May 12, 2022

Operating out of a creatively converted two-horse trailer, this Sioux Falls family is serving waffles for public and private events.

Black Iron Waffles is the creation of Chris and Autumn Brockevelt and their daughters, Emery and Leighton.

Chris, an architect, found the 1974 trailer in Britton and “had a vision to redo it for something,” Autumn said. “The kids said, ‘let’s try a food truck.’”

They cleaned up the trailer and refurbished it inside and out, adding wood panels, a tin ceiling, a fresh coat of black paint and decorative lighting.

“Our vision was to be as pleasing as possible and that people would want to have it at their event because it was pleasing,” Brockevelt said.

In coming up with the menu, the family decided on waffles because they’re unique to the food truck scene here and they’re loved by people of all ages, she said.

“There are quesadillas and barbecue (on other food trucks), and that’s all delicious, but I can’t get my kids to eat it. I can get my kids to eat a waffle.”

The family has perfected their batter recipe over the years of making them at home.

And these are creative offerings such as the Big Cheese, which is more like a grilled cheese with Havarti and cheddar melted in between waffles. The Black Iron Original is a green chile cheese cornbread waffle that’s served with warm honey and butter.

All the Way is a chocolate waffle that tastes more like a cake and has vanilla cream on top with crumbled Oreo cookies, Brockevelt said. The Moxie tastes like lemon bread.

Autumn will bring seasonal menu changes.

Those booking a private event can choose three or four menu items. For upcoming dates with CPM Fitness, offerings will include a protein version that’s actually just egg and no batter – more like an omelet, Brokevelt said.

Black Iron offers a bubble waffle too that pairs nicely with fresh fruit, she said.

There’s room for only one cook and four waffle makers in the trailer. Baking each waffle takes less than 2 minutes, she said, and all the batters and toppings are prepared in advance, so the goal is to keep the line moving quickly.

“It’s a lot of strategic planning.”

Among the events open to the public, Black Iron Waffles will be at First Dakota National Bank at Ninth Street and Main Avenue from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. Later this summer, it’s booked for five Levitt at the Falls concerts and the Nyberg’s Ace classic car show July 23. Find location updates on its Facebook page. 

The truck made its debut feeding teachers April 22 at Brandon Elementary, and last week was part of a treat for staff during Teacher Appreciation Week at Sonia Sotomayor Elementary, which is where the girls go to school.

They’ve been helping out on the truck, Brockevelt said. Eleven-year-old Emery takes orders, and 10-year-old Leighton hands them out.

Beyond learning skills, the food truck offers the girls a lesson in entrepreneurship.

“We wanted to show the girls that if they wanted to do something and follow through, they could do it.”

Love food trucks? Here’s your complete guide to the 2022 season