Veteran RI Chef Launches New Food Truck After Losing Job During Coronavirus
Kate Nagle, GoLocal News Editor
Veteran RI Chef Launches New Food Truck After Losing Job During Coronavirus
Genao this week is launching "TrapboxPVD," a Latin-inspired food truck, based on his favorite memories of his mother's Dominican cooking growing up.
He was working most recently as a prep manager at Blackie's before it closed, and he lost his job.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTNow, launching the food truck is hardly the first time Genao has reinvented himself.
From Prison, to Genesis Center, to Al Forno - And More
Genao honed his cooking skills while in prison in 2011, when he discovered his passion for food. He embarked on more culinary training when released.
He interned at Al Forno, worked at Not Your Average Joe's and the Salted Slate, and helped open Blend Cafe.
"Now, I lost my job because of the 'unseen enemy' Coronavirus," said Genao. "During the pandemic, with a little help of friends and family and working close with my siblings, we had an 'ah-ha' moment and created our new venture 'TrapBoxPVD,' a modernized Latin food truck."
“I’ve always had a passion and a connection to food. As a youngin’, my mom was a chef, she stayed in the kitchen cooking up some bomb a-s Dominican food. Bistec encebollado, Pollo al horno, Pollo guisado, pollo frito, Chivo, rabo, sancocho and the list goes on. I enjoyed all these meals and now I miss them so much,” he said, of his late mother.
“It all just clicked,” said Genao, who along with the TrapBoxPVD team is doing a soft opening this week, then taking part in the Guild's pop-up beer garden in Providence this coming weekend.
“We’re basically focusing on Latin sandwiches, with a touch of American culture,” said Genao. “We can’t wait.”
Journey to Cooking — and Happiness
“Before prison, I was involved with bad people,” said Genao. “I was raised in the Broad and Cranston Street area, and I fell into bad things."
Genao served six months in prison in 2011 on a drug charge.
“That was enough to wake me up,” said Genao. “It was actually really good for me. I experienced discipline, a lot of life, and how to appreciate freedom.”
“Gordon Ramsay, Thomas Keller, Jamie Oliver, I read up on them all,” said Genao, of learning from top chefs -- all while serving time.
“When I got of jail, I knew what I wanted to do," said Genao. "I picked a program at Genesis Center, and I really nailed it. The instructor was a sous chef at Al Forno, and he said I want to give you the opportunity to work next to Chef Dave.”
“At that time, I didn’t even know what Al Forno was. I walked in the kitchen and was like, wow, everything is so on point. I interned there doing everything,” said Genao.
Advice to Providence's Youth
Genao said through working at Not Your Average Joe’s, a colleague asked him to come talk with students at Providence Career and Technical Academy.
“I talked to them about how to plate, how to cook,” said Genao. Looking back at his youth to where he is now, Genao said he encourages young people to “really find their happiness.”
“My advice is to be yourself and don’t caught up in your friends or things don’t mean happiness to you,” said Genao. “Follow your dreams and don’t get up in the wrong things. That just leads to death — or jail.”
“Some of my friends have died, some are in jail,” said Genao. “I tell people that for me, I don’t cook for money. I cook for happiness."