Roamin’ Italy has been delighting food lovers in Corpus Christi and beyond for nearly three years with its imaginative take on Italian cuisine. Chef Chris and his partner Denise have crafted a food truck experience that is as much about creativity and quality as it is about convenience.
The path Chris took to launching Roamin’ Italy was anything but typical. He spent years working in Italian restaurants, where he developed a passion for the cuisine and honed his culinary skills, but despite his love for the kitchen, life took him in a different direction, leading to a 16-year career in the medical field. When the pandemic brought an unexpected layoff, Chris saw it as the perfect moment to return to his culinary roots. “I knew the time was right,” he said. Determined to finally pursue his dream, he sold a piece of land and invested in creating a food experience unlike any other.
Initially envisioning a fast-casual concept where customers could customize their pasta dishes — much like building a sandwich at a deli — he eventually evolved the idea into a mobile kitchen serving their creative culinary offerings. Denise, the friendly face of the truck and mastermind behind its social media, helps bring the vision to life. Together, they offer menu items that are inventive, fresh and packed with flavor.
Roamin’ Italy stands out with dishes you won’t find at other food trucks. Its signature creation, pasta served in a buttery garlic pizza cone, combines flatbread grilled to perfection with your choice of pasta and fillings. Another standout is the pizzini, a hybrid between a pizza and a panini, born from ingenuity after Chris realized a full pizza setup wasn’t feasible in the truck.
For traditionalists, the handmade spaghetti and meatballs — featuring marinara simmered for 16 hours and hand-breaded meatballs — is a must-try. Other crowd-pleasers include chicken alfredo, toasted ravioli and creative specials like “ciaochos,” a playful spin on nachos using crostini, mozzarella, meatballs, alfredo sauce and olive tapenade.
True to its name, Roamin’ Italy doesn’t stay in just one spot. From breweries and ArtWalk to apartment complexes, the food truck’s schedule changes constantly, bringing its restaurant-quality dishes to diverse crowds. “We enjoy the variety — it gets us in front of so many different people,” Chris said.
Whether you’re savoring spaghetti from a cone or indulging in a pizzini, Roamin’ Italy proves that creativity and passion set it apart. “There’s not a bad item on the truck,” Chris promised. So next time you spot the Roamin’ Italy food truck, give it a try — you’re in for an unforgettable culinary adventure.
