Fans of international cuisine in search of something new will have the chance to migrate toward St. Joseph's Lookout Park this summer for an eclectic bright orange food truck featuring Arepas and other Latin American and Venezuelan foods thanks to the entrepreneurship of a Berrien Springs chef.
St. Joseph City Commissioners are slated to approve the vending permit application of David Quero Oquendo for his new Sammy Arepas concession trailer for the 2016 season at the park along the bluff on Lakeshore Drive south of Hilltop and north of Hawthorne on the south side of the city. Oquendo is a chef at Melendez Restaurant in Berrien Springs and will operate his new 14-foot long concession trailer in the park each day, and tow it away overnight each night.
Oquendo tells the City Commission in his application that he will feature "Latin American food, but especially Venezuelan food like Arepas, Empanadas, Partelitos, Pepitos" and such.
Arepas are a grill corn patty opened up to make a pocket which is then stuffed with a variety of delicious fillings such as Queso white cheese, Gouda cheese, mozzarella and turkey or ham, shredded beef, shredded chicken, black beans, avocado, steak, tomatoes, and mixed vegetables. Also on Sammy Arepas menu will be plantains, tamales, rice, french fries, guacamole, desserts like rice pudding and Venezuelan flan, soft drinks, hot chocolate and coffee.
The bright orange Cargo Craft concession trailer shown in the photo accompanying this story on Moody on the Market.com will be available in Lookout Park soon. The Berrien County Health Inspector has approved the stand, giving it a clean bill of health and issuing the permit to operate.
If the City Commission grants final approval at City Hall tonight, Sammy Arepas should be headed to the park as early as this week. Stay tuned.
