Chef Melba Dearing didn’t want to keep flying to New Orleans every time she craved oysters and shrimp, so she brought a piece of the city to Detroit instead.
Dearing is the chef and owner of Melba’s Creole Truck, a mobile kitchen now stationed at Eastern Market Tuesday through Sunday. The truck has drawn crowds looking for an authentic taste of Louisiana cuisine without leaving Michigan.
“I love New Orleans, like, so much. I’m there typically 4 or 5 times throughout the year, but I can’t keep catching flights,” Dearing said.
The idea also tapped into a broader shift in how people want to eat, she said.
“Everybody loves food trucks right now. People are more inclined to go to a food truck than they are to go sit down at a restaurant,” Dearing said.
Dearing said her cooking draws on years of travel, eating and formal training under a master chef focused on French cuisine, the foundation of much of New Orleans’ French Quarter fare.
Visitors can expect more than a meal, Dearing said – they can expect an experience.
“We are a truck, but we are a vibe,” Dearing said. She added that guests who want to know more should “come to the truck and find out how to earn your beads,” a nod to New Orleans Mardi Gras tradition.
The menu includes gumbo, po’boys and a dish Dearing calls her seafood fries – crawfish étouffée piled on top of French fries.
“This is one of my favorite dishes on the menu because it is a mix of street food and authentic Creole food,” Dearing said.
Dearing said the food is built around slow-cooked technique and a seasoning blend she developed herself.
“If you see the gumbo there, the roux is nice and dark. It takes me a lot of time to create these dishes,” Dearing said.
“That is my signature Cajun seasoning,” she said of the spice mix used across the menu.
Beyond the food, Dearing said she wants guests to leave with a full experience.
“You can expect authentic food at a great affordable price and a good time while you’re there. We have music outside and it’s fun,” Dearing said.
As for what’s next, Dearing said her ambitions extend well past the truck.
“I want books, I want aprons, I want knives, I want cookbooks and TV shows. A little bit of everything,” Dearing said.
Melba’s Creole Truck will have a prime spot for Eastern Market After Dark, when the market stays open late with vendors and restaurants. More information is available at poweredbychefmelba.com.
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Dining and Cooking