Students who get a chance to stop by Hemo Abdelaziz's food truck, located on Spruce Street in front of the Upper Quad, can expect three things: a line of hungry people, Hemo's friendly face and his astounding memory for names and favorite orders. Abdelaziz came to America from Egypt in 1994 for eye surgery and has been here since. His love for cooking has gained him a campuswide reputation.
He refuses to divulge the ingredients to his sauce, but he did answer some other questions from students.
Engineering junior Melissa Cheung: Where do you buy your meat?
Hemo Abdelaziz: From a wholesale specialty place. I don't buy cheap meat because cheap meat is always bad quality. I would rather spend more money on meat than have something that's bad quality.
Wharton senior Brian Vo: What's in the special sauce in the chicken sandwich?
HA: Honey and mustard. I can't say more about that. A lot of customers don't eat mustard, but they love my sauce.
Wharton freshman Robert Hernandez: What's in the Hemo sauce?
HA: The second sauce is secret.
College freshman Agnes Stachnik: Do you take cleanliness into consideration?
HA: Yes, I always clean every day. You can tell that everything is clean. I went to school for that, at the City of Philadelphia Department of Public Safety.
Wharton and College senior Lloyd Thomas: Are you interested in transitioning from a cart to a restaurant like Greek Lady?
HA: It was my idea five years ago, when I got the chance to open in a nearby shop, but the rent was high and I don't want to sell my sandwiches expensive.
Lloyd Thomas: How do you remember everyone's names?
HA: Because everybody is here every day. Sometimes, I see my customers two or three times a day.
College freshman Jackie Schneider: Have you contributed to the health-food craze by introducing egg-white sandwiches?
HA: Customers always asked me for egg-white sandwiches, so I have that now. Many people order them. See the person next to you? He is probably going to get an egg-white sandwich like he always does.
College freshman Josh Wilson: Why is your food so good?
HA: That is a question for my customers. If you ask anyone, they will tell you that it is the best; they are happy with my food. I see my customers almost every day, so I'm happy with my customers, too. I had to do something in America, and I love to cook.
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