Looking to serve its residents and support kids, San Quentin hosted the second annual food truck event on its Lower Yard on November 16.
This time around, $33, 644.70 was raised, of which 32% of the proceeds will be donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Marin Foster Care.
As the residents walked down to the Lower Yard, most were excited to be greeted by the aromas of steak, orange chicken, fried chicken, and french fries.
“San Quentin came correct this time, man,” said resident Walter Burns. Burns, who ordered everything from a tri-tip sandwich with fries to churros and brownies, was ecstatic to be participating in this event again.
“This is gonna be the bomb right here,” he exclaimed. “Steak without the steak knife—you can’t beat that right there, man.”
Though the steak sandwich, churros, and brownies made their triumphant return, new menu choices like a spicy chicken sandwich, a veggie burger, and an orange chicken with rice bowl were offered to the population this time.
“I’m about to add to the dad-bod,” one resident playfully quipped while waiting in line to receive his order.
Andrew “Drewski” Blaskovich, owner of the Drewski’s food trucks, was happy to be back to serve the residents his dishes. He has been in the food truck business for 11 years.
“I’m stoked to be back and to be able to serve you guys some good food,” he said. Blaskovich said that he learned a lot the last time he was at San Quentin.
“Me and Robert [Lt. Gardea] worked on a new game plan identifying what would make the service go faster and more efficiently.”
However, not everyone was able to partake in the event. Jesse Milo, a resident here at The Q, expressed his disappointment at not being able to purchase any food because of the steep prices.
“I can’t ask my mom who’s almost 70 to send me money to buy a $25 sandwich when she’s struggling to pay her bills… we just can’t afford it,” Milo said.
Milo said that although he supports the food sale event, the price markup just makes it impossible for people like him to get involved.
Lt. Gardea and Blaskovich both said that they were working on getting the prices down to make it affordable for the residents.
“Even out on the street, food trucks are expensive… and the prices in here are pretty comparable to what we’re paying out there,” Lt. Gardea said.
Blaskovich explained that because food prices are “crazy expensive,” a steak sandwich usually costs around $17.
“It can end up being $25 if you include sides,” he said. However, Blaskovich said that he would seriously look into finding a way to offer something that’s cheaper to produce yet is of the same quality.
“We want to continue to make you guys happy by providing high-quality, scratch-made food… but there’s always room for improvement,” he said.
Jaeda Montgomery, a Drewski’s employee who was serving cheeseburgers and fries, said she was humbled to be able to serve the incarcerated. She revealed that this was her first event working with Drewski’s and she understood what it meant to the residents because she herself had five felonies for protesting.
Montgomery said that being on the other side of the fence and now coming in as a free person was very triggering for her.
“I never imagined myself to be back in a setting like this,” Montgomery said. “But it also brings me joy that I’m able to bring food to the inmates [residents] because I literally understand how it is wanting something from the outside world… It means a lot to people.”
