Cornelliana Hot Truck, Warm Memories: Pizza Subs Were a Big Red Institution Stories You May Like For Half a Century, the U-Halls Shaped the Campus Experience Cornell Dairy: From Cow to Cone For Generations of Alums, ‘Straight Cookies’ Were a Beloved Treat For decades, the West Campus eatery-on-wheels—and its legendary proprietor—cooked up its own culture Editor's note: After this story was published, we learned that on the "Serious Eats" website, famed food writer J. Kenji López-Alt offers what's reportedly an excellent copycat recipe for Hot Truck subs! By Joe Wilensky Generations of alumni still recall the delectable shorthand—from the PMP and the MBC to the Ho-Ho, the WGC, the Sep Pep, the Sui, and the Shaggy Hot and Heavy. (Not to mention the Ra-Ra, the Re-Re, and the Ro-Ro.) For countless Cornellians, the names serve as Proustian madeleines, transporting them back decades to nighttime on Stewart Avenue—amid the glow of the Hot Truck’s lights and the wafting aroma of toasting bread. There they would wait, shoulder to shoulder, laughing and shouting with friends and classmates as they anticipated delectable French bread pizza subs, served piping hot. “Hot Truck Bob,” in his element. “It was fuel to power through a late night,” recalls Theodore Seale ’83, eulogizing the iconic sandwiches as a “blissful marriage between mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce.” A Big Red institution for more than a half century, Johnny’s Hot Truck operated from 1960–2018. It was long run by Bob Petrillose, its proprietor and chef—and the son of Johnny Petrillose Sr., namesake of Collegetown’s bygone Johnny’s Big Red Grill—with his wife, Sharon Follett Petrillose ’52. Fresh out of the oven. Parked just below the University Halls nearly year-round from evening until the wee hours of the morning, the truck served throngs of hungry undergrads who waited in a crowded, boisterous line. “I always think of it as being the food truck, before food trucks became so cool,” says Chris Pearce ’88. “It was a welcome sight on Friday nights after a long week of hitting the books. And the aroma of Bob’s creations baking in the oven was incredible.” I always think of it as being the food truck, before food trucks became so cool. Chris Pearce ’88 Bob retired in 2000 (he passed away in 2008, and Sharon three years later), but the truck stayed in operation. The owners of downtown Ithaca’s Shortstop Deli ran it until 2018, when—in need of costly repairs, and with its pipeline of devotees diminished by the relocation of all first-years to North Campus—it was decommissioned. (Happily, the deli still offers some Hot Truck sandwiches, though purists note they’re not identical to the originals.) Rob KatzThe classic view from the back of the line, 1987. While the Hill’s other longtime food truck, Louie’s Lunch, was founded even before the Hot Truck, Petrillose developed a unique menu that spawned its own devoted culture. To name a few: the Poor Man’s Pizza (French bread with tomato sauce and cheese); the MBC (meatball and cheese); the Ra-Ra (roast beef with pepperoni and mozzarella); the Mobey (ham, Swiss cheese, two meatballs, pepperoni, and mozzarella); and the Full Sui (tomato sauce, sausage, mushrooms, mozzarella, and pepperoni on a half loaf of garlic bread). “Bob’s secret was that he toasted the garlic bread first, then put the sauce, [toppings], and cheese on it—and then put it back in the oven for a second toasting,” explains ardent Hot Truck fan Gen Murphy Nelson ’85. “This ensured that the bread was crispy on the outside, never soggy.” Do you know your MBC from your PMP? Ira Bernstein ’75 not only worked shifts on the truck as a student, but also created the Hot Truck Dictionary, a pocket-sized guide to each sub’s name and description. The booklet included definitions for such terms as “run it through the garden” (add lettuce), "grease and garden" (add lettuce and mayo), “heavy” (with garlic), and “sunshine” (add mustard). “It was born as an attempt to teach the Hot Truck newbies the shorthand way of ordering their favorites,” Bernstein recalls. As he wrote in the guide’s introduction: “Come on down for a snack to relieve those munchies, or to just say ‘hi’ to Bob. If you’re