A la carte automobile rolls into El Dorado

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Hallie Mayes

Lantern Staff

You sit down to dinner, having a meal you’ve prepared many times and hear, “Ya know you could sell these.” Well, that is exactly what Keri Waller and her husband, Russ, did. 

Starting as an idea to travel around the food truck to State Fairs, much like every other part of our lives–COVID 19 threw a wrinkle in this plan, Keri explained.   

With state fairs closed this season, the couple regrouped. Deciding on staying home, they set up the food truck on 1824 W Central Ave., El Dorado. 

The retired couple had this idea in January 2020, thus starting the five-month journey of locating and building a working food truck. They first found a trailer in Tennessee, alas yet again the virus delayed the preparations causing a four-month delay in specialized orders for parts of the truck. Persistent, the couple refurbished the trailer and opened the Twisted Kitchen on Thursday, July 2.  

The taco truck has a variety of options through the weeks. The standard menu offers Texas Mexican style cooking. With three options of meat: ground beef, carnitas pork or grilled chicken, The Twisted Kitchen is inclusive to dietary preferences with their specials. The couple started doing a weekly special to expand their consumer base. Specials have included spaghetti and noodles, BLTs, etc. These recipes are a combination of family recipes and creations of Keri’s. 

Keri expressed how the town of El Dorado has embraced their family and the Twisted Kitchen. She goes on to explain how all the truck’s regulars were strangers she has become very close to and is now invested in the lives of their customers. A small difference on Central Avenue has made a huge impact on the community.  

Opening a new restaurant during a pandemic was a challenge but the Wallers persevered. In the first few weeks, customers were weary of the one and only food truck. Keri explained how regardless of there not being a requirement of masks in Butler County, many customers wear a mask and gloves when coming up to the truck. Keri tries to accommodate these customers by wearing a mask herself to make them feel comfortable.  

In an effort to advertise El Dorado’s newest food truck, the Twisted Kitchen has a Facebook page allowing for placing orders for pick up. As winter is coming the truck will be closing and relocating to the family’s home just outside of El Dorado. But not all is lost as the couple plans to allow for catering through the winter months. Customers are also able to find the Twisted Kitchen website online to see where it will be relocated in the coming years:  https://www.facebook.com/twistedkitcheneldoradoks/.