April 16, 2021

A self-described Army brat has created a food truck that pays heritage to her Bavarian and Texan roots.

Sheila Slater was born at Fort Benning in Georgia, grew up in Germany and eventually lived in Texas for 18 years before moving to Mitchell four years ago to be closer to family.

She and her husband, Gene, started Boss Dogg Kitchen last year but operated on a limited basis because of the pandemic. This will be their first full season, Slater said, and they’re planning to be in Sioux Falls a few times every month.

Saturday, they’ll be at J&L Harley-Davidson on 60th Street North east of Interstate 29 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The food truck’s menu includes schnitzel, bratwurst with sauerkraut, street tacos, hamburgers, grilled cheese sandwiches and hand-cut fries, but it varies depending on the type of event, Slater said.

“I’ve noticed there’s a lot of German heritage in South Dakota,” Slater said. “I don’t have to explain to my patrons what a schnitzel is.”

For those who don’t know, German schnitzel is a thin slice of pork that’s breaded and then fried. Slater starts with a butterflied pork tenderloin that she marinates before coating it with a breading and frying it.

Slater’s mother was German, and the sauerkraut is made using her grandmother Frau Doris’ recipe.

“Everything is pretty much from scratch, farm to table,” Slater said. She’s also happy to pay a few dollars more to buy ingredients from a local meat locker or grocery store in support of small businesses.

“I always have been a foodie and loved to make food. It’s what brings us all together at the table.”

When Slater lived in Texas, she was known as The Wiener Wench and sold hot dogs, brats and shish kabob from a cart, including at Rick Fairless’ Strokers Dallas, where she met Gene.

“I always wanted to go bigger with a food truck, and he built one from scratch for me,” she said of her husband, who is a master bike builder and works at the motorcycle shop Klock Werks in Mitchell.

She’s looking forward to finally getting to travel with the food truck, meeting people and sharing her food and stories with them.

Find the schedule for Boss Dogg Kitchen on its Facebook page.