East Coast Joe's gets in on the food-truck frenzy

After owning two restaurants and a nightclub in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Joseph Gerace was burned out and ready to take his cooking in a new direction. So he packed his bags and moved to Denver, where he and Alli Evans bought a 1961 Ford Grumman that they turned into...

By Rachel Wertz

June 25, 2013

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After owning two restaurants and a nightclub in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Joseph Gerace was burned out and ready to take his cooking in a new direction. So he packed his bags and moved to Denver, where he and Alli Evans bought a 1961 Ford Grumman that they turned into East Coast Joe's, their own restaurant on wheels.

The truck got rolling earlier this month, after passing inspection in both Jefferson and Denver counties. Gerace hopes that before long, the truck will be 100 percent solar-powered.

East Coast Joe's serves traditional Maine lobster rolls and crab rolls. "We fly in seafood from a mom-and-pop fishery in Maine almost every day, so you can expect that our food is always fresh," Gerace promises. "We wanted to support a small, family-owned fishery versus a giant corporation." And seafood isn't the only taste of the East Coast you'll find at Joe's: Gerace will occasionally serve hot dogs and cured meats and cheeses from New York.

Follow East Coast Joe's on Twitter and Facebook, where Evans will keep you updated on the food truck's whereabouts. On Thursday, East Coast Joe's will be at the Federal Center Farmers' Market and later at the Tasting Room at Lone Tree Brewing Company. On Friday, it will park by Odyssey Beerwerks in Arvada.

A fresh Maine lobster roll with a cold beer? Yes, please!

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