Special Eats, a food truck in Tucson, is all about tasty grilled cheese and empowering people with special needs. Created about a year ago by chef William Harman and business partner Tamara Varga, it’s a delicious venture with a meaningful mission.

As a parent to a child with special needs, Harman took swift action when asked to develop a concept employing individuals with autism and Down Syndrome. Special Eats is now not only contributing to Tucson’s culinary scene but also fostering job skills in a city that values both its food culture and service industry professionals.

The Future is Bright

2024 is shaping up to be a big one for the team behind the food truck.

Next year, Special Eats will debut a second food truck and then also open its very first brick-and-mortar location — both of these concepts will serve sweet treats. The current food truck specializes in ooey gooey grilled cheese sandwiches.

Varga said they decided to open a “sweets shop” because Tucson needs more dessert trucks. “Special Eats Sweets” will then also move into the 2,000-square-foot retail space in midtown at 5007 E. Fifth St. to house their bakery. This is the building the Littlest Bookshop is housed in, just next door to Houlden’s Rise Above and Midtown Vegan Deli.

“It’s unfortunate that a lot of people think that those with these forms of disabilities can’t really function in the real world, but they exceed our expectations on a very regular basis,” said Harman. “It makes me so proud to be a part of this operation.”

Stay tuned for more details but in the meantime, follow the Special Eats food truck around town. They’re honing employability skills while also dishing out some of Tucson’s finest gooey, cheesy sandwiches and beyond.

To keep up with the latest, visit specialeats.org or follow Special Eats on Facebook and Instagram.

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