Temple Photojournalism
PEOPLE OF THE STREETS/
FOOD TRUCK OWNER / FLAMY
Text and Photos by Harrison Brink
Face-to-face Food
Food trucks and food truck owners have an interesting place in today’s society. Unlike other eateries, food trucks require face-to-face interaction between a customer and the person making their food. People tend to frequent places near their homes and workplaces. They develop personal relationships with the owners of the establishments and a truck can become somewhat of a community meeting place.
To work a food truck, you have to be personable and enjoy the work. A lot of characters come and go and you have to be able to talk to them and make them feel welcome in the short window you’ll be together.
The owner of Temple’s Best Italian Sandwiches on the campus of Temple University, Flamur Kalemaj, is a man with these qualities.
Kalemaj, better known to his customers as “Flamy,” came to the United States from Albania 8 years ago. Upon coming overseas, he has worked in a number of eateries such as pixxa shops and, more notably, Paesano’s Italian-style sandwhiches based at Philly’s Italian Market. Flamy’s current menu draws a lot of influence from his experience at Peasano’s and Flamy has adopted a similar passion to create great food.
He moved his services to Temple’s Best after the truck was offered to him for cheap by a friend of his. “He almost just gave it to me, as a friend,” say’s Flamy, “he wanted it to succeed, so he gave me the opportunity to take it over.”
If you are on Temple’s campus, it is more likely than not that you will find Flamy at his truck. He opens the truck for service at around 11 and stays until around 8 on most nights.
His day does not start upon opening his truck, however. No, Flamy is up at 8 many days to make it across the city and back in order to get his ingredients. The first stop is Jetro, a wholeseller where many food service workers go to get products. From there, he moves on to the Italian Market in order to make sure that he gets fresh broccoli rabe, tomatoes and other produce for use in his sandwiches. For Flamy, only the best ingredientes will do. He does not settle for mediocrity.
His truck make available to the students of Temple some of the freshest food around. He enjoys working on the school’s campus. “The kids are smart, very polite. I like it,” says Flamy, “I’m happy to make you guys satisfied.”
When it comes to feeding himself on campus, his favorite truck is the Sexy Green Truck. “They have the best coffee on campus, I beleive,” claims Flamy, “and the best food, too.”
Flamy is rounding out his first semester at Temple. “It’s my first year. I hope every student can try my sandwiches but it’s hard getting customers the first year,” he says, “people gotta talk with each other.”
“I have friends around, they say ‘for your first year, you’re doing OK,’ says Flamy about the business he gets, “I don’t know what’s going on in the future. “
Whatever the future brings to the plate, however, Flamy is prepared for the challenge and ready to step up with a smile on his face.
