Central Mass. Food Trucks: Not the same ol' grind at Mortar & Pestle

This is the latest in a summer series on Central Mass. food trucks — with a look at the people at the wheel and the window.

Name: Mortar & Pestle 

Owners: Dan Solis and Leslie Cardenas

The pestle’s signature crush: The Barbacoa tacos, which Solis and Cardenas serve only on weekends, are a staple for the food truck.

That said, the menu changes monthly so don’t be afraid to embrace the surprise when you approach the truck.

The partnership says you can’t go wrong; everything they make has a fresh base.

The grind: Solis and Cardenas first met in Seattle while working in the Microsoft Corp. campus kitchens, where they said a great emphasis is placed on making food from scratch.

That was perfect for the duo, who said to have always had a passion for cooking.

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Solis, a native of Northborough, has a degree in culinary arts from Johnson & Wales University, while Cardenas, raised in Las Vegas and originally from Mexico, has been around kitchens since she was “of age to work.”

“Both of us always had aspirations to hopefully have our own brick-and-mortar or food truck place one day,” said Solis, 34. "We just care about food, and we love to eat good food ourselves.”

The duo teamed up to kickstart their food truck in September 2020, serving the Northborough Applefest under a name that is the definition of freshness and working from scratch.

But as pandemic restrictions closed in on them, they put the business on pause.

Revving up again in April 2021, they haven’t stopped popping up at festivals and community events since.

“It was in our plans to have something of ours,” said Cardenas, 37. “It happened, so we just run with it and see if we can do it.”

Cardenas and Solis put a great emphasis on freshness and creativity, always looking for something new for their menu.

Among the current menu items, Cardenas and Solis are serving Lonche de Pierna, which is roasted pork shoulder marinated with “adobo rojo” sauce and on a French baguette, and a panko crusted and fried chicken breast served on a brioche bun, which they call the Chicken Schnitzel Sando.

Where the grind happens: The duo’s white truck with its elegant writing can be found at 110 Beaman St., West Boylston.

They’re there from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Mortar & Pestle food truck