Breakfast is Served: Food Truck Pulls into Talmadge Hill Train Lot

Lorenzo Colella, owner of Joe’s Pizza in New Canaan, had an epiphany one recent morning as he made a daily drive to Talmadge Hill Train Station.

“My fiancée, I drop her off at the train every morning and I see people with no coffee in their hand,” Colella recalled.

So the pizza-maker, already owner of a mobile food truck that’s been approved by the New Canaan Health Department, asked town officials whether he could serve breakfast food to commuters there on the New Canaan-Darien line.

Town Administrative Officer Tom Stadler said he was pleased by the inquiry, as the town had asked many food purveyors over the years if they’re interested.

“The answer has always been no, because people either didn’t feel like they could make a living or they didn’t want to get up at 5 a.m.,” Stadler said.

“It’s a win-win,” he continued. “The people down there seem thrilled that they can get a hot cup of coffee or a roll.”

Colella said he serves not only typical food truck breakfast fare such as coffee, rolls and pastries, and sandwiches like bacon or sausage with egg and cheese, but also healthier options such as egg whites and turkey bacon on multigrain bread.

“We’re there 6 to 9 a.m. and this was our first week,” Colella said. “It’s going well.”

The town issued Colella a special permit to operate the food truck after having the vehicle re-inspected by health officials and checking on things such as the truck's insurance. The lot at Talmadge Hill is town property so Colella parks there rather than the platform itself, which is state DOT property.