VIRGINIA BEACH — If you are among the locals with roots in Pittsburgh and you’ve been longing for a chipped ham barbecue sandwich, there is no need to travel to the Steel City to satisfy your craving. A new food truck has hit our streets, and it is a dream-come-true for displaced Pittsburghers.
This popular food truck, operating locally since April, is also a dream-come-true for co-owners, Angela Kirby and her business partner and boyfriend, Tim Dechick. Kirby, who has lived in Coastal Virginia since 2001, was born and raised in the suburbs of Pittsburgh. She has spent 20 years in the food service industry, working her way from waitress to cook to manager. Last spring, Kirby was ready for the change from employee to owner.
Kirby and Dechick had considered opening a restaurant but decided a food truck would be better.
“There’s less overhead, and the start-up costs are lower,” Kirby explains, “so it’s much easier than opening a restaurant.”
Kirby readily admits that the concept of a Pittsburgh-themed business was not their own.
“The idea came with the truck, which already had ‘Pittsburgh’s Best’ painted on it.”
Kirby said that just prior to launching the business, one of the previous owners had to relocate to care for an elderly relative, so the truck was put up for sale.
“We were undecided about the type of food we would feature but the moment I saw it, I knew this was the right truck and the right type of food,” Kirby says. “Pittsburgh’s Best 757 was meant for us.”
What is Pittsburgh cuisine?
The menu features homestyle cooking that reflects the diverse ethnic roots of Pittsburgh, and tastes like it came from grandma’s kitchen. According to statistics compiled in 2012, some of the largest ethnic groups that settled in Pittsburgh were Italians and Poles.
“My Italian side of the family taught me how to cook, and Tim’s ethnicity is Polish, so this is a perfect fit,” Kirby says.
The truck has a short menu that boasts the flavors of the city, such as a Pittsburgh-style salad topped with onion rings, and the Steel City Sandwich, consisting of a quarter pound of your choice of meat, provolone cheese and, according to Pittsburgh tradition, topped with coleslaw and French fries inside the bun.
The hot sausage sandwich is an Italian specialty with a presentation unique to Pittsburgh. The sausages are cooked in a tomato sauce along with strips of cooked green peppers and onions, all piled on a hoagie bun and generously doused with the sauce. Although hot sausage sandwiches are available throughout the country, the addition of the tomato sauce is unique. Typically, the contents of the sandwich are grilled, and served without tomato sauce.
The food is prepared on the truck, and is made-to-order. The pierogi are handmade. Certain items that are only found in Pittsburgh, like Isaly’s-style chipped ham and some of the sauces, are shipped fresh from the Strip District, which is the city’s central business area. Other items shipped from the city include Pittsburgh Dad’s Hot Sauce and the Black and Gold Jalapeno Sauce.
Most popular menu item
According to Kirby, the most popular item on the menu is the pierogi, served either deep-fried or sautéed with onions.
Regular customer and Pittsburgh native, Bryan Mattison, says the food truck is the only place he can find authentic Pittsburgh-style pierogi, a traditional Polish dish, in this area.
“I work in sales and travel throughout the region, but I visit the food truck for lunch as often as possible,” Mattison said.
The menu’s single dessert item is the nostalgic Klondike. These ice cream bars, now available nationwide, were originally made and distributed by Isaly’s, a Pittsburgh institution from the past.
Food trucks are an increasing trend
Pittsburgh’s Best 757 is one of a growing number of food trucks on the Southside. In Virginia Beach, the number of active food trucks has increased steadily over the past three years, according to a representative from the Commissioner of the Revenue’s office. In 2015, there were 47 licensed food trucks. The following year, that number was close to doubled, with 73 active trucks reported. The number of trucks jumped to 102 in 2017.
Although the overall numbers of food truck licenses granted in Norfolk were less than Virginia Beach, a similarly increasing trend is noted. Nine food truck licenses were granted in 2015. That number more than doubled the following year to 23. This year, 27 licenses have been issued.
Kirby says she believes the increase in local food trucks correlates to the growing number of breweries in the area.
“Many of the breweries do not sell their own food, so having a truck or two in the parking lot can attract customers who want to eat while they sip their favorite beer.”
Pittsburgh’s Best 757 is currently licensed to operate in four cities: Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Portsmouth. Hampton will soon be added to the list. Already, this new business has regular a rotation of midweek lunchtime locations in Virginia Beach and Norfolk. On weekends, the truck can be found at breweries and various community events throughout the Southside.
Data from several sources suggests that the food truck industry is growing in popularity nationally as well. According to statista.com, in 2015, the value of the U.S. food truck industry increased to $856.7 million. It is predicted that the industry will increase by another $140 million by 2020.
An article published in May 2017 by The Economist states that there are currently more than 4,000 food trucks nationwide. The article references data from IBISWorld, a market research firm, indicating that from 2011 to 2016, the food truck revenue grew at a significant annual rate of 7.9%.
