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The Balkan European Brings Farm-to-Food-Truck Dishes to Denver

"I never said I wanted to open a food truck, then she suggested it. I thought, 'Wait a second, did I talk about this before?'"
Image: The Balkan European
Husband-and-wife team Sorin and Alexandra Dodan launched the Balkan European food truck. The Balkan European
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When Alexandra and Sorin Dodan first crossed paths at a bar, they had no idea that just months later, they'd be married and pouring their life savings into launching a food truck. But fate, along with a shared love of cooking, had other plans.

Now, the couple is on a mission to introduce Denver to langos, a crispy, golden-brown fried flatbread that is a staple of Eastern European street food, especially in Romania and Hungary. Their recently launched truck, the Balkan European, is not just about serving something new and unique. It's about telling a story, honoring Sorin's roots, and bringing a fresh, farm-to-table approach to the local food-truck scene.

Before they set their sights on entering that scene, though, the two had very different paths.

Sorin's journey to Denver began four years ago when he arrived from Romania on what was supposed to be a short visit to see friends. "I didn't learn any English in the first three months because I thought I was just visiting," he admits. "But then, my friend and I decided to stay and work, and here I am four years later."

Once he made the decision to stay, Sorin quickly immersed himself in the culinary world, working in hotel kitchens and steakhouses across the metro area before doing a brief stint in Tampa, Florida, gaining extensive experience in the kitchen with every opportunity. "Wherever I went, I wanted to learn as much as possible," he says. After returning to Colorado, Sorin landed a job at the Capital Grille before transferring to his current role at Ruth's Chris Steak House.
click to enlarge The Balkan European
Langos is a fried flatbread that is crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside; the Traditional is topped with garlic oil, sour cream and cheese.
The Balkan European
Meanwhile, Alexandra's path to food entrepreneurship took a different route. Raised in Highlands Ranch, she earned a degree in psychology before working as a preschool teacher. Before becoming an educator, though, she'd acquired experience in the culinary world during college.

"I went to school out in California, and I worked in the cafeteria. I would make huge amounts of stir-fry and pasta, and then prep. That's what I did: hardcore prep. And then rolling burritos, I did that there, too, and then out here a little bit as well at Cafe Rio," she explains. While she enjoyed cooking and hospitality, she never considered it as a career.

That all changed in 2020. "When the pandemic hit, I decided I wanted to become the best chef and cook that I could be. I mean, I was stuck inside all the time, and it became my mission in life to get better at cooking. That's when my passion for cooking really started, and especially experiencing other cultures and learning about them too," says Alexandra.

Although they came from different backgrounds and experiences, it didn't take long after their chance encounter at a bar a year and a half ago for them to realize they shared a similar vision for the future. "We knew early on that we wanted to start a food truck together," says Alexandra.

After they married, Alexandra brought up the idea of a food truck — which Sorin had already been considering. "I think, I never said I wanted to open a food truck, and then she suggested it. I thought, 'Wait a second, did I talk about this before?' It was like we were both already thinking the same thing," Sorin recalls.

Once they realized they were on the same page, they wasted no time turning their vision into reality. While having food-truck experience isn't a prerequisite for launching one, it certainly helps. With that in mind, Sorin took on a second job at Taco Bron. "It was a restaurant across the street, and they had a food truck. I thought, 'Okay, this is the perfect place to work and learn about the food truck business,'" he says. "I was open with them and told them I wanted to open a food truck. I worked there for about eight months, and they taught me everything and answered any questions I had."

Equipped with food-truck experience, the husband-and-wife team spent the past several months securing a truck, refining their menu, and building a social media presence. Their primary food focus is langos, but they want to leave room to feature other popular Romanian dishes.

"We want to emphasize working with farms, partnering with them, and being really transparent about what we're doing. Our goal is to work with farms and source high-quality ingredients for our truck as much as possible," says Alexandra.

The menu revolves around both savory and sweet langos. "Our Traditional langos is topped with garlic oil, cheese and sour cream," Alexandra explains. Then we have variations like the Supreme, which includes the traditional toppings along with caramelized bacon and red onion. We also offer a greens and a vegan option."
click to enlarge The Balkan European
A sweet langos with Nutella spread, sliced strawberries and a dusting of powdered sugar.
The Balkan European
On the sweeter side, the offerings include a Nutella langos with strawberries and powdered sugar, as well as honey and powdered sugar, and a jam and powdered sugar option. In addition to langos, they also offer charcuterie boxes and farm-fresh salads, with plans to introduce more traditional Romanian dishes as the seasons change.

They are also working on developing a Romanian drink called Socata. "If I'm able to get my hands on some elderflowers, we'll make it. It's like elderflower tea with lemons, and we're going to make it into a lemonade," Alexandra says.

As they introduce the local community to langos, their biggest hope and potential challenge is how the community will receive their food. "It's something new that people might not have tried before, and we hope they'll love it as much as we do," Sorin says.

For Alexandra, the excitement goes beyond just food. "I'm most excited about sharing my time with my partner and creating something that is meaningful and memorable in our lives," she says.

The Balkan European officially debuted at Mountain Toad Brewery this past weekend, and its next stop is today, May 30, at Novel Strand Brewery; the couple has also secured a spot at Civic Center EATS. Follow the couple's journey on Instagram and TikTok @thebalkaneuropean, and visit thebalkaneuropean.com for scheduling.