not hungry, you can always get a friendly word. No charge. It’s all part of the great service. One thing is for sure—you won’t be alone!” Such an East Hill icon that his passing merited an obituary in the Cornell Chronicle, Petrillose got his culinary start in his father’s kitchen at Johnny’s Big Red Grill, where he eventually became chef and manager. A spread from the famed dictionary. “He was the hardest working man I’ve ever met,” recalls Michael Coe ’85, who got to know Petrillose through fraternity brothers who worked on the truck, “and one of the friendliest, too.” The original Hot Truck—a vehicle that once sold ice cream—was named Johnny’s Pizza Truck, with “The Pizzeria on Wheels!” emblazoned on its colorful sides. It began operation in 1960 as an extension of the restaurant—launched, in part, to repay debt from the family’s failed Studebaker dealership—with Petrillose running it as a late-night mobile kitchen for undergrads, offering not only pizza by the slice but also burgers and hot dogs. Better than a Benjamin: Gift certificates featured Petrillose's likeness. “As a teenager, I was the other guy in the truck on that first night in 1960,” recalls Robert Fabbricatore ’66, BS ’68. “We had planned to move around, but only made one stop on Stewart Avenue, as the truck was overwhelmed by the unbelieving horde of students who would gladly wait more than an hour for pizza.” As Fabbricatore admits, the pizza wasn’t particularly great that first night, and it wasn’t the same as what the restaurant offered—but nobody cared. “The novelty of the truck was like a flying saucer had landed,” he says. “We used a walkie-talkie to get more supplies. All we had was a cigar box to hold the money, and we just started throwing the money on the floor; it accumulated up to our ankles.” The novelty of the truck was like a flying saucer had landed. Robert Fabbricatore ’66, BS ’68 Stories You May Like For Half a Century, the U-Halls Shaped the Campus Experience Cornell Dairy: From Cow to Cone Within a couple of years, Petrillose had begun experimenting with then-unique French bread pizza sandwiches; he became a Cornell institution, known to generations of patrons as “Hot Truck Bob.” When Johnny’s closed in 1981, the Petrillose home on Pleasant Grove Road became the truck’s kitchen, with family members prepping fresh ingredients for each night’s run. The truck's original incarnation. “Breadcrumbs and sausage were homemade,” recalls Mimi Petrillose, Bob’s daughter-in-law. “The cheese was hand ground. Roast beef was cooked in the oven.” In 1993, a new truck—a customized van with top-of-the-line ovens—replaced the original. (The Petrillose family captured a home video documenting its first night in operation.) The menu continued to grow, including some offerings suggested by student regulars—and mastering the truck’s lingua franca became a rite of passage for new Cornellians. Cornell UniversityThe truck came up the Hill for numerous Reunions, to the delight of alumni. “I was so foolish as a freshman: my first Hot Truck sandwich was a cold sub—just because I didn’t want to wait!” laments Coe, still hanging his head in shame decades later. “But I soon mended my ways and became a big fan of the TMBC Pep and the Ra-Ra G&G, which often served as comfort food when the pressures of my studies were wearing me out.” For some new arrivals, frequenting the truck meant leaving their native sandwich cultures behind—like Seale, a Philadelphian who still vividly recalls standing in the snow for his first sub one night in January 1979. “I naturally ordered a ‘cheesesteak hoagie wid,’ meaning with Cheez Whiz and grilled onions,” Seale says. “Bob cracked a smile and said, ‘Hello Philly boy. We call them ‘steak ’n’ cheese subs’ up here. Don’t compare the two sandwiches, just enjoy the one that will be in your hands in a few minutes.’” Many students worked for Petrillose—a gig that was both one of the Hill’s coolest part-time jobs and a front row seat to the quintessentially Cornellian scene that was the Hot Truck queue. A handmade card from two dedicated fans. “I saw just about anything you can think of: dating connections, break-ups, fights, long-lost roommate meet-ups,” says Brad Richards ’80, BS ’81, who worked there for two years. “Rain, snow, heat, or cold, the one constant was Bob. It didn’t matter if the ovens were empty or if we had a backlog of 20 subs; I never saw him fazed.” The one constant was Bob. It didn’t matter if the ovens were empty or if we had a backlog of 20 subs; I never saw him fazed. Brad Richards ’80, BS ’81 Nelson, who also worked on the truck, describes with amazement how Petrillose could simultaneously take orders—which were scribbled on the paper bags that the sandwiches would be served in—make subs, and check the ovens. “The construction of these masterpieces was a symphony of motion in a very tight space,” she says. “I had to pay close attention and be on top of my game.” She recalls how Petrillose would always add a sprinkle of oregano to the subs, saying, “Gotta make it Italian!” The first truck, with a young Petrillose inside. Among Hot Truck Bob’s other standards: a corny joke about how many pieces the pizza subs would be cut into. Says Nelson: “He would always say: ‘Four—but if you’re really hungry, I’ll cut it in six.’” Over the decades, the truck became a beloved University institution. It would even take up residence on the Arts Quad during Reunion, allowing nostalgic alumni to relive the flavors of their youth. Cornell UniversityCornellians—including Touchdown—in front of a Hot Truck mockup at an event in Washington, D.C., in 2012. A life-size mockup went on the road for events like the Cornell Alumni Leadership Conference, where it was a favorite backdrop for snapshots. But there was nothing quite like the genuine experience, ordered in the middle of the night on Stewart Avenue. Eric Skolnick ’90 recalls a particularly memorable Hot Truck run with Andrew Stifel ’91—one that happened long after graduation, and started a lot farther away than the back of the line. The ingredients, being assembled. “We were at a Baltimore Orioles game on a beautiful spring night,” Skolnick says. “End of the ninth inning, the Orioles win. I turn to Andrew and say, ‘Truck?’ He thinks for a moment; nods.” They hopped into Stifel’s car and hit the road—arriving on Stewart Avenue around 4:15 a.m., just before closing time. “We took our cherished, hot sandwiches to the car, drove up to the Straight, and ate them in front of McGraw Tower,” says Skolnick. “We finished, sang the Alma Mater, got back into the car, and drove home.” Top: The classic view of the truck on Stewart Avenue. All photos provided by the Petrillose family, unless otherwise indicated. Published August 16, 2024; updated September 11, 2024 What are your tastiest Hot Truck memories? Comments Steve Grandin, Class of 1977 17 Aug, 2024 As an ATO, I lived directly across from the Hot Truck and members of our house were regulars. We even had the honor of going inside the truck to order and wait for our subs, out of the rain and and snow. Bob got to know brothers from our house and was a major part of ATO life. My Truck meal of choice was an MBC, ocassionally going all out for a TMBC! Reply Suzanne (Tougas) Snedeker and Jeff Snedeker, Class of 1978 22 Aug, 2024 We live in “Johnny’s House”, at 1006 Triphammer Rd., one mile from North Campus, the house that Hot Truck Bob grew up in! We are only the second owners (we bought it from Johnny when he was over 90 years old). It’s fitting that two Cornellians live in their house! This article is fabulous! You should make it available in print as a “memorial” edition for all those that loved the tradition of the Hot Truck. Bob and his wife lived around the corner on Pleasant Grove Road for many years. What a team! Reply Stacey Miller, Class of 1999 22 Aug, 2024 Became a Hot Truck devotee in HS during summer college and then as a freshmen and sophomore on west campus. Bob was always generous about letting you take shelter from the rain or snow, I can still remember how it smelled and the warmth from the ovens. Nothing else like it ❤️🐻🤍 Reply T.J. Duane, Class of 1999 22 Aug, 2024 Hey – that’s my signature on those gift certificates! I worked at the truck for four years and my sister lived with Bob and Sharon and helped make the meatballs! I think about them often and fondly… Reply L. Brown, Class of 1980 22 Aug, 2024 I remember