The story behind Che Baby food truck is one of enthusiasm, optimism and well above average edibles. After meeting owner Sebastian Gallucci it’s easy to feed off of his energy–and this Argentinian food.
Gallicci quit the 9-to-5 grind as an account manager with RBC to quite literally “live his dream.”
Roasted pepers and marinated tomatoes complement tangy signature chimichurri sauce on Che’s veggie sandwich, $6
“I started making tiramisu at 5-years old,” Gallucci emphatically recalls. “We had a rule in our house that whoever got home first had to cook dinner for the family. That’s how I learned to cook.”
His father, Sam “The Legend” Gallucci opened Toronto’s fist Argentinian restaurant, Martin Fierro on College St. back in 1971, then later ran Tony’s Restaurant at Yonge and Finch. The business is in his blood, but the younger Gallucci took advice from his real estate agent and avoided the high overhead of a bricks and mortar location.
The Che Baby food truck can be spotted weekly in Liberty Village
“I want people to try Argentinian food, especially proper chimichurri,” Gallucci exclaims. “Nobody knows what real chimichurri is – you never put cilantro in a real chimichurri.”
Gallucci and his girlfriend’s sister Fendi Ursomarzo start their day around 5 am, preparing fresh batches of tangy, aromatic chimichurri sauce from his grandma’s recipe. The vibrant green sauce is constructed with heaps of garlic, fresh parsley and oregano, olive oil, white vinegar, salt and pepper, plus some other secret touches. If they’ve made enough, you can snag a jar for yourself for $9. They’re even hoping to start selling some in retail stores.
Owner Sebastian Gallucci’s helper Fendi Ursomarzo can be spotted at the truck window.
Sandwiches and empanadas dominate the Che Baby menu, but the team is focused on creating new items weekly, like their chimichurri french fries with queso fresco.
At 2 pm we were too late during our visit to grab one of the 30 to 50 empanadas made fresh daily. Hand rolled dough plus fillings like beef chimichurri and ham and cheese. Production is set to increase, but they’re still working out their numbers only a couple months into service.
The chori pan (chorizo sandwich, $8) is a must have. Daily ground pork shoulder and beef butt with paprika and other spices, grilled and laid onto a bun from Euro Harvest in Woodbridge, then topped with chimi sauce and marinated seasonal veggies – in this case, cherry tomatoes and peppers.
The steak sandwich ($9) s made with NY strip cooked medium still melts in your mouth and feature identical toppings. They have a veggie option as well for $6.
As Gallucci described, his house was always open growing up–the meeting place for friends and family. It seems like Che Baby is beginning to take on a similar aura. His brother and father swung by during our visit. His real estate agent grabbed a bite. An Argentinian couple drove over from Waterloo. A 10-person family from Brampton hit up the truck every Friday.
Che Baby’s roaming vendor permit allows them to station themselves all about town, but look for them in Liberty Village on Thursdays, and late night (1 am -3 am) on Friday’s at Queen and Ossington. Don’t be surprised if a dance party breaks out to The Warehouse Sessions, a live electronic music broadcast that Ursomarzo is involved with. It’s not just taste buds that move and shake from the likes of Che Baby.
Published on: Jul 31, 2015
