TRUCKING
Established 2015
The Salty donut truck is the
most popular kid on campus.
By Jenny Matz
Photos by Ryan Honeyman & The Salty
This spring, the east side of campus got a lot sweeter. On March 21, The Salty donut truck pulled up across from Cato Hall with artisan donuts and craft coffee in tow. Fed by The Salty home store and kitchen in South End, this new arrival is keeping students, faculty and staff buzzing.
In 2015, founders Amanda Pizarro and (then boyfriend, now husband) Andy Rodriguez launched The Salty from a vintage camper in Wynwood, Miami. Quickly gaining a loyal following, they opened their first store a year later and now have eight locations across Florida and Texas, along with the newest brick-and-mortar location in Charlotte’s South End. Atlanta is next up with a store opening in Buckhead this fall.
Thanks to Paul Johnson, resident district manager for Chartwells Dining Services at UNC Charlotte, and good friend of the owners, The Salty donut truck now resides on campus Monday through Thursday. Parked in front of East Deck and the surrounding commuter lots, The Salty has promptly become a fan favorite, especially because students, faculty and staff can pre-order using the Niner Diner app and quickly dash to class or the office. Alumni and visitors can expect to see the truck at large gatherings like commencement and sporting events.
The Lowdown
• The Salty is a Florida-based small batch shop featuring inventive donuts, treats and coffees.
• The Charlotte store opened in January, the most successful grand opening to date.
• There are 10 alternating donut flavors and always one gluten-free and one vegan option.
• Non-donut fans can happily indulge in the brown sugar and cinnamon pop tart, the jalapeno and cheddar biscuit and the everything bagel and cream cheese puff.
• They’re canine friendly, offering a peanut butter doggy donut, topped with a homemade milk bone.
• The Salty has dynamic catering options for parties, showers and special events – they even have a DONUT WALL.
THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE (DONUT) BOX:
All The Salty’s donuts are made from scratch daily, beginning at 3 a.m. There’s nothing artificial in these artisan creations —they use only fresh, natural ingredients, many locally sourced. The result is a sinful slice of heaven. Check out their unique offerings.
Brown Butter and Salt
Simple is best: This vanilla bean cake donut is capped with a brown butter glaze and dusted with the perfect pinch of Maldon sea salt. Get them while they last — these are usually the first to sell out.
White Chocolate and Chai
The height of sophistication: A chai milk-soaked donut, bottom crusted with valrhona white chocolate and finished with torched vanilla meringue. Yes, you read that right.
Milk and Cookies
This one takes you back to childhood: A brioche donut topped with a sweet cream glaze, decadent hot fudge and cocoa cookie crunch.
Boston Cream
Never gets old: A brioche base confection generously filled with vanilla custard and topped with sumptuous ganache glaze.
Strawberry Shortcake
Homemade goodness: A scooped out brioche filled with layers of strawberries and chunks of lemon cake, capped with a strawberry glaze and mascarpone whipped cream.
Ube Pina Colada
Tropical vibes: This vibrant Ube-infused vegan donut is pineapple jam filled, with a coconut milk glaze and topped with coconut streusel.
Traditional 49er
Go Niners: This OG brioche donut is coated with a sweet vanilla bean glaze and sprinkled with green and gold. Can’t beat the original.
PB&J
Peanut Butter Jelly Time: A super moist gluten-free peanut butter cake filled with strawberry jam and strawberry glaze, then topped with candied peanuts. The best gf donut I’ve ever had.
Cookie Butter Cake
The New Kid: A rich brown sugar cake donut with spiced cookie butter glaze and generously coated with crushed homemade biscoff cookies.
Chocolate and Pistachio Cannoli:
Holy cannoli: This raised brioche has a traditional mini chocolate chip cannoli filling, with both ends dipped in dark chocolate, crushed pistachios and cookie crumbs, then dusted in powdered sugar.
PERK UP:
They don’t sleep on the coffee, using freshly roasted Intelligentsia beans (a Chicago favorite) that are delivered weekly. Beyond the robust batch brew, cappuccinos, lattes and americanos, they offer specialities equally as creative as the pastries. Here are a few of our favorites:
Cinnamon Cereal Milk Latte
A double shot of espresso combined with a house-made cinnamon cereal milk syrup.
Salted Caramel Latte
A velvety latte combined with a homemade silky salted caramel.
Maple and Brown Sugar Cold Brew:
The house blended cold brew infused with a smooth and creamy maple sweetness and a crisp brown sugar finish.
Life of the party
Whether you’re hosting a birthday party, corporate event, wedding or baby shower, The Salty has endless ways to make a sweet impression. You can order donut stations and towers, custom letters and the ever-popular donut wall. They can even help with gender reveal parties. And you can take the show on the road — when it’s not on campus, the truck may be rented for special events. The catering brochure has everything you can dream up and more.
