Lehigh University drives diversity with Halal food truck

On April 1, Lehigh University Dining by Sodexo unveiled the latest addition to its mobile culinary fleet.

After months of anticipation, "Simply Skewered" made its debut featuring the authentic flavors of Brazil, a churrasco inspired menu of Halal-certified grilled meats, vegetables, and side dishes.

“Simply Skewered” is the second campus-based food truck at Lehigh University.

“We’re looking to build off the success of Fud Truk which has been a staple on campus and in the greater Lehigh Valley area since 2012,” said Evan Rehrig, marketing specialist.

Fud Truk serves made-to-order grilled sandwiches, wraps and hand-cut fries, in addition to creating custom menus for special events at local breweries and vineyards.

The Lehigh team identified need for a second food truck based on the increasing size of the student population and its diversity.

“We’re really excited about the new truck and menu because its unique to Lehigh University and the Lehigh Valley,” said Dan Burke, concessions manager for Lehigh Dining. “There’s a growing population of students who follow Halal and this will allow us to cater to their dining needs.”

Simply Skewered offers marinated and grilled sirloin, chicken and rotating vegetarian options. All entrees, roasted on skewers over a hot grill, are served with white rice, beans, Brazilian cabbage slaw and choice of house-made sauce. Side dishes include yucca fries and pao de queijo, Brazilian cheese bread.

Burke and his team completed research on popular food trends and saw that “food on a stick” was on the rise. He also said that Lehigh Dining surveyed students through Student Senate and discovered that barbecue was in demand.

“Everybody does barbecue though,” Burke said. “So, if we did barbecue, we were going to do something different.”