Kent State University Culinary Services is embracing gastronomic diversity with its annual Food Truck Series, stationed outside the library and student center at Risman Plaza. The local food trucks are available to students, staff, faculty and the Kent community visiting campus.
On April 3, for the inaugural date in the 2024 series, Kent State’s own Fork in the Road was joined by the Mamacitas and Southern Comfort Kitchen food trucks to serve flavorful cuisines to satisfy every palate.
"It's a culture thing," Joseph Moore, an aeronautics student at Kent State, said. "You can be any culture, and I believe they have all the foods for different cultures when you're away from home."
Moore said he particularly enjoyed the food offered by Southern Comfort Kitchen. He said it felt like having a comforting home-cooked meal.
The location at Risman Plaza makes the trucks easily accessible for students on campus. It’s hard to miss, especially with the crowds of students, faculty and staff.
"I was going to class, but I saw the food over here, so you know I had to walk over here and get right," Moore said.
Students are not the only ones who experience the diversity of the Food Truck Series and believe in the importance of culinary variety on campus.
"My personal favorite is Southern Comfort and I like that it brings the variety of extra food to campus," Jen Mani, residence hall director, stated.
She, along with Christian Heller, a residence assistant and senior peace and conflict studies major, said they make it a point to visit the food trucks every time they are available.
“Every Wednesday,” Mani said. “Yeah, every time I can,” Heller agreed.
The community food trucks will be stationed at Risman Plaza from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Wednesday throughout April, giving the Kent State community the opportunity to have an assortment of dishes.
The Fork in the Road truck accepts Flashcard payment options, and community food trucks offer various payment options.
Although the variety of food trucks will change throughout the month, the Food Truck Series will continue to provide accessible and diverse food options to the Kent State community.