebrating their first year of operation on the food truck that has made headlines at local fairs, festivals, and private corporate events. Mr. Wagner credits the project’s success to the immense support of the Community Foundation of Greene County, as well as “several local businesses throughout the county.”
The food truck is a mobile extension of the CTC classroom, where Mr. Wagner has been teaching for 35 years. “I have so many great memories and proud moments from the last three plus decades,” he states. “But seeing students blossom and mature over the three years they are in the program and then taking what they have learned as a foundation for a successful career– that is what teaching is all about.”
Mr. Wagner explains that four or five students man the truck at a time. “Training includes food costs, ordering, creative menu planning, line production, short order cooking, problem solving and understanding the equipment on the truck.” Additionally, he identifies “troubleshooting, management, customer service, [and] work ethics” as other crucial skills that students develop on board the mobile classroom kitchen.
“Where most food trucks have a niche menu, we have explored different menu options that have come from the extraordinary and creative minds of the CTC Culinary Arts students,” Mr. Wagner states. Some of the food truck favorites include the Mob Boss, Bavarian Burger, and Philly Steak Fries.
Mr. Wagner shares that “CTC Eats” is “looking to spend more time doing private events and pop ups. We are working on developing new, exciting and fresh menu items.” To book the truck, be sure to fill out the Updated Food Truck Request Form on the CTC website.
Want to try out these food trucks and sample even more local goodness? Be sure to put Greene County’s second annual Food Truck Festival on your calendar for May 10. The event will run from 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. and will consist of live music, crafts, kids’ activities, mascot meet-and-greets, not to mention delicious food. Tickets for those 13 and older are $10. Admission for children 12 and under is free. All proceeds benefit the Battle and Thrive scholarship for resilient county students, according to the organization’s website.
Don’t wait for your next culinary adventure…the smells of spring are just around the corner!