English Translation of the TN Campo Article
In Carmen, province of Santa Fe, a village of 2,000 inhabitants, Carlos, Adriana, and Bruno transformed a hobby into a family food truck that generates work in the community and promotes sustainable practices.
In the small village of Carmen, 35 kilometers from Venado Tuerto, gastronomy has not only become a business, but also a bond between family, community, and the environment.
Carlos Paulina, together with his wife Adriana and his son Bruno, runs “Sabor Callejero”, a gastronomic venture that started as a family project and today is a local reference for its economic, social, and environmental impact.
The project began at the end of 2018, when Bruno, freshly graduated as a chef in Venado Tuerto, joined the family team. With his culinary knowledge and the experience of his parents, both retired teachers, they decided to install a 2 by 4-meter food truck.
What started as a venture in the interior of Santa Fe, offering sporadic services at fairs and birthday parties, soon consolidated as a project capable of reactivating the local economy. “The economic importance is the reactivation we give to local businesses because we work with local raw materials,” explained Carlos.
Family roots and environmental awareness
During 2019, the family began offering their services in nearby villages. The pandemic temporarily halted activity, but later they resumed with more strength, incorporating events and venues in the region. To date, they have completed more than 300 events.
The gastronomic offering combines tradition and innovation. “Our strength is dishes with meat, but we also offer vegan options and children’s menus,” says Bruno, 25 years old.
Everything is prepared with local products, and the hamburgers are homemade, made directly by the team. For larger events, they add waiters and collaborators who help maintain quality and personalized service.
The venture not only focuses on flavor, but also on sustainability and the circular economy. The family collects bottles and used oil from their homes and neighbors’, which are then taken to recycling plants in Venado Tuerto and Rosario. They also participate in battery collection programs managed by municipal authorities.
“We work on three pillars: environmental, economic, and legal. We strictly respect all food safety regulations and maintain traceability of our raw materials,” said Carlos.
Participation in the program My business rooted in my Village, promoted by the ES VICIS Foundation, strengthened the project. There, the family received training in business management, gastronomic marketing, and social media, and was awarded for their local impact.
“With the monetary award, we acquired equipment such as a fryer, a cold cut slicer, and a food warmer. This allows us to serve larger events and maintain the quality of our offering,” explained Carlos.
Caring for quality and the origin of each ingredient
In addition, they shared knowledge with their suppliers, giving food safety classes and advice on producing necessary inputs.
This strengthened the circular economy and ensured that all products come from the village. “Prioritizing the quality and origin of raw materials is fundamental for us. We want our work to generate a positive effect on the entire community,” added Carlos.
The food truck has become a symbol of rural rootedness, an example of how talent and initiative can flourish even in small villages. The family not only offers food, but also temporary employment, training opportunities, and a tangible economic impact on local businesses. Each event demonstrates how family tradition, gastronomic innovation, and environmental responsibility can come together.
“What started as a hobby today is a project that fills us with pride. Maintaining quality, caring for raw materials, and giving back to our community is our daily motivation,” assured Carlos.
“Seeing people enjoy our food and how local businesses benefit confirms that it was worth betting on rootedness,” he emphasized.
This venture demonstrates that rural talent is not limited to agricultural production, but can also transform into economic, environmental, and social opportunities, creating a virtuous circle that strengthens the community and preserves local identity.
