Trang’s Kitchen: A Delicious Gathering Place with Vietnamese Flavor
Written and photographed by Ontoni Reedy
If you will, allow me to begin by saying this is my first food blog. Promoting local restaurants and food entrepreneurs isn’t new to me, but writing about it is. I’m usually behind a camera or phone creating their story or dish made consumable for social media. Starting a business takes a huge amount of courage, especially in the food industry, where so much of the work is deeply personal. Many food entrepreneurs are building businesses around recipes they created themselves or recipes that have been passed down through generations, which makes sharing them with the world even more meaningful.
It’s an art and a science. Sometimes the difference in adding just one more teaspoon of hot sauce is the difference a dish may need to be the ‘bee’s knees.’ If you’ve ever cooked for someone you know what it’s like to eagerly wait for that person to take that first bite and hope to see a smile come across their face. There’s always a bit of one’s heart that gets poured into a dish hoping to be accepted. Experiencing the joy of the flavor of a dish and a full stomach is just one of the blessings food brings. But just as important, if not more, is another blessing we get from food– the amazing ability to bring people together. There is just something special about sharing a meal with someone.
If you’ve been to the Jackson International Food and Art Festival you know Jackson is filled with many cultures from all over the world. A favorite for many is the opportunity to taste delicious meals from those cultures. Some dishes you’re able to try once a year, but others are available all year round. A local food truck, Trang’s Kitchen, is providing another opportunity to experience delicious Vietnamese food not just once a year, but as often as you want.
Located at 2688 N. Highland Avenue, you’ll find their food truck and a cool space with a gazebo, tables and chairs. The space provides plenty of shade and seats for people to bring friends along, plus there is the additional grass providing a nice picnic spot. As I pulled up to the space, I could feel the very vibe Mike hoped for when creating this space. It’s not only a space for people to enjoy good Vietnamese food, but also to hang out and share a meal with someone. Their Vietnamese tapas are designed for just that. Food that everyone can grab a bite and enjoy.
“Food brings people together,” Mike said.
Speaking of food, eating a meal from Trang’s is like eating a meal at mama and them’s house because that’s where most of the influence of those recipes come from. They also draw inspiration fromwhere they’ve lived. Before Jackson, they lived in Vegas, and as foodies, they loved the culinary variety there.
Cooking inside the truck, you’ll find Trang or her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lu. I was able to go inside and get a glimpse of where the culinary magic happens while one of my meals was being prepared. When I saw Mrs. Lu cooking with chopsticks I knew two things– first, the food was going to be awesome, and second, the rice was going to be cooked right. If you grew up in an Asian house you know what I’m talking about.
The first dish I got to try was one of their Vietnamese tapas, the shrimp and sweet potato fritter. It was crunchy and delicious, but you add that homemade sweet and sour sauce of their’s and those things will be disappearing from the plate even faster. Next up was the chicken fried rice ball. It had marinated chicken with vegetables andeven though it was bigger than I expected, it did not last very long because after that first bite, there was no stopping me from finishing it in the second.
Now on to the main dish. Deciding which one to get was hard. Everything Mike described to me sounded great. I decided to go with grilled honey glazed pork rice bowl. Again, bigger than I expected and the flavor of the eggs and pork and that rice underneath told me there will not be seconds, and there surely was not. Don’t push aside the pickled carrots that go with it too!
I learned that Mike not only cares for providing a place for people to hang out and enjoy good Vietnamese food, but also cares for the ingredients. The eggs they use are delivered locally and they are working on providing fresh vegetables from their own garden.
“We’re just trying to bring a healthy, homemade from scratch food,” Mike said. Although they’ve only been open for a year, it is really evident how much Mike has worked to provide Jackson with quality Vietnamese food and continues to look at recipes that can be added to the menu. He even let me sample two recipes not on their menu.
“When you’re in the food business, don’t get stuck. Keep on, you know, keep on thinking of ways you can improve your customer’s experience and that’s what it’s about,” Mike said.
Even though they got their start in the salon business, Mike and his wife have always wanted to start a restaurant. After tasting a few of their dishes and talking with Mike, it was evident food is a passion for them and I felt it in what I tasted, heard, and experienced.
“If the food is good where you’re going, the place is even better,” Mike concluded.
Next time you’re hungry, bring a friend and come check out Trang’s Kitchen. They’re open Wednesday - Saturdays 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 - 8:00 p.m. and Sunday for steak and eggs from 1 - 6 p.m.