Do you have an interesting story idea or news tip to share about a local business? Ideas can be shared with business reporter Grace Nieland at grace.nieland@thmedia.com or 563-588-5647.
Biz Buzz shares business tidbits from the tri-states. In addition to this update from Galena, Ill., we will share additional developments in Tuesday’s edition.
GALENA, Ill. — A popular Galena pub is hitting the road with the addition of a new food truck.
Frank O’Dowd’s Irish Pub & Grill, located in Irish Cottage Inn & Suites at 9853 U.S. 20 W., recently unveiled its new food truck — a mobile culinary operation set up for remote catering, festivals and other events.
“We’ve tried to make a menu with some unique street food options that have Irish flair,” said food and beverage director Joshua Roberts. “The truck lets us get out and about and really increases those opportunities for community engagement.”
Roberts said the truck offers a variety of authentic Irish cuisine, as well as various grab-and-go classics with an Irish twist. The menu includes restaurant favorites such as fish and chips and corned beef, as well as dishes such as fish tacos made with Guinness-battered cod.
The truck will attend public gatherings regularly, but it also can be rented for private events such as weddings or other large gatherings. The truck first hit the streets in June, though Roberts said plans to add a mobile operation have been in the works for months.
“We wanted to get into remote catering, and festivals and wedding receptions are kind of our two big goals,” he said. “We wanted to bring our food out to the community for people who might never have been to the pub itself.”
Irish Cottage Inn & Suites opened over 20 years ago under the ownership of two cousins who immigrated to the U.S. from Ireland. The inn and the adjoining pub since have changed hands, but Roberts said staff still work to ensure guests have an authentic Irish experience.
Those efforts also carry over to the food truck, he said, which has a focus on offering Irish classics without marketing gimmicks such as four-leaf clovers or leprechauns.
“There’s a very strong Irish and Irish-American culture here in the Midwest,” Roberts said. “We wanted to offer something that leaned into that and showed … Irish culture outside of St. Patrick’s Day.”
Updates on the food truck’s location and schedule will be posted on the Frank O’Dowd’s Irish Pub social media pages, and more information is available at theirishcottageboutiquehotel.com/pub-grill. Information on private bookings can be obtained by calling 815-776-0707.