Why he's interesting ... Hodgson left a Michelin-starred restaurant in New York City to drive a food truck around Cleveland. His venture, Dim and Den Sum, has garnered unequivocal praise and a cult following from locals who track the truck on Twitter, Facebook and the roving restaurant's website.
What you get ... Comfort food with an Asian twist. The dim sum concept of small, quick plates translates into truck food prepared to order. "We try to keep classic foods that people know then put a little bit of Asian inspiration behind it."
Something else you might get ... A ride, he jokes. "I'm a taxi service, too. We saw some person stumbling home from the bar; they jumped on; we dropped them off on the way to our next location."
So, why the Asian fascination? ... "Their flavors, their different combinations, the way they look at every detail — it's a lifestyle, and it's something that's so unique."
What the customers are craving ... The PBLT. That's pork, bacon, lettuce and tomato with a generous allowance of spicy Sriracha. "My mom used to make me BLTs all the time. That was kind of my classic play on one of my favorite sandwiches."
What he's craving ... The PB&J. "At the end of the day of cooking all this other stuff, I'll come home, and I'll eat two or three peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I just love them."
His side dish ... He's been going on mission trips since he was 2. "I've been to 13 countries doing that. We're so blessed as Americans for what we have, and my parents kind of raised me being appreciative and making sure that I was giving back, not just in the community, but giving back across the world."
