They quit their jobs to start ‘stunningly good’ Coast food truck with ‘heavenly’ dessert

For a while, it looked like the food truck scene was taking off on the Gulf Coast.

There were at least 14 trucks to be found all together, but then things sputtered, and I am not sure why. There were some really good trucks, offering good food and creative culinary ideas.

Some Coast cities were less than hospitable, and many did not realize that food trucks are not much competition for a good brick and mortar restaurant. As I am fond of saying, if you have a restaurant and are afraid of competition, then you are in the wrong business.

But, be that as it may, there is one food truck on the Coast that is creating a ton of excitement, The Scratch Kitchen, in Ocean Springs.

I have driven by several times and noted that when it was open, there always seemed to be a crowd. Make a note, get to it soon. So, a few Sundays ago I decided the time was right.

They opened at noon, and I got there about fifteen minutes early. There were already six or seven people in line. That’s always a good sign. I found a seat in the shade of an umbrella, and watched the crowd grow.

It was hot, like 95 degrees hot, and the folks standing in line did not have a bit of shade. By noon, there were close to thirty people in line and no one was complaining. This place was looking better and better.

I finally ordered, and went about tasting the Bangin Shrimp cocktail, TSK Street Corn and, drum roll please, Heavenly Fruit Nachos. Honestly, I just did not know what to think, this food was stunningly good in every detail.

The street corn was amazingly, the corn cooked just right, and the spicy toppings and cheese were in perfect balance. I could not begin to think of a way to improve on this recipe.

The shrimp cocktail was in the same category, perfect shrimp, wonderfully paired with cucumber, mango and avocado and finished with a great pico de gallo. What a lovely summertime idea.

Note the main event. The fruit nachos were such a novel concept, think of an ice cream sundae disguised as nachos. I know it sounds crazy, but seldom have I had anything so good. It is made with strawberries, kiwi, grapes, and blueberries, topped with Cool Whip, caramel, white chocolate, and pecans, served with homemade cinnamon sugar chips.

On a hot August day, with just a bit of a sweet tooth, I cannot imagine anything better. Period.

The owners are Brittany and Billy Alexander, and, no, they do not have any formal culinary training, and yes, both quit their jobs to start the Scratch Kitchen.

Brittany told me that “If you come here, you are going to get a food experience like no other.”

That, my friends, is an understatement if I have ever heard one.

Look for a menu that changes often, and Italian special once a week, and, as you might expect, there will be a line, but, man oh man, is it ever worth it.

The Scratch Kitchen

Where: 1316 Government Street, Ocean Springs

When: Thursday-Sunday 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Contact via Facebook, www.facebook.com/thescratchkitchen228/

This story was originally published August 21, 2020 at 9:00 AM.