SOMERSET, KY – Want to thank U.S. Air Force veteran Jay Richardson for his service? How about stopping by his new food truck, Mericana, for a meal?
His menu, life story, and worldly culinary experience have been years in the making, and today, he’s ready to serve others some of the unique meals he’s crafting from his new food truck, along with a side of fine dining, meal prep and catering services. Mericana is currently available only in Lincoln, Pulaski, and Boyle counties.
His customers know him as Chef Jay.
He describes Mericana as a place where culinary passion meets American innovation.
“Mericana is an ode to the melting pot ideology of being an American,” he said. “Growing up, I loved food, the experience of eating something that was made by people with rich cultural backgrounds that were different from mine. So this is my way of highlighting what’s great about being an American. It’s American BBQ, steak, burgers and pizza. It’s Italian, Spanish, Jamaican, Argentinian, and Irish. It’s Mericana.”
He separated from the Air Force after 13 years of service, during which he traveled across the globe as a member of Security Forces. He moved to Kentucky in 2023 to be closer to family and put his culinary skills to work here.
Richardson found his true calling in the culinary industry by exploring a variety of global cuisines while serving overseas. After leaving the Air Force, he went to school to learn more about his new love. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Culinary Management and is a Certified Chef through the American Culinary Federation.
His menu boasts unique tastes, including “American BBQ, the flavors of Latin America and the Caribbean, the tradition of Argentinian asado, the finesse of French cuisine, and the craft of artisan baking, with a focus on farm-to-table cuisine.”
And he’s had years of experience developing his style and tastes. Before diving into entrepreneurship, he was employed as Chef de Partie and Executive Chef at award-winning restaurants and worked at country clubs across Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
He did his homework before opening Mericana and determined there is growth in the region’s food truck industry and across the country.
“I got to a point where I just had to try and do this thing for myself. The biggest challenge has been not wanting to give up because of all the obstacles,” Richardson said. “There were a lot of delays with the build of the truck. I was spending a lot of money before making any. That was rough, but I had my wife, Natalie, pushing me, and an amazing group of family and friends supporting me. So now I’m here, and it’s the fun part. Cooking for people and hearing their positive responses to what I do.”
According to a recent report from IBISWorld, a global industry research firm, food trucks are approaching $3 billion in annual revenues, and the more than 92,000 businesses in the United States are projected to keep growing over the next five years.
Mericana may be one of the newest, but Richardson is ready to work and grow here in southern Kentucky.
Food truck industry entrepreneurs face multiple challenges as they build their dreams and need a financial partner who believes in them, their plan, and their goals.
He found assistance from the professionals at Southeast Kentucky Economic Development Corp. (SKED). The nonprofit lender helped him turn a truck into his small-business dream by financing the equipment and upfitting the food truck.
A family friend put me in contact with SKED, and the team at SKED has been amazing in providing the help and assistance I needed, Richardson said. “Bob (Burgess) and Amanda (Kelly) have been amazing in pointing me in the right direction and guiding me to this point. So, I owe SKED a lot.”
Jason Richardson, owner Mericana
Burgess, SKED Director of Lending, says working with Richardson has been inspiring.
“Jay has been great to work with throughout the process,” Burgess said. “He knew exactly what he wanted to do: bring his experience and skill as a chef to the southern area of Kentucky so that many people could enjoy his craft. And what better way to do that than through a food truck?”
To learn more about Mericana, follow the business on Facebook or visit its website: www.mericanaculinary.com.