Couple bringing a taste of Hawaii to the Wilmington area with food truck relaunch
Melissa Marshall said it was a running joke in her family. Who would step up to run the food truck?
It was a business her daughter-in-law started but put aside when she got a great job offer. They cleaned up the truck and it sat for months in the driveway.
Marshall and her husband Tony, meanwhile, were looking for a project. Even if it took them a while to fully realize it.
The Marshalls are both former military. They served together in Afghanistan and lived for a while in Hawaii. When they retired and returned to the Supply area, they bought a camper and traveled around the country off and on for years, while homeschooling their children.
Now, they have two sons going into the Army. Was it time for the Paradise Pineapple Grill to return? Their daughter-in-law, who is Hawaiian, encouraged them to do so. Although she kept the truck mostly in the Supply and Ash area of Brunswick County when she ran it, it was popular.
“It was always ‘When are you going to run the truck?,’” Melissa Marshall said. Then, it was like ‘What if we did?’”
They realized that with so many events and breweries in the greater Wilmington area, it could be a good idea. And while there are plenty of mobile options when it comes to burgers or pizza, Hawaiian food is still something unique. Locals have seen more options when it comes to pan-Asian and fusion food, especially in terms of poke, a raw fish salad popular in Hawaii. But the Marshalls are planning a comfort food take on the cuisine.
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“Hawaiian food shouldn’t just taste good. It should have that feeling of family, of ohana," Marshall said. “Hawaiian food is simple food."
They'll be offering traditional dishes like Kalua Pork, Teriyaki Chicken and Huli-huli chicken wings.
“It’s classic and we serve it with pineapple salsa,” Marshall said. “We'll have garlic shrimp with lots of garlic and butter.” And they’ve been perfecting their pineapple upside-down cake for dessert.
In recent months, they’ve been updating the truck and getting the necessary permits. They’re now planning to launch March 1 with an appearance at Mannkind Brewing in Leland. The next day, they’ll be at Crossroads Gathering Place for an event with the Southport Island Girls Club.
The Marshalls are new to the food truck business, but she said the community has already been helpful.
“People have already been so supportive,” Marshall said. “We’re looking forward to getting out there.”
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Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at aballard@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Paradise Pineapple Grill food truck to serve Wilmington, NC
