Image by Provided The forthcoming vegan donut truck.
Update May 23: Ambergre Sloan and her peanut butter and sriracha doughnuts are being scouted by the Food Network's upcoming show, "Heat Seekers."
Sloan said she got a call from the Food Network about her doughnut being featured in the show which is due to appear on a screen near you come July. The show will feature chefs Aaron Sanchez and Roger Mooking searching for some of the spiciest foods in the country.
The Post and Courier has the article on the exciting news; read it here.
Update April 19: The Little Blue Brunch Truck, a mobile eatery featuring inspired, all-natural brunch fare, is venturing into Charleston neighborhoods this spring for a series of events, catering services and private parties.
Following its debut at Mixson, a blossoming community in North Charleston’s Park Circle district in early 2011, the Little Blue Brunch Truck continues to establish unique curbside cooking and its signature Diggity Doughnuts as staples within the local food scene. The Little Blue Brunch Truck travels around the Holy City during the week, returning to The Barn at Mixson in Park Circle each Sunday for brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sloan has emerged as a nutritional powerhouse specializing in vegetarian, vegan and gluten-friendly cuisine. The Little Blue Brunch Truck offers its trademark Diggity Doughnuts, whole-grain, vegan bites in flavors du jour such as chocolate milk stout, chai tea, lemon blueberry, mojito, Nutella, peanut butter sriracha, curry coconut and sweet potato. An evolving chalkboard menu highlights brunch favorites for around $5 each, including local favorite spicy egg sandwich served on whole wheat pancakes; seasoned tater tots; mini-quiches; savory bread pudding; sweet blintzes; and French toast sandwiches. Each week, the Little Blue Brunch Truck hosts an exclusive gluten-friendly day with dishes such as gluten-free Greek yogurt parfaits and gRAWnola, a gluten-free rendition of nutritional, raw granola. The food truck also serves local organic coffees, iced lattes, refreshing juices and other beverages for $2 to $3 each while maintaining an environmentally sound approach with compostable to-go cups and containers.
Sloan worked in various roles in the food and beverage industry for nearly 15 years before deciding to fully commit to her own kitchen. After hunting down the perfectly sized diesel truck in hopes of converting to biodiesel fuel, she discovered what she describes as the “blue beauty” and began transforming it into the Little Blue Brunch Truck. As one of the founding members of the Charleston Food Truck Federation, she also helps direct the organization’s events, facilitate partnerships and advocate for this new segment of local business.
Update January 13, halfway: We just got an e-mail update from Sloan, "As of today, I am almost halfway to my goal of $2500!"
Here's what else she said:
I need your help so I can open the truck for business by February 1st.
Here's what you can do...1. Buy a truck tab! Show me the money and I'll show you the doughnuts. $10, $20, $50 or $100
2. Pass along this email to friends and Charlestonians who love brunch and doughnuts (especially your vegan and GF friends).
3. "friend" Diggity Doughnuts on Facebook so you can read about menu items and get an invitation to the GRAND OPENING.
4. Come visit me next weekend from 11am-2pm at Coast Brewery on Saturday the 22nd and Mixson on Sunday the 23rd as I continue to raise funds so I can GET LEGAL!Happy New Year and I'll see you on the road!
First reporting: First there was a Taco Boy food truck, then a flatbread dishing Roti Rolls truck, then the Hello BBQ truck, and now finally desert in the form of a vegan donuts food truck.
Yes, vegan donuts as dished up by Ambergre Sloan of Diggity Doughnuts coming in the Little Blue Brunch Truck.
But, as Sloan says, it's only "almost ready to rock…"
While she has the truck, recipe, and drive, she's looking for a little community support to make it a reality in the form of donut down payments.
"Many of you know I have been daydreaming for years of being able to serve the people of Charleston fresh, delicious, wholesome, vegan doughnuts," said Sloan in an e-mail. "I started with a simple idea and have been perfecting flavors, ingredients, fillings and glazes ever since. I am most proud of my gluten free and sugar free recipes.
A sample of said vegan donuts.
"I’ve taken the first and BIGGEST step towards making my dream come true, I bought a beautiful blue '88 diesel Chevrolet stepvan! Plumbing is almost finished, electric is done, the service window will be installed next Wednesday and the cappuccino machine is ready to steam."
And now she's asking for your help by pre-purchasing a "truck tab" so she can by things like a fry hood ($800), fryer ($1,000), hood installation ($300), propane tanks, lines, and other small business expenses needed to get on the road.
The tabs run at investments of $10, $20, $50 or $100 -- she's hoping to reach $2,500.
In return for your support your voucher will be converted into a Diggity Doughnuts voucher upon launch in mid-January -- or if you don't redeem within six months she'll donate your sponsorship to WINGS for Kids, a group that develops social and emotional intelligence through fresh and fun after school programs.
The truck is already booked to do Saturday brunch at Coast Brewing during tasting hours (11 a.m. - 2 p.m.) and Sunday brunch at Mixson in Park Circle (11 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
So if you're game for some vegan donuts and more food cart culture consider buying one of the vouchers (links below) or head down to the Coast Brewing Company on Wednesday, December 22, from 4 to 6 p.m. where Sloan will be selling truck tabs. She'll be doing the same later that night at 6:30 at the Tin Roof during their holiday craft bazaar. Buy them there and you'll get a "pretty blue gift certificate" that's good for gift giving.
