New Westborough Food Truck Simmer & Spice Marks Leap For Home Cook

WESTBOROUGH, MA — A cooking habit that started with after school snacks has produced the area's newest food truck.

Westborough resident Eric Woodman recently made the leap from cooking for friends and family to a custom-made food truck that hit the streets in March. Woodman has since brought his Simmer & Spice truck to venues like Flying Dreams Brewing in Marlborough, Rushford & Sons Brewhouse in Upton, and the Westborough Golf Club — now going on close to two years without food and drinks after the closure of Civic Kitchen.

Woodman's journey from making steak sandwiches for himself after school (and working at a Burger King at the Mass Pike rest stop in Natick) took several detours. He worked as a news reporter in Florida, and later in corporate marketing. After cooking for years for friends and family for fun, he left a corporate marketing job in 2023 to start his food truck journey as a "passion project."

"[Cooking] has always been part of something I enjoy, it's an escape from the daily demands," he said. "It really relaxes me, it's like a zen thing."

At first, Woodman thought he might start his own line of soups, but realized it would take too long to get a retail operation off the ground. A brick-and-mortar restaurant wasn't what he wanted either, because once you set up shop, you're tied to a single location.

Instead of buying a pre-owned food truck, Woodman had the Simmer & Spice unit customized around his dishes. The menu rotates constantly, but typically includes a selection of sandwiches, smash burgers, soups and sides. This week, he's serving Cuban sandwiches, slow-cooked macaroni and cheese and a vegan black bean soup. For a St. Patrick's Day event at Flying Dreams, he put his own spin on corned beef by simmering it in the brewer's stout.

The truck's first outing was in early March at a gym for kids in Westborough, giving Woodman's cooking and hospitality skills a stress test.

"It was quite an experience," he said.

The pace has not let up. Simmer & Spice will be popping up across the region this spring and summer at farmers' markets in Westborough and Marlborough, local breweries, outside local businesses and the Bay State Common. As the weather turns warmer, he's planning to focus on New England summer classics, like lobster multiple ways: in bisque, salads and mac and cheese.

Woodman says the truck is an expression of his dedication to fresh, homemade food. He makes everything he serves from scratch — except the bread, which comes from the beloved baker Iggy's in Cambridge. The menu always includes protein, but also vegan and vegetarian options. Woodman also uses biodegradable containers and compostable utensils.

"Whatever you’re getting, I've made personally, either in real time or cooking overnight in slow cookers," he said. "I want my dishes to have a bold flavor, but not overwhelming. There's really something for everybody."

If you go ...

Simmer & Spice
Operating in Middlesex, Worcester and Norfolk counties
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