Colombian couple bringing authentic flavors to Jasper

A Colombian couple is bringing the vibrant flavors of their homeland to Dubois County with their new food truck, La Tricolor Colombian Delicacies.

Jen and Franklin Quimbaya, who live in Jasper, launched their business to share their cultural heritage through traditional Colombian sweet treats and fruit-based delicacies.

“We are proud Colombians and we wanted to share a little piece of our culture with the community,” Jen explained. “Through our recipes, we are bringing the colors, flavors and the spirit of Colombia right to the streets.”

The menu features items like a fruit bowl sprinkled with chili or Tajin, a rich milk caramel-topped thousand-layer cake, guava cheese pastries made by Franklin’s father, and fresh fruit smoothies that can be customized with various flavor combinations and lactose-free options.

“We serve fruity Colombian treats with a twist,” Jen says. “Our menu is colorful, it’s like a mix of sweet flavors. Everything we make is with love. We use fresh ingredients. Everything is fresh, artisanal.”

Their signature dish is a Colombian fruit salad, featuring a blend of seasonal fruits such as papaya, cantaloupe, banana, kiwi, and grapes. It is topped with mozzarella cheese, a scoop of ice cream, and a special house-made cream.

This is our grandma’s recipe,” Jen said, adding that it’s several generations old.

“It is sweet, refreshing, and we encourage everyone to give it a try,” Jen said. “It is one of a kind. It’s something different that Dubois County hasn’t seen yet.”

The couple officially started operating at their current location, in front of Mega Max Vapor on Jasper’s north side, last week. However, they had a soft opening last year at the soccer field by Jasper Engines during Sunday tournaments.

The Quimbayas prepare all their offerings fresh each day, with Franklin’s father providing many of the recipes for the sweet treats. They use a commissary kitchen at Miranda’s to prepare their items.

The couple maintains a busy schedule; Franklin runs a cleaning business, Apollo Enterprise, from early morning until about 10 a.m., and then operate the food truck from noon until evening. Jen works as a property manager for Premier Property Management while also helping with the food truck business.

She regularly starts preparing food for the business at 4 a.m.

Their two children, Leo, a fourth-grader, and Lauren, a second-grader, sometimes help at the food truck after school. Leo has taken on the role of salesman, approaching customers and explaining the menu items to them.

“My little boy Leo approaches them and says, ‘Okay, you need the menu in English or Spanish?’ And if it’s English, he tries to explain every dish to them,” Jen said proudly.

Customer response has been enthusiastic, with people from various backgrounds, including other Latin American countries, excited to try their offerings. It is also something other Colombians are glad to have here in the area. Jen said that after they find them, their fellow Colombians are excited and will even order extra to take home.

Franklin said he loves sharing a little bit of his culture with the community and seeing people coming back to try something new or get another offering of their new favorite treat.

He also recommends everyone try the signature dish, the fruit salad with all the toppings.

The Quimbayas see the food truck as just the beginning of their entrepreneurial journey.

“Our goal is of course to keep growing, meet more people and eventually expand. Whether it’s a second truck or maybe a small shop one day,” Jen says. “We want to keep bringing the joy through our food truck.”

Tricolor Colombian Delicacies operates Monday through Saturday from approximately noon until 7 or 7:30 p.m. at the parking lot in front of Mega Max Vapor near Hibbett Sports on Jasper’s north side. On Sundays, they can be found at the soccer field by Jasper Engines. You can follow them on Facebook here.

“We are beyond grateful for the warm response that we got and for the opportunity to be in this city,” Jen says. “We have big dreams and we’re here to do the right thing, to share, to give a taste from our culture.”