When Kendra McManaway set out to launch a food truck, she knew one thing for sure: she didn’t want to serve the usual barbecue, burgers, or tacos.
“I wanted something different because there are all kinds of food trucks and food trailers out there,” McManaway said. “Spuds & Stuff used to be one of my favorite go-to places, and I thought loaded potatoes would do great.”
In October 2025, she officially hit the road with Twisted Tater. This mobile baked potato kitchen has quickly made a name for itself in schools, neighborhoods, and events across Hancock and Daviess counties. Based in Fordsville, just across the Hancock County line, the business is very much a family operation, and so is the menu.
“We have four little girls — all adopted out of foster care — and I really wanted to incorporate them in the trailer,” she said. “So I named all of our staple potatoes after them and their favorite flavors.”
That includes:
- Plain Jane — a traditional loaded potato with butter, cheese, sour cream, and bacon.
- Alina’s Ranch and Rodeo — a chicken bacon ranch potato.
- Sora’s Steakout — a hearty combo of steak, A1 sauce, and mozzarella cheese.
- Layla’s Hot Mess — a spicy buffalo chicken twist.
- Maddie’s Barbecue Bliss — a barbecue pulled pork potato topped with nacho cheese and sauce.
The core of the menu is baked potatoes, though McManaway said they occasionally mix it up with weekly specials like panini-style steak sandwiches or quesadillas, depending on what her husband Nick — the cook behind the scenes — is feeling that week.
“He works swing shift at Commonwealth, so we don’t really have a set schedule,” she said. “We kind of just pop up wherever and whenever we can. I actually like it that way. It keeps things different every day.”
While the truck is not yet permitted to operate inside Owensboro City limits, McManaway said she’s in the process of securing that approval. For now, they’ve stayed busy by setting up at area schools, Advantage Eye Care in Whitesville, and other locations across rural Hancock and Ohio counties.
“We get a lot of requests from schools and businesses. Teachers can’t leave, so it’s nice to be able to bring something hot to them and say, ‘We see you. We appreciate you,’” she said.
That family-focused mindset also led to the addition of affordable kids’ meals on the menu, something McManaway noticed was lacking when she visited other food trucks.
“I didn’t want to spend $15 or $20 on a meal for my child that they’d only take two bites of,” she said. “So we added $6 kids’ meals with PB&J or grilled cheese, chips, and a drink. Something simple and affordable for picky eaters.”
McManaway said she eventually hopes to expand into events like Friday After 5. But for now, she’s focused on building a solid reputation — and enjoying the ride.
“It’s been fun experimenting with flavors and getting great feedback,” she said. “You never know what you’re going to get day to day, but that’s part of what makes it so exciting.”
Twisted Tater’s weekly schedule is posted on their Facebook page, and customers can also reach out directly to request the truck for neighborhood stops, business lunches, or school visits.
For more information, visit Twisted Tater on Facebook.
