Burgers and Waffles Roll up to Campus

By Liz Wassmann

Santa Clara students will have a new lunchtime option this fall; two food trucks will be parked on Market Street near the library every Tuesday and Thursday.

Gold Rush Eatery and Waffle Amore both opened within the last few months, and provide on the go options for students getting sick of food on campus, or who don't have time to go back to their houses for lunch.

Gold Rush Eatery, owned by Kris Zankich, offers primarily burgers and fries. Their best-selling items are the Gold Rush Burger, the Frontier Burger and their root beer float. Their burgers have a "Gold Rush sauce,"  which was inspired by a sauce used at Linda's Parisian Burgers, a drive-in diner in Mountain View.

Zankich's wife, Lisa Castillo, works at the Morgan Autism Center and sometimes brings her students over to practice their job skills at the truck. Gold Rush Eatery also drives to the center so autistic kids can practice their communication skills by ordering food.

He says his truck is available to rent for group events or fundraisers, and that he will donate part of the profits back to the cause. He has also said that when he gets 500 "likes" on his Facebook or Twitter page, he will randomly award a $50 gift card to a customer.

According to Zankich, the truck has been a lot of fun, but also a lot of work. One of the biggest struggles has been finding workers who are able to drive the truck. Zankich is fearful to let just anyone drive it, because "it might not look like a Porsche, but it costs about the same amount." Gold Rush Eatery is also considering parking near campus late at night, to provide an alternative to The Bronco.

The other food truck on campus is named Waffle Amore. This truck serves a variety of specialty waffles with various toppings. The Liege Waffle is caramelized on the outside, and soft and chewy inside. The truck's owner, Judy Vandoorne, worked in telecommunications for 30 years. She was burnt out from the corporate life, and her job was sent overseas, so she decided to try something new.

Vandoorne explained that she loves feeding people, driving and being outside, so a food truck seemed like an exciting option. She is half Belgian, so waffles were a natural choice. She even went to Belgium for a month to learn about the process, and then practiced at farmers' markets to make sure she could stand on her feet and interact with customers for long enough.

At Waffle Amore, most waffles cost five dollars and there are ever-evolving specials. As the weather cools down, Vandoorne may begin serving coffee in the morning.
And what does she think about her sudden career shift?
"It's exhausting, but it's the most fun I've ever had," said Vandoorne.

Visit the new food trucks from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, parked on the street by the Benson Memorial Center and the Harrington Learning Commons.

Contact Liz Wassman at ewassman@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.