FOOD TRUCK SERVING UP GOURMET SANDWICHES

STRAKE SANDWICH CO. IS OPERATED BY BRANDON RODGER AND AARYNNE DAWSON

Brandon Rodger and Aarynne Dawson would often visit Collingwood's Millennium Park with a picnic lunch, but always wanted more.

"We would come here and watch the sunset and think, 'If there were food trucks, it's easier than bringing a picnic,'" Dawson said.

It's one of the reasons the couple has opened Strake Sandwich Co., located behind the iconic grain terminals, with Dawson running the front of the house and Rodger making magic in the kitchen.

Dawson said they serve "gourmet" sandwiches and tater tots and make as much as they can from scratch, including pickles and his home-smoked bacon.

"The Strake burger combines ground chuck and brisket and 'you have to squish it down to take a bite,'" Dawson told Simcoe.com.

She said the crispy chicken crunch is brined in pickle juice and Greek yogurt before being battered, fried and topped with a maple sriracha sauce.

"It's really crunchy. When you take a bite, it echoes in your head," she said.

The Cubano is also getting some positive response from customers. It's slow-roasted pork served on a baguette and topped with brandied apples in brown sugar, cinnamon, brandy, butter and pig fat.

"It's all the good stuff," she said.

She said the lobster roll has also been a hit with locals, as it's not something found on many menus.

The lineup of tater tots includes

chicken Caesar with homemade dressing and tater tot

poutine.

Dawson said that with the explosion

in the popularity of food trucks over the last several years, the quality of the food continues to grow. She said they wanted to bring something special to the area.

"We're setting the bar a bit higher, just for ourselves," she said. "Ours is restaurant food, but from the truck."

Rodger said customers are also able to enjoy their meals "at the best patio in town" on the shores of Georgian Bay.

While they've only been open for several weeks, they anticipate Millennium Park will be a busy spot this summer.