Comfort food comes in many forms, and one White Rock resident is turning a classic favourite into a thriving 鈥� and delicious 鈥� business.
Grilled cheese lovers throughout the Lower Mainland may have already experienced the scrumptious sandwiches offered at the Say Cheese food trucks, which have appeared at such events as Surrey's in Cloverdale and most recently, at the city's Saturday (March 15).
Chris Stroppa, who is also the grandson of the late Bill Reid 鈥� a former longtime Surrey and White Rock MLA known as 'Mr. Surrey' 鈥� said the business venture has been underway for about a year and a half and, and with warmer weather around the corner, it's getting even busier.
Having grown up in White Rock, Stroppa said he and his partners, Spencer Nicholson and Little oOties Mini Donuts owner Tony Veltri, try to stay in the Surrey and White Rock area as much as possible to "keep it in our backyard," but travel all over Metro Vancouver to bring their grilled, cheesy goodness to all different kinds of events, from farmers' markets and weddings to music festivals, seasonal events and more.
"We now have two trucks and we're getting pretty active out there," Stroppa said, noting they were at last year's Grey Cup block party in Vancouver, at the Uptown Music Festival in White Rock, at Surrey's Christmas tree-lighting event, and also, Italian and Greek Day events in Vancouver, as well as private catering venues.
"This year we're pretty excited 鈥� we're going to Canada Day this July in Surrey and we'll be at the rodeo too," he shared, noting they'll also be back for this year's tree lighting event in Surrey, Noel Festival, and the night markets in White Rock, in conjunction with the Greater Vancouver Food Truck Festival, among other events.
They keep their menu fairly simple, but mix it up with new and old favourites too, from the Classic (three cheeses on sourdough) to the Florentine (arugula, tomato and cheese on sourdough), the Hammy (ham and cheese on Texas toast), the Bacon Lover (Texas toast) and their newest is called the Miss Piggy.
"It's got bacon and ham on sourdough 鈥� all sandwiches have three different types of cheese," Stroppa said. "I might bring back the Jack Popper ...it's like a popper cream cheese-type spread, we do that on Texas toast too."
People really enjoy their grilled cheese sandwiches, he continued, with the Bacon Lover and the Miss Piggy starring as perennial popular picks.
"The Bacon Lover is the most popular, and then the Miss Piggy ... I brought (Miss Piggy) in for Noel Festival for Christmas, but it became such a hit that I've left it on the menu ... people really like the protein, I don't know 鈥� they go crazy for bacon and ham together."
A Burnaby firefighter, Stroppa sad he really enjoys being out in the community at fun events with great atmospheres and dynamic, diverse crowds.
"Food trucks are fun! People love food, and we get to go to fun stuff because we serve food ... we're the heroes of the night," he said with a laugh. "The people watching is exceptional! It's neat having a small business in a small town that you've been around your whole life."
Coming soon to an event near you, Say Cheese food trucks are also on Instagram @saycheese.ft
