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Welcome back to AM Intel, a round-up of mini news bites to kick off the day.
Running a Food Truck Is Hard
It’s really hard to start a new food truck business, especially in Boston. Scout Somerville discusses the never-ending hustle — and first-day singed eyebrows, thanks to a broken stove gas valve — with Taco Party owner Keith Schubert, who started with a truck and expanded to a brick-and-mortar location in Somerville’s Ball Square a few years back. “The truck is a pain in the ass,” Schubert told the Scout. “It’s a kitchen with fragile kitchen equipment bouncing down the road that’s not meant to have that stuff [on it].” But its success led him to that larger goal, opening the storefront, and he acknowledges that it’s the same for most truck owners — the truck is rarely the end-goal.
Bertucci’s Will Come Back From Bankruptcy With New Locations
Nostalgic fans shed a tear or two in April when longtime local pizza chain Bertucci’s filed for bankruptcy and abruptly closed 15 locations (leaving 59 in business), but it may start growing again under new ownership. Earl Enterprises — the company behind Planet Hollywood, Earl of Sandwich, and Buca di Beppo — has purchased Bertucci’s for around $20 million. “I’m going to keep Bertucci’s Bostonian,” president and chief executive Robert Earl told the Globe, noting that he’s already scouting around the area for two or three new locations.
Buy This Old Beacon Hill Restaurant
And it’s got apartments that are part of the deal, too: The Hungry I is for sale. The French bistro has been quietly doing its thing on Beacon Hill for close to 40 years, and chef and owner Peter Ballarin has now put it on the market — the restaurant, the three one-bedroom apartments upstairs, the liquor and entertainment licenses, and a really pretty patio. $4 million to a good home.
What Could Be Better Than Oysters and Caviar?
Vogue takes notice of Boston’s quirky and wonderful East Boston Oysters pop-up series. With Alexis Cervasio at the helm (whose family owns Antico Forno and Terramia in the North End), East Boston Oysters pops up in creative locations around, well, East Boston, showering guests with oysters, caviar, and lots of other surprises at a variety of events, from feasts to more casual parties. Cervasio often collaborates with other local talent, bringing in, for example, Bisq’s Alex Sáenz to make fried chicken — not to mention DJs, comedians, yoga instructors, and others.
Boston to Austin
Menton alum and Top Chef winner Kristen Kish is now fully ensconced in Texas with her own restaurant at the Line Austin Hotel, Arlo Grey, where she’s serving a “fucking good” burger, crispy chicken with rice porridge, head-on prawns and grits, a grilled ribeye meant for sharing, and more.
Got a news tip for the Eater Boston team? Email boston@eater.com.