Truck Stop: Pbon's Fresh Phood of Philly
Andrea Capecci and her brother Nicholas are new to Phillys growing lunch-truck scene.
Backstory: Andrea Capecci and her brother Nicholas are new to Philly's growing lunch-truck scene. They opened earlier this year but spent a couple of years kicking around ideas before setting on Pbon's interesting mix of seafood and sausage, inspired by the Philadelphia natives' upbringing: frequent trips to Bridesburg with their grandmother for hard-shell crabs, and twice-a-week traditional Italian dinners whipped up by their mother (think plenty of spaghetti and sausage).
What's with the name?: Pbon is the family nickname for Andrea's younger brother, Patrick, who loves watching reruns of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." (Who doesn't?) "We were talking one night about naming the truck after Patrick," said Andrea, "and don't you know, we happened to turn on the TV, and 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' was on." A cousin helped work the lunch truck's name into the Fresh Prince-inspired logo on the side of the neon-colored truck.
What to eat: Start with Pbon's eponymous breakfast sandwich, egg and cheese with bacon or spicy sausage, housed in - wait for it, wait for it - a pretzel roll. This glorious, crusty creation is specially made for Pbon's by a South Philly shop that Pbon declined to name, because secrets are more fun. Your other best bet is probably the grilled crab cakes, which, Andrea noted, contain little filling.
Wait, there's more: Take your pick from a crab, egg or sausage quesadilla; a sausage grill'r sandwich (Maglio sausage with or without a blend of mozzarella, provolone and cheddar cheese); the Philly Melt (grilled jumbo lump crabmeat on an open-faced Philly pretzel roll with melted cheese), grilled cheese, PB&J (toppings include bacon, Nutella, bananas, Marshmallow Fluff and sriracha), cheesesteaks and spicy sausage or kielbasa bites.
How much? Prices range from $3 to $9.50.
Social stuff: Twitter: @pbonsfreshphood. Facebook: Pbon's Fresh Food. Website: pbonsfreshphood.com.
Find it: Pbon's has thus far turned up at the Navy Yard, Temple University, University City and in Delaware and Chester counties. In the fall, find it at the Porch at 30th Street Station and during Eagles games at Lincoln Financial Field.