the truck that was in CollegeTown when I was living on Elmwood Ave from 1978-1980. Was it the same truck, or did they have more than one? Reply John Brindley, Class of 1976 27 Aug, 2024 Was living on North Campus my junior and senior years and finally had a car that made the trip to Stewart Ave easy. Like many others the PMP and Sui were my go to favorites, especially after too many beers at the Chapter House on the way home. Great memories. Reply CLIF AMES, Class of 1962 27 Aug, 2024 In 1958 it was Louis’ Lunch Reply Mark Miller, Class of 1984 27 Aug, 2024 I too worked the shift with Bob in my senior year spring semester – he was an incredibly hard working man with a kind heart to match! And one of the benefits of being a loyal employee was license to come inside the truck on regular nights and cut the line – Bob would simply whisper “what do you want?” and then instruct that night’s helper accordingly! That perk continued as alum for many years – and those crowds were especially big on Homecoming weekends – PRICELESS! I learned a lot from Bob, he was a pseudo professor for “Life Lessons”! Go Big Red! Reply Keith Herrador, Class of 2000 27 Aug, 2024 My older sister who was class of 1990, and my now brother in law who was class of 1988 introduced me to hot truck while I was a teenager visiting. I did a week of lacrosse camp one summer and brought all my friends. When I became a student, we went here all the time. In 2018, I crashed the 1998 reunion to go with my friends in that class and that was the last time the truck was in the arts quad. We all went and my brother in law was actually there as well meeting up with friends for his 30th reunion. It was a full circle moment and glad I got it one last time. Reply Edward Chai, Class of 1991 10 Sep, 2024 My Go To WTF (With the fixings) but we called it What The F&@& G and G hot and heavy industrial one Coke and one Tahitian treat Saturday night in the fall when Bob pulled up to our House Reply Michael Tannenbaum, Class of 1975 27 Aug, 2024 I lived in Sperry Hall (U-Hall 6) as a first-year in 1971-72, and didn’t “discover” Bob’s Hot Truck until early November. Once having done so and tasted an MBC, I headed there many nights (perhaps averaging 4 times per week). I continued to frequent the Hot Truck when I lived near North Campus and in Collegetown in later years. I now visit Ithaca several times per year, and on most trips eat an MBC for lunch at the Shortstop Deli . . . it’s pretty good, but not up to the standards and consistency of the Hot Truck’s MBCs. Reply PHILIPPE BLANC, Class of 1972 27 Aug, 2024 After having long experienced the “Willard Straight” cafeteria with that strong woman who asked everyone “What’s yours”, I joined the Risley dining-plan where the food was quite acceptable for a french guy. But still, sometimes, I and some friends went to the food truck right in front of Risley Hall. It was quite a different taste and we really enjoyed it. Risley is a place I will never forget since I never met such a special atmosphere anywhere else latter. Reply Brad, Class of 1980 27 Aug, 2024 Bob was a true gentleman. Never fazed, regardless of how long the line was. The sandwiches always came out perfect. I was there at least 2 nights per week and got to know Bob really well. He was able to converse easily while preparing the sandwiches. My favorite was the 1/2 triple SUI. I can still taste it by remembering it. Bob let good customers in the truck, but you still had to wait your turn. This led to a great rapport with him. Reply Bruce Kirsch, Class of 1970 27 Aug, 2024 My wife Shelly and I have fond memories of parties, football games and The Truck. Bob would let us stand inside the front of The Truck waiting for our MBC. While our daughters didn’t attend Cornell they did visit The Truck during their recruiting trip. Now we tell our grandchildren about The Truck and they have read articles about it. Teddy smacks his lips at the thought of trying his first MBC. Reply Paul DuBowy, Class of 1975 27 Aug, 2024 The Hot Truck was the only reason to venture down Libe Slope to West Campus especially in winter. The subs still available downtown are poor substitutes for the originals. Reply Carol Pratt, Class