PROVIDENCE, RI – Governor Dan McKee, Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green, East Providence Mayor Bob Dasilva, and the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) have announced that tickets are now on sale for the second annual “Menu for Success” Student Food Truck Roundup, being held on Saturday, May 3, 2025, from 12 to 3 p.m. at Crescent Park, Bullocks Point, East Providence. Attendees will be able to enjoy delicious bite samples at up to five student-run food trucks as students from across Rhode Island showcase their culinary talents and skills and compete for the Governor’s Cup and Commissioner’s Belt awards.
“From entrepreneurial to culinary skills, we are once again excited to be giving Rhode Island students the real-world opportunities they need for success with the ‘Menu for Success’ Student Food Truck Initiative,” said Governor Dan McKee. “We know that high-demand jobs include the food and business industries, and this initiative equips students with foundational knowledge needed to thrive in their academic and career journeys. We cannot wait to try all the creative dishes students will offer.”
“After last year’s wonderful food truck roundup, we are thrilled to be providing this opportunity once again for our students to showcase their skills,” said Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. “RIDE is focused on expanding real-world, hands-on learning opportunities, and the ‘Menu for Success’ Initiative allows students to explore graphic design, entrepreneurship, culinary arts, and more. We invite everyone to come out to East Providence on May 3 to support our future chefs and restaurant owners!”
“I had the pleasure of attending the inaugural Student Food Truck Roundup event at Lincoln High School last year, and when I saw the pride that the students took in the food they were creating for the visitors of the community, I immediately approached members of RIDE, including Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green, and suggested that East Providence and Crescent Park would be the ideal location for another one of these events,” said East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva. “I am so happy to see that we are doing this in East Providence so that we can highlight the East Providence culinary program and all of the food trucks from across the state, at our beautiful Crescent Park.”
In 2022, RIDE launched the ‘Menu for Success’ program to support local education agencies operate food trucks - mobile culinary classrooms - as part of their culinary arts or Minority Business Incubator programs. Initial participants included Central Falls, Chariho, Coventry, Cranston, Davies Career and Technical High School, East Providence, Lincoln, Newport, Pawtucket, Providence, Warwick, Westerly, and Woonsocket. In 2023, the MET and Exeter-West Greenwich received grants to begin their food truck operations.
Last May, RIDE hosted the inaugural roundup event at Lincoln High School, with nine student-run food trucks and trailers offering sweet and savory dishes as they competed for the Governor’s Cup and Commissioner’s Belt awards. Coventry Culinary Arts’ Oaker Eats food truck took home the Governor’s Cup for best savory dish, which featured a pasta duo of campanelle amatriciana and linguine alfredo alongside fresh pesto focaccia. Lincoln High School’s The Mane Event food truck won the Commissioner’s Belt for best sweet dish which featured a strawberry shortcake.
“As a member of the business community, I am proud to once again be supporting students in their business and culinary career exploration through the ‘Menu for Success’ Student Food Truck Initiative,” said Chair of the Board of Education Michael Grey. “We look forward to sampling the creative dishes that all of the student chefs will make at the roundup and encourage all to join as well.”
“We are proud to be supporting this initiative which launches high school students into potential careers in the food and business industry,” said Chair of the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education Patti DiCenso. “The ‘Menu for Success' program blends together the skills needed to succeed in these high-demand jobs, and we cannot wait to see all of the excellent work the students will do at the roundup.”
The event comes as RIDE continues to expand CTE offerings statewide. Since 2019, CTE programs in Rhode Island have expanded by nearly 30% since 2019. Recently, RIDE awarded $2 million in funding through the CTE for All Grant Program, which aims to expand access to high-quality and engaging workforce training programs in fields where no active CTE programs currently exist. Nine innovative programs across eight LEAs were awarded funding. This year’s Menu for Success Student Food Truck Roundup was made possible in part by the XQ Institute, as well as the City of East Providence, whose parks and recreation department ensured a smooth and successful second annual event. This initiative is a part of Rhode Island’s commitment through Readiness-Based Graduation Requirements to increase real world relevant learning in our high schools. Young people learn best when they are engaged in coursework that supports their passions.
Interested attendees can purchase tickets for $20 on the Crescent Park website. One ticket allows access to up to five samples from a variety of student-operated food trucks and a bottle of water. For more information on the ‘Menu for Success’ Initiative, visit the RIDE website.
