Alexander Alusheff

Lansing State Journal

OKEMOS – The smell of chipotle seasoning wafted from Daddy’s Little Grill food truck and toward Danielle Hughes, who was waiting on her order.

Chef Kevin Cronin handed her the serving of shrimp and grits with andouille Cajun cream a few moments later.

“Oh my gosh, this is amazing,” said Hughes, still chewing. “I grew up down south, so when someone sells grits up here, it’s nice.”

Cronin was a chef for Dusty’s Cellar for 20 years. These days, he can be found three days a week in a black food truck decked out in flame decals in the parking lot of Wheat Jewelers across from the Meridian Mall.

“It’s so nice to be on a truck because you are in complete control of what you are serving,” Cronin said. sporting a black chef’s coat. “It’s just me here so I make sure I put out the best product I can.”

Those products include a chipotle chicken quesadilla, cavatappi pasta in pesto cream, lobster fritters and garlic “crack” fries. The menu changes often, Cronin said. he has plans for items such as Korean braised beef quesadillas and gumbo.

“I call it global street food,” he said. “People dig that fusion cuisine. It’s food you can’t get anywhere.”

Cronin’s story is oddly similar to the 2014 movie “Chef” starring Jon Favreau, though not the part about the humiliating public confrontation with a food critic. After deciding to leave his job as executive chef at Dusty’s in 2014, he traveled to Orlando to convert a Sara Lee delivery truck into Daddy’s Little Grill. Sometimes, he even enlists the help of his 15-year-old son Michael, like Favreau's character in the movie.

“That’s what got us all fired up,” said Cronin of the movie, which he saw before his starting his new venture. “It was definitely inspiring.”

Daddy’s Little Grill can be booked for events as well, Cronin said. He is already catering a wedding and open houses.

“The food truck scene is getting there,” he said. “It’s fun to talk to people and see them get excited about the food I make.”

Contact Alexander Alusheff at (517) 388-5973 or aalusheff@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexalusheff.

Where to find Daddy's Little Grill

Daddy’s Little Grill is parked outside of Wheat Jewelers, 4990 Marsh Road, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The prices of most entrees range from $8 to $11.