Food lover and Comfort Cafe food truck owner
Foodie Ysahai Martin is creating a twist to your favorite comfort foods with her food truck while also working as a speech therapist and is the living the definition of a “hustler”.
Food truck owner Ysahai Martin, 33, loves to cook and eat. In 2016, she combined the two and started Comfort Café. Now Martin, who’s head chef, and her staff of two host 10 to 20 events a month all around Metro Detroit serving dishes named after some of the city’s landmarks. She recently won the Acquisition International 2018 Influential Businesswoman Award for Most Inspirational Woman in Hospitality Services in the Midwest.
Read more about Ysahai Martin in Episode 3 of People You Should Know.
1. What inspired you to start a food truck?
I have a passion for eating and food trucks! Decided to turn my passion into reality!
2. How has the food truck industry in Detroit changed over the past few years for local vendors like you?
It has grown immensely! When I started it was less than 50 food trucks, and now over 100 food trucks.
3. Your menu items are named after landmarks in Detroit such as The Belle Isle (two all fried beef coney dogs topped with beef chili, onions, and mustard), The Cadillac Square (a golden fried chicken and cornbread waffle sandwich topped with collard green slaw and drizzled with Sriracha maple syrup), and The Joy Road (three cheese blend macaroni and cheese). What inspired these food names?
I have a great love for Detroit and wanted to use Detroit landmarks and locations for my food items. The Cadillac Square is the favorite spot for all food trucks and the sandwich is everyone’s favorite item on the menu. The Belle Isle is a Detroit Staple and so is our Detroit Coney Dogs. The Joy Road mac-n-cheese brings Joy!!
4. What’s the best thing about owning a food truck in Detroit?
Detroit has an entrepreneurial spirit and supports entrepreneurs. It’s great meeting and getting to know all of our customers.
5. You also work full-time as speech therapist. How do you manage your job and your truck successfully?
Full-time in the winter months, and part-time in the summer months. Bills have to be paid year-round and my job is great at accommodating me and my schedule.
6. You’ve been featured on Fox 2 Detroit and WXYZ Channel 7 for your business. Have you won any food or “best of” competitions?
Michigan Chronicle Top 5 Food Trucks!
7. Where do you see Comfort Café in 5 years?
Comfort Cafe will still be up and running and maybe a restaurant!
8. You were born and raised in Bermuda. Are any of your dishes inspired by your upbringing?
Our vegetarian/vegan sandwich is definitely from my upbringing. I was raised vegan and when I was forming my menu I had to add a vegan/vegetarian option! It is called The Dequindre Cut, which is a biking, walking, running track in Downtown Detroit! For those who want a healthier lifestyle they can come and get our black-eyed peas and brown rice loose burger topped with guacamole and pickled onions on a vegan certified pretzel bun.
9. Is the food truck competition in Detroit rough?
Not really, if you have a great product then competition does not exist! Most food truck lovers actually buy from every food truck at events.
10. What advice would you give to someone thinking about starting food truck?
1. Save, save, save (money that is)! 2. Keep your menu to a minimum then grow it! 3. Step out of the box when is comes to your brand and food items!
