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Adil Alrakami said he always wanted something of his own and now he does in the form of a new Lodge Lane food truck business
A small corner of Toxteth is welcoming a new business, sparked by a husband’s offhand remark while on holiday. A short stroll along Lodge Lane feels like stepping into another world, where generations-old family recipes feature on restaurant menus alongside halal grocers, African markets, and traditional pubs.
Now, those who venture to the area will see a new food truck, Roll’n, inspired by Austria. The brand specialises in Kürtőskalács, or chimney cakes – a traditional Hungarian street food originating from Transylvania. The pastry features a caramelised sugar crust wrapped around a soft, airy, brioche-like centre.
It is baked on a rotating cylindrical spit over hot charcoal or in a rotisserie oven, then coated in sugar and finished with toppings such as cinnamon, walnuts, or chocolate. At the helm of the business is Adil Alrakami. The 29-year-old, from Toxteth, told the ECHO: “My missus and I were travelling around Europe in our first year of marriage, and we ended up in Austria.
“It was when we were in Vienna, we were just strolling down the street and came across a small shop selling them. It looked very unique, and it was the first time I had ever seen them.
“We tried it together, and it was amazing. I just said there and then, as a throw-away comment, ‘I’d love to open something like this in Liverpool’. A year later, I came across the machine that makes them because it is a specifically built purpose oven you need.
“I bought it and just kept practicing in the house. I never told anyone I was doing it, but I was using different flours and recipes until I got more confident in what I was doing.
“I went to Budapest for a couple of days to try them there and just to see the standard and how mine compared. After that, it was all go, I was in the financial position to start looking for somewhere.”
On the menu, customers will find six pre-set flavours ranging from cinnamon and vanilla to cocoa and crushed biscoff. After this, you can choose the spread inside – like Nutella, camel or white chocolate.
To finish the chimney cakes, they are topped with either crushed cookies or nuts and complete with ice cream on the side. The maximum price a chimney cake will set you back is £7, but the majority on the menu are priced at £6.50.
Adil added: “I ended up with a van and I’ve been doing it up since the back end of last year. It was difficult to find a small shop with a high footfall so that was out of the question.
“It’s surreal really from that small comment to that. It’s been a mad process – all my friends are in business so it’s something I’ve always wanted to do but it’s exciting it has actually happened.
“I’m proud of myself for sticking with it. My last few pop-up stops, at the Bombed Out Church and Penny Lane Church, both sold out and so that made me feel ready. I’ve always wanted to have something of my own and now I have that.”
Roll’n can be found at Tiber Square, Lodge Lane, on the weekends. On Fridays, the food truck is there between 11am and 7pm, whereas on Saturdays and Sundays it is there from 12pm to 7pm.
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