In their long forest green trailer fitted into an equipped kitchen, the partners Frédéric Rousseau and Isabelle Vézina are in full swing, when visiting the visit Soleil. They are preparing to serve up to 350 customers per day during the recent Cigale Festival, at the Baie de Beauport, in Quebec. Their biggest challenge in summer, they confide to feverishly.
The new baby of this couple in love as in business: a street kitchen truck (a trailer, in this case) called Fumor & Café-Gym BBQ. This canteen on wheels offers artisanal smoked meat dishes as well as specialty cafes.
On board, the duo shares the tasks. The master of the smoking room-M. Rousseau-rides the plates of meat which he himself has flourished at home. To eat: burger of brisket (Brioche bread, smoked gouda slice, smoked beef chest and cabbage salad. “It’s a must! ”He says), Bagel with smoked salmon, vegan chili, poutine with beef of beef, chicken or brisketetc.
For her part, Isabelle Vézina is devoted to the preparation and service of coffee, made using a shiny machine worthy of the greatest baristas, imported from Milan, Italy. Drinking: latted and frozen or hot coffee, Americano, cappuccino, mocaccino, espresso, etc.
“It feels good!”
Between the law and the mobile canteen, there is a whole world. “I like my basic work, but the food truck is an outlet, ”admits Mr. Rousseau, a criminal defense lawyer with Legal Aid in Quebec.
“In law, we often live with dramas and sad situations,” says this member of the bar who has 14 years of experience. “In a truck, we rather come across festive, joyful and smiling people. It changes the place of making people happy. It feels good! ”
It is precisely to take care of his soul that Mr. Rousseau put himself smoking. Five years ago, this litigant felt going around in circles, prey to a professional exhaustion … until his sweet half offers him a way out. The path of healing went through the pleasure of the culinary boucanage.
“I had the chance to make a burn-out! he launches. Luck is that during the three months that it lasted, my blonde – who found me draba and sad – suggested that I buy something interesting to act. Knowing that I like the BBQ, we found a small machine to smoke meat. I quickly did 12 million tests! ”
A project that has become “a monster”
In a short time, Mr. Rousseau extricated himself from this period of exhaustion, acquired larger smoking speakers and multiplied the fumaison tests. As his entourage congratulated him on his good dear, the idea of launching his business quickly appeared. First to sell its products all year round via a website, then to offer them directly to customers from all over the region.
“I have always tripped the kitchen. I would have liked to be a restaurateur, but I found it too dangerous: a lot of massive investments, very expensive local, hazards of culinary modes, “explains the 42-year-old Quebecer, native of the Côte-de-Beaupré. “Finally, the initial idea of a snack turned into food truck. And it became a monster! ”
In this trailer metamorphosed with their own handy hands, the two gourmet entrepreneurs expected to make a dozen outings during the summer. Until now, they have rather participated in forty events, festivals and business meetings.
“At the time, I hadn’t embarked so much [dans le projet]. But I had studied in hotels, so I really liked the idea of finding this side-customer side, ”says Ms. Vézina, a great coffee lover. “Finally, I loved building the trailer. We took a guessbut the answer is super good, because our offers [de viande fumée et de café] Complete themselves well. And the meeting with people is always tripping! ”
A future change in vocation?
Faced with this exciting success, the lovebirds are already planning to repeat the experience next summer, after the current season which had to end in early November. “Clear, safe, clear and precise [qu’on revient]They promise.
Does Frédéric Rousseau imagine himself a day swapping for good his criminal lawyer toga for a rolling cook apron? “Maybe it won’t make my employer happy, but yes, I would like,” he says. If it was possible, it would be great. We also have a plan over five years to get there [tous les deux].»
Until then, Isabelle Vézina and Frédéric Rousseau dream of continuing to take the road to do good to the soul of their hungry customers … with smoked meats and cafes.
Namely
- BBQ smoker & café-gym, by Frédéric Rousseau and Isabelle Vézina
- Contact: gymbbq@gmail.com
- Next outings: to see on social networks
- Info: Gymbbq.ca, Facebook and Instagram
Do you open a business, launch a product or organize a new event? Do you have ideas or suggestions for the living sun section? We want to know! Write us now at fhiggins@lesoleil.com.