New Centre County food truck serves up specialty grilled sandwiches, mac ‘n cheese

There’s a new food truck in town — Gerika Saulen recently launched the Savory Station food truck, hitting the roads of Centre County in June, serving up specialty grilled sandwiches and mac ’n cheese to hungry customers at farmers markets, breweries and wineries and special events.

Saulen didn’t always intend to become a business owner; however, she says, for herself and boyfriend Brandon, “when the opportunity came, we just felt like we couldn’t pass it up.”

Working in the early childhood education field for the last decade, earlier this year, Saulen was celebrating three years working as an assistant director at a preschool in State College. While food and cooking were passions, she wasn’t planning to start a business anytime soon. But when Saulen’s cousin decided to retire her own food truck business, Natalie’s Creations, she reached out to Saulen.

“She reached out to me and was like, ‘Hey, I think I’m ready to be done with the food truck, but I want to pass it off to someone who would really enjoy doing it’,” Saulen said. “I was kind of torn. I was like, I have a really good job, I really enjoy my job and I just truthfully didn’t think I would have the time to do it, with the current job I had. It was a hard decision for me to make and it took a few weeks for me to make the decision.”

She credits Brandon with pushing her to take a leap of faith.

“We’ve been together three years and he was just like, ‘We probably aren’t ever going to be in a position again for you to take this opportunity. I will support us in any way I need to in order for you to make this work’,” she said.

So, Saulen left her job at the end of May and has been working full-time with Savory Station since June 1. You can now find her at the Pine Grove Mills Farmers Market most Thursdays. She also often sets up shop at Axemann Brewery, University Wine Company, Seven Mountains Winery and Juniata Brewing Company in Huntingdon. She also caters private events and will appear at Tussey Mountain’s WingFest on July 29 and Aug. 5.

The Savory Station menu offers eight grilled sandwiches — the classic Cuban being the most popular, followed by the jalapeño popper sandwich (with jalapeños, cream cheese, bacon and cheddar) and the tomato basil sandwich — and a selection of mac ’n cheeses. Gluten-friendly sandwiches are available as well.

She’d originally planned to do Mexican-themed food but pivoted after thinking about Centre County’s current food scene.

“I quickly changed my outlook to ‘What do we need here?’ I’m a local from State College, so I’ve been to all the places once or twice and I was like, ‘We really don’t have grilled sandwiches or anywhere you can get a variety of mac ’n cheeses.’ I felt like that would be really appealing to a lot of people — kids, adults, students. It kind of hits all audience,” she said.

Still, even when Saulen had her menu nailed down, she says her first day was still a little nerve-racking.

“The first day I opened, I was like, ‘Is anyone going to come? Are people actually going to like my food?’ But I’ve had nothing but amazing feedback and that’s so heartwarming. I never in a million years thought I would be a business owner. ... The whole experience has been so amazing,” she said.

For now, Saulen’s goals for Savory Station include becoming a consistent staple at local breweries and wineries, but, long-term, she says she’d love to take Savory Station on a cross-country or East Coast food truck tour.

“Hopefully, within the next couple of years, I’d be able to do something cool like that. I think that would be a super-awesome experience,” she said.

The Savory Station menu and details regarding upcoming appearances can be found on Facebook.