June 3, 2022

A food truck that’s expected to open in another week or two will specialize in gourmet mac-and-cheese.

Jessica Eck and her husband, Johnny Than, are starting Cheezy Noodlez Gourmet Mac & Cheese.

“It’s just always been something fun that we liked to make. We’ve always tried different toppings and variations of it,” Eck said. “When we were talking about the whole plan, we kept cycling back to that kind of food.”

The menu will feature a classic mac-and-cheese, and toppings will include birria, pulled pork and popcorn chicken.

“And we’re going to do a hot dog one, but it won’t be just a regular hot dog,” she said. “It will be kielbasa or a smoked sausage.”

They’re searching for a quality gluten-free pasta and might include that as an option.

The couple, who are in their 30s, moved to Sioux Falls from Seattle with their 5-year-old daughter, looking for a “better area to have a family and start this process,” she said of owning a business.

They were drawn to South Dakota by Eck’s childhood memories. She grew up on the West Coast but visited her grandfather’s farm near Wallace in northeast South Dakota when she was a child.

“We sold our house and packed up our belongs and came to start over here.”

In Seattle, Eck worked in county government in the property tax division, and Than worked at the parts sales counter for a Subaru dealership.

Making food for other people, however, has always been a passion for the couple, she said, and they especially enjoyed cooking for family gatherings.

Cheezy Noodlez won’t have a permanent spot but will be found in parking lots across town and will be available for events, festivals and private gatherings, Eck said.

Follow the couple’s progress toward opening and locations on the Cheezy Noodlez Facebook page.

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