STAY IN TOUCH
TRUCKING
The Salty donut truck is the
most popular kid on campus.
By Jenny Matz
Photos by Ryan Honeyman & The Salty
This spring, the east side of campus got a lot sweeter. On March 21, The Salty donut truck pulled up across from Cato Hall with artisan donuts and craft coffee in tow. Fed by The Salty home store and kitchen in South End, this new arrival is keeping students, faculty and staff buzzing.
In 2015, founders Amanda Pizarro and (then boyfriend, now husband) Andy Rodriguez launched The Salty from a vintage camper in Wynwood, Miami. Quickly gaining a loyal following, they opened their first store a year later and now have eight locations across Florida and Texas, along with the newest brick-and-mortar location in Charlotte’s South End. Atlanta is next up with a store opening in Buckhead this fall.
Thanks to Paul Johnson, UNC Charlotte’s Resident District manager and good friend of the owners, The Salty donut truck now resides on campus Monday through Thursday. Parked in front of East Deck and the surrounding commuter lots, The Salty has promptly become a fan favorite, especially because students, faculty and staff can pre-order using the Niner Diner app and quickly dash to class or the office. Alumni and visitors can expect to see the truck at large gatherings like commencement and sporting events.
The Lowdown
• The Salty is a Florida-based small batch shop featuring inventive donuts, treats and coffees.
• The Charlotte store opened in January, the most successful grand opening to date.
• There are 10 alternating donut flavors and always one gluten-free and one vegan option.
• Non-donut fans can happily indulge in the blueberry pop tart, the layered ham and cheese roll and the brown butter chocolate chip cookie.
• They’re canine friendly, offering a peanut butter doggy donut, topped with a homemade milk bone.
• The Salty has dynamic catering options for parties, showers and special events – they even have a DONUT WALL.
THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE (DONUT) BOX:
All The Salty’s donuts are made from scratch daily, beginning at 3 a.m. There’s nothing artificial in these artisan creations —they use only fresh, natural ingredients, many locally sourced. The result is a sinful slice of heaven. Check out their unique offerings.
Brown Butter and Salt
Simple is best: This vanilla bean cake donut is capped with a brown butter glaze and dusted with the perfect pinch of Maldon sea salt. Get them while they last — these are usually the first to sell out.
White Chocolate and Chai
The height of sophistication: A chai milk-soaked donut, bottom crusted with valrhona white chocolate and finished with torched vanilla meringue. Yes, you read that right.
Milk and Cookies
This one takes you back to childhood: A brioche donut topped with a sweet cream glaze, decadent hot fudge and cocoa cookie crunch.
Boston Cream
Never gets old: A brioche base confection generously filled with vanilla custard and topped with sumptuous ganache glaze.
Strawberry Shortcake
Homemade goodness: A scooped out brioche filled with layers of strawberries and chunks of lemon cake, capped with a strawberry glaze and mascarpone whipped cream.
Ube Pina Colada
Tropical vibes: This vibrant Ube-infused vegan donut is pineapple jam filled, with a coconut milk glaze and topped with coconut streusel.
Traditional 49er
Go Niners: This OG brioche donut is coated with a sweet vanilla bean glaze and sprinkled with green and gold. Can’t beat the original.
PB&J
Peanut Butter Jelly Time: A super moist gluten-free peanut butter cake filled with strawberry jam and strawberry glaze, then topped with candied peanuts. The best gf donut I’ve ever had.
Cookie Butter Cake
The New Kid: A rich brown sugar cake donut with spiced cookie butter glaze and generously coated with crushed homemade biscoff cookies.
Chocolate and Pistachio Cannoli:
Holy cannoli: This raised brioche has a traditional mini chocolate chip cannoli filling, with both ends dipped in dark chocolate, crushed pistachios and cookie crumbs, then dusted in powdered sugar.
PERK UP:
They don’t sleep on the coffee, using freshly roasted Intelligentsia beans (a Chicago favorite) that are delivered weekly. Beyond the robust batch brew, cappuccinos, lattes and americanos, they offer specialities equally as creative as the pastries. Here are a few of our favorites:
Cinnamon Cereal Milk Latte
A double shot of espresso combined with a house-made cinnamon cereal milk syrup.
Salted Caramel Latte
A velvety latte combined with a homemade silky salted caramel.
Maple and Brown Sugar Cold Brew:
The house blended cold brew infused with a smooth and creamy maple sweetness and a crisp brown sugar finish.
Life of the party
Whether you’re hosting a birthday party, corporate event, wedding or baby shower, The Salty has endless ways to make a sweet impression. You can order donut stations and towers, custom letters and the ever-popular donut wall. They can even help with gender reveal parties. And you can take the show on the road — when it’s not on campus, the truck may be rented for special events. The catering brochure has everything you can dream up and more.
