GREAT FALLS — Spices N Spurs Catering & Food Truck owner Cassie Campbell is bringing a whole new level of comfort food to the Great Falls area.
“My best seller is my bacon wrapped philly stuffed meatloaf that I then throw in the smoker, ‘cause why not?,” she said.
The food truck, also dubbed the "purple people feeding machine," rolled into town Wednesday and aims to fill a new niche created by COVID-19 restrictions. “Especially right now with everything the way it is, it seems like people are begging for options other than frozen pizza,” she said.
Campbell lives in Great Falls and works full time at a restaurant during her slower months, but due to COVID-19 decided to open early this year. The decision created financial uncertainty for herself while providing stability for others around her.
“It wasn’t fair for me to continue to work for them full time when other people needed the work when I could try and supplement my own income,” she said.
Cambell has owned the food truck for the past three years and says it’s time more prospective owners step up to diversify the area’s food scene. “Missoula’s got them. Bozeman’s got them, Great Falls needs to get on the trend too,” she said. “Because it is such an amazing opportunity to try other types of cuisine that won’t survive in a regular brick and mortar restaurant.
One thing she wants those under "quarantine" to consider - appearance can often be deceiving. Campbell says any real dangers in dining out-may be all in your mind. “The thing about doing food trailers, we are held to even higher standards than most restaurants are even because we have to travel between counties,” she said. “So I need to have a state license so food is safe in general. But we are not 'roach coaches.'”
- Campbell says she’s working on weekend hours and plans to travel to smaller communities to serve customers. She offers curbside pick up for those not wanting to leave their vehicles. Spices N Spurs will be set up in the CVS parking lot along 10th Avenue South on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The menu changes often, so check out her Facebook page for updates.
According to several health and safety organizations worldwide, including the federal Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there is currently no evidence that COVID-19 has spread through food or food packaging. Previous coronavirus epidemics likewise showed no evidence of having been spread through food or packaging.
The CDC website states: "Currently there is no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with food. Before preparing or eating food it is important to always wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds for general food safety."
The USDA website states: "We are not aware of any reports at this time of human illnesses that suggest COVID-19 can be transmitted by food or food packaging. However, it is always important to follow good hygiene practices (i.e., wash hands and surfaces often, separate raw meat from other foods, cook to the right temperature, and refrigerate foods promptly) when handling or preparing foods."