of 1972 27 Aug, 2024 We loved tuna sandwiches from Louie’s truck parked outside Balch Hall 1968-69. Reply Phil Terzian, Class of 1974 27 Aug, 2024 Spent many snowy nights ambling down to the hot truck from my room in the wine cellar of University Halls #2. Great memories. Thank you for this article. Reply Howard Fries, Class of 1974 15 Sep, 2024 I remember that too – standing in the snow with snow falling – great experience. Too, my sophmore year, I lived at the Zeta Psi house at 660 Stewart so the Hot truck was there, then, too! Reply L.Wicks, Class of 1990 27 Aug, 2024 Sharing a SUI with friends is a great memory of my time on campus. I seem to recall a number of people claiming they were sure-fire hangover prevention. Don’t know about that, but they were amazingly delicious. Reply Doug Johnson, Class of 1978 27 Aug, 2024 The Truck was an institution, and Bob was the greatest. Having spent 4 years on West Campus (U Hall 4, and then 3 years at Phi Sig nearby), Hot Truck was our go-to place for after hockey at Lynah or the Tin Can, late night study break, or just about any reason. Very fond memories of the food and the man. Reply Ken Hanson, Class of 1975 27 Aug, 2024 Hi,Doug! Reply Mary Kocur, Class of 1978 27 Aug, 2024 I know it would never be the same, but I’d pay good money for the sauce and meatball recipes! I have such wonderful memories. Reply Brooks Parker, Class of 2000 27 Aug, 2024 Lived in Class of ’22 U Hall, which was the one furthest to the west and north, so to speak, and the Hot Truck was right behind our dorm, more so than any other U Hall. Spent many a night waiting for Shaggys and Scoobys. All his meatballs and sausages were homemade. On cold nights, a couple lucky souls would be able to wait inside and watch Bob prepare his creations…. will never forget him. I was there his last 4 years, 1996-2000. I still have an original menu booklet in safe keeping. RIP Bob! Reply Ken Hanson, Class of 1975 27 Aug, 2024 Great memories from freshman year on. A Sperry Hall resident, I started out with Wet Garlics and PMPs (as a poor freshman), then graduating to MBCs. Short walk from Phi Sigma Kappa in ensuing years. Reply Chuck Geber, Class of 1973 27 Aug, 2024 I had a friend who was so distraught over the break-up with his girl friend that he decided to end it all by eating a Triple Sui from the Hot Truck and then going to Fencing Team practice…fortunately, he survived this gauntlet. Reply David B. Clark, Class of 1971 27 Aug, 2024 I was a scholarship student and didn’t have much money, so I usually went to Louie’s. The hot truck was a splurge for special occasions. Many nights, I would get a cheeseburger sub and a cheese-kraut dog. The cheese-kraut dog was my favorite, and I still make them for myself to this day. Reply James Beemer, Class of 1984 27 Aug, 2024 I lived in Mennen Hall at the bottom of Libe Slope F-Jr yrs. I could look out my window, see the truck pull up and a short walk out to get my fix. Reply scott michael, Class of 2014 27 Aug, 2024 i lived in keeton on west and my weekly triple sui with truck sauce was no doubt the single most important contributing factor to me graduating on time so my degree should also be accredited to the hot truck. Reply Kenneth Goldman, Class of 1971 27 Aug, 2024 Ken Goldman. Class of ‘71. Hot truck was our staple at night. The Sui and even when we went to Sammy we continued the tradition as many all nighters as an EE student. May all RIP Reply Gary Lam, Class of 1990 27 Aug, 2024 To echo Bob’s joke on cutting pizza subs ‘Four—but if you’re really hungry, I’ll cut it in six.’, Tony Petrillose (the barber in Collegetown) had a similar joke “If you don’t like your haircut, we’ll double your hair back.” Reply Kenneth Goldman, Class of 1971 28 Aug, 2024 I remember the hot truck well. SUIs was our thing as we did all nighters many times as undergrad EEs from University Halls and coming from our Fraternity Sammy. Ken Goldman Reply Carl Anderson, Class of 1968 28 Aug, 2024 I never visited the truck (even though I lived in one of the U-Halls in 1964) but I remember Bob from Johnny’s, where I worked in the kitchen half time for awhile in 1969. (Johnny’s had been my go-to place for nearly nightly late dinners junior