Barya Kitchen Seeks Public Support: Navigating through the challenges of the pandemic was no small feat for San Jose’s food truck operators, who believed they had weathered the worst of the storm. However, their resilience was put to the test once again when a stolen truck crashed into Barya Kitchen’s parked food truck, dealing a significant blow to the Filipino food establishment.
For Rod Reyes, co-founder of Barya Kitchen, the food truck was more than a business—it was a labor of love dedicated to his late mother, Nilda. The endeavor, which began in 2017, was an homage to her culinary legacy, a way to keep her memory alive through the flavors she had lovingly prepared.
The unfortunate incident occurred in late November when the stolen truck slammed into Barya Kitchen’s parked food truck, leaving behind a scene of shattered glass and a bent metal frame. The consequences rippled through the business, leading to the cancellation of planned caterings and pop-ups at breweries across San Jose. The immobility of the truck meant that it couldn’t be used to prepare meals for holiday events, compounding the financial strain.
The cost of repairs was estimated at $8,000, and the truck’s downtime delayed the county health department’s permit inspection, further impeding the resumption of operations. To exacerbate their predicament, the insurance company terminated coverage on Nov. 8, refusing extensions for commercial vehicles.
Selina Wong, the operations manager of Barya Kitchen, expressed the profound challenges they now face. “It tests our limits to the limit,” she remarked, highlighting the uncertainties surrounding when they can resume operations. The truck, integral to their income, sits idle amid repairs and inspections, pushing the potential restart into early next year.
In a plea for support, Rod Reyes and Selina Wong have turned to the public, launching a GoFundMe campaign to alleviate the financial strain and breathe life back into their beloved food truck. The campaign serves as a lifeline, aiming to revive the spirit of Barya Kitchen and bring its Filipino flavors back to the community that has embraced it.
Also Read: Barya Kitchen Resilience: Filipino Food Truck Hit, But Dreams Unshaken