click to enlarge - Courtesy Of Chiuho Duva
- Jasmine tea-infused egg dish from A Single Pebble
For years, Chiuho Duval, owner of A Single Pebble on Bank Street in Burlington, dreamed of buying a food truck. Because of the limitations of the restaurant's tiny kitchen, she said, she frequently turned down requests from people who wanted the restaurant's traditional Chinese dishes, such as red chile shrimp and pork potstickers, at their weddings and office parties.
With looming concerns about how the Burlington Town Center construction project might affect the biz, Duval decided it was time to ramp up the catering. She bought a truck in June and hopes to have it rolling by September. "The kitchen staff is really excited about it," she said.
Although she hasn't yet scouted out a location, Duval hopes to do pop-up lunches a few days a week, serving many customer favorites, such as mock eel. In addition, she suggested, this will be a great way to try out new dishes or expand into different territory, such as street food.
"I'm from Taiwan," Duval said. "We are so spoiled ... You literally walk out the door 24 hours, and there's food."
One thing Duval said she won't do is join the ArtsRiot Truck Stop on Friday nights. Why? Sportsmanship. "The people who do the food-truck event, it's the only business they have," she said. "I don't think it's fair for me to compete or be part of it."
But when it comes to catering, Duval said, "The door is wide open." The truck can roll up and serve guests from its window or offer table service at a formal occasion, with every menu tailored to the customer's liking. Are there limitations? "I don't think people would hire us to do a burger," Duval said with a chuckle.