and senior years.) Whenever Bob or his father were particularly aggravating we in the kitchen would send Huggy the bartender a prohibited steak or lobster dinner. Huggy was an institution. This always put the Petrilloses on good behavior for awhile. You should also know that Bob’s older brother Joe (I think that was his name), who ran the gas station down the street, had been offered the Ithaca Volkswagen dealership, which he declined since Americans would never buy those funny-looking foreign cars. Reply Lucrezia Herman, Class of 1976 2 Sep, 2024 I was in UHall 3, at the end of the short hallway that looked directly at the truck, so generally managed to get there before the long lines formed. I was on the Co-op lunch and dinner plan (anyone remember that?), and didn’t have much money for other food (going out for a meal? never!), but just managed to afford a semi-weekly PMP (40 cents in 1972/73), maybe once a month treating myself to a PMP with pep and mush. One of the RAs in our dorm worked in the truck some nights, and I benefitted by getting an extra couple of mushrooms and a wink. Reply Doug Shore, Class of 1967 6 Sep, 2024 Was in U-Hall 2 freshman year (1963-64), would drive to the truck in later years when we lived off-campus for a late-night snack. Bob let me create my own combination, but I can no longer remember what my personal specialty was, other than very good. Reply Alvin Velazquez, Class of 2000 10 Sep, 2024 I came back to campus in 2012 to speak at the ILR worker roundtable and a couple of other events. The members of my fraternity (Seal and Serpent) kept talking about how much they loved Hot Truck. It took me a while to realize that they were talking about Louie’s Lunch. I frankly was appalled. As freshman, they all lived on North Campus. Well, that night, they were having a party. When it was over, I offered to buy subs for anyone left who wanted a Hot Truck sub. We all piled in our cars and went down. It was such a revelation to them! They all hung out on Stewart Ave., ate, and really enjoyed themselves. It made me feel so good to give them a bit of something I so cared about during my time on the Hill. Reply John Kaprielian, Class of 1986 10 Sep, 2024 So many PMPs and WGCs (with garden & heat). So many nights waiting in the cold. The truck was the best and terribly missed. Whenever I get to Ithaca I try to hit the ShortStop (ask them to run it through the oven twice – it gives it some char like Bob’s oven would) but it’s only about 85% the same (also, no Tahitian Treat). Bob was great and he never seemed to be phased by all the students and their antics. Great memories. Reply Jeff Weeks, Class of 1987 10 Sep, 2024 I remember it was 2AM some frozen November night first semester Freshman year. I’d been to the Hot Truck a few times but that night there was no one there. I placed my order and Bob said “get in here”. And never stood in that line again! No one has mentioned the WTF. When Bob knew you well, you would ask for a WTF and Bob would just make up something on the fly out of your history of orders. I’d kill for one right now. Reply Terry Hartmann, Class of 1970 10 Sep, 2024 Seems to me that the WTF was reserved for those who couldn’t decide while others were waiting… you got what he wanted to serve and were happy to have it. BTW – sui’s were the best for all-nighters since, well you would likely be up all night. VERY tasty! Reply Erik Lehmann, Class of 1995 10 Sep, 2024 Having worked with Bob in the truck for 7 years, and lived with Bob and Sharon during my first year in Grad School, I often reflect on what it would have been like to run the truck after Bob released the reigns. When life situations arised where I wanted a loving answer, I would ask myself “What would Bob do?”