My wife, Susie, and I had a good time the other night. We parked on a quiet cul-de-sac and got baked and loaded.
Perhaps I should explain.
We went to Baked N Loaded, a food truck that specializes in deluxe baked potatoes, hot dogs, soups and more.
New Franklin residents George and Amanda Nakovski established the business two years ago after buying a 2024 trailer from Quality Cargo and outfitting it with appliances, including a 60-inch exhaust hood, 36-inch griddle, double-burner stove, 48-inch refrigerated prep table and four sinks.
The open-back concession is 30 feet long and weighs over 7,000 pounds. The “N” in Baked N Loaded represents the owners’ surname.
When I told Susie about the truck, she became very interested.
“I love potatoes — you KNOW it,” she beamed.
It’s true. My wife is a connoisseur of spuds, taters and tubers. She considers potatoes to be an essential food group.
Quick. Get in the car. I’ll drive.
What’s on the menu?
We caught up with the bright red trailer on a late Wednesday afternoon while it was parked at the Hunters Chase Allotment on Willowlane Avenue Northwest in Jackson Township.
The Nakovskis frequently update their menu, but this evening the options were loaded baked potatoes (Hot Honey, Chicken-Bacon-Ranch, Sweet BBQ and Bacon N Cheese) and grilled Nathan’s all-beef hot dogs (Classic, Cheesy, Kraut N Bacon and a Polish sausage sandwich).
Toppings included kraut, sour cream, sweet corn, sweet onions, crispy onions, crumbled bacon, pickled jalapenos and shredded cheddar jack. Condiments such as mustard, ketchup and relish are available at a self-serve station.
The truck also offers potato chips, cookies, soft drinks and bottled water.
Here’s what we tried
Everything is made to order at Baked N Loaded.
“No fryers, no freezers, no microwaves,” George explained.
“We’re family-owned,” Amanda said. “No one else works the trailer but us.”
It was a 90-degree day — 94 inside the trailer — but they whipped up our meals in under two minutes.
Susie and I returned to the comfort of our air-conditioned car and carefully unpacked the meals.
We each began with a hot dog. I had the Kraut N Bacon ($6) and my wife ordered the Classic ($4).
The plump, juicy dogs were grilled nicely and served on fresh buns. I enjoyed the combination of crisp bacon and tart sauerkraut.
“My first hot dog of the year,” Susie said.
The tasty sandwiches were gone before we knew it. I would have liked to eat one or two more, but then I wouldn’t have had room for the main event.
Bring on the spuds.
Deluxe baked potatoes
We cracked open the large containers of loaded baked potatoes.
“It looks good, huh?” Susie said.
My first thought was: “Where’s the potato?”
The toppings were piled so high that I couldn’t catch a glimpse of the buttered Idaho behemoth lurking below.
I ordered the Hot Honey ($14), which features oven-roasted chicken, hot honey, pickled jalapenos, sweet corn and crispy onions.
This was pretty wonderful. The crunchy onion straws complemented the tender, shredded chicken. The spiciness of the peppers contrasted nicely with the sweetness of the honey and corn.
“Yours is a CORN-ucopia of flavor,” Susie quipped. “There’s a lot of corn on it.”
I don’t know which was cornier: The baked potato or my wife’s joke.
Meanwhile, Susie enjoyed her Bacon N Cheese ($12), which includes crumbled crispy bacon, shredded cheddar jack, sour cream and chives.
“There’s a really nice helping of sour cream on top, which I love,” she said. “It’s got a lot of toppings on it. It’s very generous.”
We dug down through the layers, munching our way lower, unsure what we might find at the bottom.
“It can’t possibly be one potato,” Susie said.
But indeed it was. A solitary potato about the size of two large fists.
Perfectly baked, it was so soft inside that it almost tasted whipped. We ate everything, including the skin, leaving behind nothing but a buttery stain on the eco-friendly container.
“It’s definitely filling enough that you could just eat the potato,” Susie said. “That’s a meal in itself.”
The bottom line
Our dinner cost $36, not including tip. We brought beverages from home.
Baked N Loaded is available year-round for public events and private parties. The Nakovskis have a busy schedule ahead.
“We’re booking into next year already,” George said.
It will be near you someday soon. To track down Baked N Loaded, check out the food truck’s calendar on Facebook or streetfoodfinder.com. New events are posted every week.
We would definitely go back.
Or as Susie so succinctly put it: “See you later, Tater!”
Details
Food truck: Baked N Loaded
Hometown: New Franklin
Established: 2024
Specialties: Deluxe baked potatoes, hot dogs, soups and more
Owners: George and Amanda Nakovski
Services: Community activities, catering, company events, private parties, youth sports, school events
More info: 330-730-0383, getbakednloaded@gmail.com or getbakednloaded.com
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Baked N Loaded food truck is one hot potato | Local Flavor on Wheels
Reporting by Mark J. Price, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Mark J. Price, Akron Beacon Journal | USA TODAY Network
