GENOA — Hungry Hearts, Carson Valley’s newest food truck sensation, celebrates its grand opening at the Genoa Bar, 2282 Main Street in Genoa, this weekend, Friday through Sunday, June 25-27, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day.
Co-owned by Kim and Ellie McIntire and Lindsey and Shane McInnerny, Hungry Hearts will be at the Genoa Bar every Friday through Sunday following the grand opening.
The McInnernys wanted to provide food at the Genoa Bar but to also find a way to support children in crisis in Northern Nevada and a family run food truck was the perfect fit. This is a mission from the heart, which is how Lindsey McInnerny came up with the name Hungry Hearts.
Hungry Hearts donates 10 percent of its proceeds to local community nonprofit organizations serving children.
The owners chose Austin’s House to be the recipient of the funds through the end of July. Austin’s House operates an emergency shelter facility for children up to age 18 who have suffered abuse, neglect abandonment or other forms of maltreatment when a family relative or licensed foster care family is not available.
“Foster kids are important to us, so choosing Austin’s House as our grand opening nonprofit made all kinds of sense,” Kim McIntire said.
Kim McIntire said as soon as the McInnernys approached him and his wife about starting up Hungry Hearts, they jumped at the opportunity.
“Within three days we found the trailer and started cooking,” he said.
The Hungry Hearts menu is simple, McIntire said. Burgers, fries, and house-made aioli.
“We have the OG Smash burger with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, cheese and our own aioli sauce; the Barbecue Smash Burger with crispy onions and barbecue sauce; and the Spicy Smash Burger with Frank’s RedHot sauce and jalapenos,” he said. “The smash cooking technique caramelizes the amino acids and sugars in the meat and keeps the juices in.”
McIntire said he selected beef from Gardnerville-based Carson Valley Meats after getting a tip from a friend.
“We knew as soon as we did a taste test that this was the meat for us,” he said. “We’ve been using other organic meats and this one blew us away with its fresh taste. We’ve been cooking with it all month as we’re getting ready to launch and we couldn’t ask for better meat for our signature burgers.”
In a small space, flawless execution is critical. McIntire said his team operates so smoothly he’s been asked if Hungry Hearts is a franchise.
“We work like clockwork,” he said. “Our crew is doing so well, and we are so excited for this weekend.”
And, he said, take some burgers home with you — leftovers are still smashing after a day in the fridge.
About Carson Valley Meats
Carson Valley Meats, located at the historic Storke Dairy in Gardnerville, Nevada, is a provider of locally raised beef, pork, lamb, goat and poultry. Through its monthly Ranch Box food orders, customers may select from a variety of locally produced meats, foods and beverages from regional suppliers including Liberty Food and Wine, Alpen Sierra Coffee, Alibi Ale Works, Misbeehaven Farms and Sinclair Family Farm. For more information, visit carsonvalleymeats.com.
About Hungry Hearts
Hungry Hearts is Carson Valley’s newest portable food venue offering a simple menu of hamburgers made with locally sourced beef, French fries and its signature house-made aioli. Hungry Hearts donates 10% of its proceeds to community nonprofits serving children each month. For more information, see the Facebook page here.
About Austin’s House
Since 2007, Austin’s House has provided emergency shelter and compassionate care for children in Northern Nevada who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. We provide care to both boys and girls between the ages of birth to 18 until they are either reunited with their family or an appropriate long-term placement is made. As a private, 501(c)3 organization, we depend on the generosity of local citizens and businesses to donate goods, services, and money to cover our operating expenses. For more information, visit austinshousenv.org.