. When I helped open the PMP:the Original French Bread Pizza, it felt so good to be part of the Petrillose family legacy! Now…when I make a batch of meatballs, they often have an unintended ingredient of a few tears, as I drift down memory lane of all the time we spent in the truck(and sometimes on his boat). I miss them every day! They don’t make people like that anymore! Reply Paul Bingham, Class of 1982 12 Sep, 2024 Erik, Great to see your comments as Hot Truck royalty. Those students who regularly ‘worked the window’ taking the orders for Bob earned due fame among the 1000s of customers each semester. Through knowing a hotelie from my freshman year U-Hall 4 dorm who worked the window, somehow sophomore year I got a golden ticket of being one of the honored regular customers invited to from then on order and wait inside the front of the truck. A front row seat (well, actually always standing room only inside the truck) observing Bob and his loyal fans. Whether living on North Campus or College Town later, I’d still make truck runs several days a week, often ordering for others too. I visited the Hot Truck at reunions and in all my returns to Ithaca through 2000 with Bob welcoming me warmly with a smile and asking how I was doing. He taught us students many lessons just watching him work and talking with his customers, including fairness, tolerance, and how to tell stories with a great sense of humor. The perfection of “Textbook Subs” when prepared flawlessly or Bob quick to say “No charge for the extra heat” when a little overcooked are among the joyful memories I have of the Hot Truck. I still have stored away a copy of the dictionary and a Hot Truck T-Shirt. I also associate certain 1980s pop songs with the Truck due to hearing them originally most on WTKO AM radio which Bob had playing inside the original truck in the background. (A correction to the story is that the original Hot Truck was not a converted ice cream truck. The manufacturer also sold ice cream truck versions, but Bob bought that truck originally equipped and sold as a Pizzeria on Wheels truck, although not as the French Bread Pizza Truck that it became!) See the Hot Truck Facebook Group postings on the original Hot Truck for more details. Reply Kevin McDermott, Class of 1983 10 Sep, 2024 Some of my fraternity brothers and I became fairly regular customers of the Hot Truck and developed a friendship with Bob. We somehow managed to stand in the truck and talk with Bob on my trips to the truck. We’d do our work until around midnight then hit the truck. One night near the end of the semester Bob asked me if I’d be interested in working one night because he was short of help because of finals. I said sure but was a nervous wreck because I didn’t want to goof up the art form that Bob had so lovingly developed. It turned out fine and I worked a few more nights when he needed someone. I always admired Bob and how hard he worked, one of my friends tried to talk Bob into using already shredded cheese, Bob wanted nothing to do with that. I’m sure he’s in the afterlife making some great subs. Reply Kim Smith Major, Class of 1995 10 Sep, 2024 My U-Hall room looked right over the hot truck line. In my first year, it helped me to meet so many of my dorm mates because everyone wanted to see how long the line was. There are such happy memories of standing in line and hot truck will forever be one of my core Cornell memories. Reply Bob Nitzschke, Class of 1980 10 Sep, 2024 I was on frosh heavyweight crew and on the coop meal plan so I was ALWAYS hungry. Living in UHall #2 both Bob’s Hot Truck snd the West Campus store were right next door off Stewart Ave. I’d grab a qt of Cornell Dairy Chocolate Milk and order a 1/2 Sui sub from Bob and have a feast at midnight or earlier maybe twice a week. Couple of freezing nights Bob told me to jump into the driver’s seat to warm up while he fixed my order. His passenger seat was stacked to the roof with 2 1/2 foot sub rolls. Even when His work pace, with one helper, was insanely busy he was unflappable and big-hearted. He and his Italian Paradise on wheels were an ICON to us on West Campus in the ‘70s!! Reply Michael Hutchinson, Class of 1993 10 Sep, 2024 The Truck was popular on South Hill as well. My Ithaca College classmates and I trekked over at least once a week for WGCs. (IC Class of ’93) Reply Jeffrey Lee, Class of 1988 11 Sep, 2024 My friends and I would collect our orders (usually a PMP Pep for me but I tried it all over the years) and walk over to Sunset Park to eat, generally in the wee hours of the morning. We watched the sun rise a few times. Those were some of my favorite memories of Cornell. Reply Derek