Brisket in a Basket finds a home at Overton Park
For Valerie and Dean Hornbeak, a dream that started four years ago came true this summer on the Overton Park Greensward. After planning, stocking up on equipment, and creating an immediately recognizable brand, they opened their Brisket in a Basket food truck and set up shop in the park three days a week.
For native Memphian Valerie, who recently retired from FedEx after 32 years, the park is an essential element of the food truck’s concept. “When I was little, it didn’t take much for my family to have a picnic,” she says. “We grabbed a kickball, some PB&Js, and spent the day at the park and the zoo.” These happy memories inspired her to build the concept of picnicking into the food truck, which she and Dean custom-designed to include a six-foot porch where customers could sit and play board games. The truck also includes a picnic table, an umbrella, and bicycles.
The idea of serving brisket in a picnic basket was inspired by two things–Dean’s mastery of brisket, a dish not commonly seen in Memphis barbecue restaurants, and a trip to Sweden taken by Valerie’s daughter. She was charmed by restaurants that served food in baskets, and Valerie saw a perfect opportunity to extend the picnic concept of the truck.
For Valerie and Dean, the vision for their business is intertwined with the closeness of their family, and the positive memories they hope to create for other families who visit the truck. Between them, they have four adult children and four grandchildren, one of whom is pictured on the side of the truck. They serve healthy menu options, including fruit cups and vegetarian items, and none of their food is fried. Valerie prepares the side dishes and Dean cooks the brisket, which is their best-selling item.
Brisket in a Basket’s first few months have been a success, Valerie says, in part because of the atmosphere of the park. “We’re all about reviving family unity, and what better place to be than in the park, with bikes, games, and picnics?”
She adds, “This was personal for me. Growing up, this was the park. We’d clean our cars on Sundays, ride around, and people-watch. I grew up in this park. We just love it here.”
