Streatery food truck bridges the gap from producer to consumer

People who like homemade food made with organic and or locally-produced ingredients have a new option when they go out to eat.

Sarah Manuel opened Streatery, a food truck outside Triple Dog Brewing Co., on St. Patrick's Day.

A traditional Irish and corn beef dinner was served when it opened, she said. Irish menu items, have been served since then such as pasties, a traditional meat pie served with India pale ale gravy; purple cabbage salad and other menu item specials.

She said the menu will change based on the seasons as more local produce becomes available.

This summer, Manuel said, she is thinking about serving tacos.

Manuel, a graduate from the Montana Culinary Institute at Flathead Valley Community College, said she has wanted to do something in the food industry to promote local agriculture and healthy living and tie together agriculture producers and consumers.

"So whether it was the food truck, a restaurant or a catering business, I just wanted to be able to bridge that gap and help people understand where that (food) is coming from," she said.

Manuel said ingredients are all organic or locally produced. Sources of her ingredients include meat from Prairie Grass Ranch, her family's ranch south of Havre; sausage from Bear Paw Meats of Havre; products from Timeless Seeds in Ulm and Montana Flour and Grain of Fort Benton; and potatoes from Quinn Farm & Ranch of Big Sandy.

Manuel said it was while working with direct marketing outlets to sell the beef and pork from her family's farm and ranch that she learned Triple Dog owner Michael Garrity owned a food truck parked outside the brewery.

Manuel said she now leases the truck from Garrity and his wife, Erin, who helped her start the business.

When the heating is installed in the truck, Manuel said she will consider expanding the number of offered menu items.

She added that right now the two part-time employees that she has, combined with help from family and friends is enough to operate the truck.

But she said that, going forward, she will consider hiring additional employees.

Streatery is open Thursdays and Fridays 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays 2 to 8 p.m.