Trisha and Robert De Los Santos make everyone feel welcome at their new food truck, The Dominican, which opened at the Dogwood at the Pine Shed in Bend’s Central District last month.

Robert immigrated to Bend from the Dominican Republic seven years ago. He didn’t speak English but dreamed of sharing the dishes he grew up eating, which were made with rice, beans, plantains and yucca.

“We don’t have any Dominican food here in Central Oregon and I see this as an opportunity to feed people. I really love to feed people. I’m not here for the money, I’m here to make people happy,” Robert said.

As Robert designed the menu, he was mindful that some folks may have never tried Dominican food, so he created a menu with traditional dishes of his native country, next to American hamburgers and french fries.

There’s also some middle ground. Customers may dip their toes in the waters by opting for a burger with a side of tostones rather than fries. Other subtle touches offer a Dominican flare, such as an ethnic sauce and chopped cabbage atop hamburgers.

The menu is separated into 100% Dominican dishes and American fare with Dominican flair. The couple offers no-obligation samples of its traditional Dominican Republic plates, doling out small cups of the sweet-tasting rice, beans and marinated beef of “la bandera.” ($17).

“Bandera means ‘flag’ in Spanish and typically at any time — mostly at the lunch hour — but you will find some sort of meat, rice, bean, salad (and) tostones is being served,” Trisha said of the Dominican Republic’s iconic dish. “People might serve it in different ways, but typically that is the staple lunch meal that people are going to eat.”

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A culinary bridge

Launching the lone Dominican food cart in Bend has had an unintended benefit, Trisha said. It has become a hub for local Dominicans to gather, or those who have spent time abroad to reminisce. One customer flashed their “cédula,” a national identity card issued to citizens of the Dominican Republic, and Trisha estimates the truck has attracted nine other Dominicans.

Since the soft opening just over a month ago, Trisha has been grateful for the community’s warm reception.

“We’re absolutely counting our blessings and are just really appreciative of all the people who are giving their support,” she said. “People are really generous and have been supporting us in ways that we just couldn’t have expected.”

The Dominican is one of six food trucks parked outside of the Pine Shed, formerly home to Spoken Moto on SW Industrial Way. It’s joined by SOPA, Dinky Dau, Kook’i, ‘Wich Doctor Sandwich Co. and Red Beard Barbecue.

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Details

What: The Dominican

Location: Dogwood at the Pine Shed, 821 NE Second St., Bend

Contact: thedominicanfoodcart.com or 458-256-1993

Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday

Price Range: $9-$17