News

Sodexo opens first Star Ginger food truck

October 19, 2011

Sodexo Inc., along with celebrity chef Mai Pham, opened its first Star Ginger Asian Grill & Noodle Bar in the form of a food truck on the campus of University of California-Davis.  The concept is the first stand-alone Southeast Asian retail platform for Sodexo and one of the first of its kind in the U.S. non-commercial foodservice sector. The concept brings authentic dishes inspired by Asian street foods, such as Pham's Vietnamese toasted banh mi sandwiches. 

The Food Truck, stationed outside UC Davis' Silo Union, is open Monday through Friday and offers a selection of items from Pham's Star Ginger restaurant, including salad rolls, wok-fried rice noodles such as pad Thai, and curries.

Chef Pham is a respected national authority on Asian cuisine. She created Star Ginger based on the flavors and culinary insights she gathered and crafted while operating restaurants, writing cookbooks, teaching, consulting and conducting research in Asia over the last 20 years.

"The concept represents how we want to eat today — more healthfully, with a bigger focus on quality ingredients and a good measure of culinary adventure," Pham said. "I am so excited that we have started on this journey with Sodexo and to see that food truck out and about on campus."

Sodexo and Mai Pham entered a license agreement earlier this year that grants Sodexo the right to open and operate the Star Ginger concept at its various managed locations for the next 10 years. 

"Trend data show that our guests are looking for adventuresome and exotic flavors," said Ray Torres, director of business development for Sodexo's Retail Brand Group. "Bringing the fresh, bright authentic flavors of Star Ginger and Southeast Asia and combining it with the convenience of a food truck is a win-win."