What started off in 2018 as a meals truck specializing in around-the-top potato tots and chicken fingers turned vegan just in advance of COVID landed on anyone’s radar. And now, the cell eatery is going static with the opening of a mini sector in Bellmore.
Wendy Lantigua opened the space in July presenting a plant-based menu mainly composed of warm handhelds. Specialty products — empanadas (2 for $7), “rooster” sandwiches ($15) and “clucket buckets” ($8-$25) — are out there each day, while other convenience foodstuff is served only on selected times. During the week, anticipate to locate tacos, “sausage” and peppers on a roll, avocado toast, spring rolls and loaded smashed potatoes. You can also uncover loaded nachos and “chicken” bowls with roasted potatoes, melted dairy-free of charge cheese and corn.
The store also sells local grub from providers together with Pop This popcorn, Beneath the Table scorching sauce and A Minor Brittle Heaven’s almond brittle. A refrigerated circumstance is stocked with foodstuffs from All American Wontons (sweet and savory wontons) and Plant Provisions (deli slices).
50 % of the pale-pink partitions in the shop are prettied with pig-centric décor, but just one wall in specific calls for notice: The Pleased Pig’s symbol — a pink college bus driven by a … hold out for it … content pig, who’s joined by a happy chicken. The mural was painted by Lantigua’s 21-12 months-outdated daughter, Alex Cannava.
In addition to working a food items truck and market, Lantigua is also powering the well-known Foods Truck Fridays event, now held at St. Dominic’s Church in Oyster Bay.
She said she’s always required to turn to veganism, both personally and skillfully, but she “did not feel at ease remaining a vegan truck and consuming a steak. It just did not make perception to me.” Wellness concerns eventually encouraged her to make the transform.
Lantigua examined culinary arts at the New York Institute of Technological know-how and in the beginning set out in 2014 giving baked products at craft fairs and farmers markets. She went on to roast corn from a trailer prior to getting a university bus that introduced as a non-vegan food truck in 2018.
Lantigua credits her grandmothers for educating her the ropes in the kitchen area — her Italian grandmother for educating her how to bake and her Puerto Rican grandmother for educating her how to make empanadas. “If my grandmother understood I was generating vegan empanadas, she would assume I’m mad,” she joked.
The takeout only location is open Mondays to Thursdays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 1503 Bellmore Ave. in North Bellmore. To area an purchase, textual content 516-448-5126 or connect with the store at 516-636-5040. thehappypig.co.