Roesener, Class of 1992 11 Sep, 2024 Living on West Campus for 3 years, Hot Truck was a regular addition to my meal plan. Once my family members got introduced to Hot Truck when they would visit, I would bring home a half dozen sandwiches frozen as a carry-on when flying home. I do make a pretty good imitation. Key is to use day old Jimmy Johns bread. Reply John Kaprielian, Class of 1986 11 Sep, 2024 Technically, that “Serious Eats” recipe is a WGC, but it’s also…not quite right. The toasting and the garlic butter is good, but there’s no char, and the sauce isn’t right. I have made good WGCs and PMPs at home, but…you just know when you are close. Also, when you are done, shove it in a paper bag for a while or the smell won’t be right! Reply Jonathan Weis, Class of 1992 15 Sep, 2024 How do we get a copy of the “Hot Truck Dictionary “? I must have it! Reply Brooks Parker, Class of 2000 4 Oct, 2024 Jonathan, I have it as a PDF File. Email me at bwp2…. you know the rest. Reply Jeffrey Frey, Class of 1959 15 Sep, 2024 I was a freshman in 1955 and remember the food truck in back of University Halls back then. Was it Louie’s, which moved up to Risley later? Was it Johnny’s and you got your dates wrong? Or is my memory failing? Reply Eric Mund, Class of 1984 16 Sep, 2024 Jeffrey: I think you are right. Pizza truck was by the u halls. Louie’s was by the bridge in North Campus.. I do not remember the Johnny’s truck. Louie’s was the tiny little Metro van. It was 30 years old when I got there in 1980. Reply Steve Fellows, Class of 1988 16 Sep, 2024 My standby: PMP Pep Industrial. I was on West Campus all four years. I didn’t discover my love for the hot truck until my Junior year. But I remember getting that PMP Pep Industrial in the brown paper bag and taking it back to the McFadden basement computer room or tv room. There was something about that combination in a brown bag. It was perfect. I learned to get there early so I didn’t have to wait an hour or certain times when there were lulls. We would hang out waiting for our order. I would watch as the order taker took out a brown bag, and draw lines down the bag to create columns for the orders. Never had a French bread pizza since then that compared. Thank you for the article. One of my fondest memories of Cornell. Mmmm. PMP Pep Industrial! Thank you, Bob! May your memory be a blessing! Reply Chungsen C Cheng, Class of 1985 16 Sep, 2024 As a UHall-4 wine cellar freshman, I saw Johny pulling up every night. Bob was always calm & nice, even if the order list was a full bag long or if he had to kick a few of us off his truck once in a while. I remained a loyal customer for three more years despite living at TKE far, far away. My favorite is an Indy (sometimes double!). Reply Howard Roth, Class of 1972 17 Sep, 2024 I worked with Bob on the truck, behind the freshman men’s dorms for my whole four years at Cornell. I took the job because I needed the money to pay for my room and books, and I couldn’t have afforded to make it through school without that income. But little did I know what a great job it would be to work with Bob, who always had a smile for everyone, and to almost instantly get to know so many great people on campus. That was one of the best jobs I ever had, and I only sliced my hand with that giant bread knife once in all that time. Reply Paul Kaye and Cathy Duke, Class of 1972 2 Nov, 2024 So one night I wanted to try something new, and Bob’s suggestion was to put a sui on top of a tuna sandwich, a combination that made my Sperry Hall friends sick just hearing about it. Well, it was great, and I used to order Tuna Suis in between PMPS and MBCs. A few years after graduation I came back to Ithaca and ordered a tuna sui from the young man at the window and Bob whipped his head around, smiled, and said “it’s been a while” or something like that. I was so happy that he remembered me! The Hot Truck was an important part of our Cornell lives. Reply Leave a Comment Cancel replyOnce your comment is approved, your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Class Year Email * Save my name, email, and class year in this browser for the next time I comment. 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