A small turquoise food truck is offering big flavors at festivals and events this summer in the Centre County region.
Rumba & Soul focuses on building community by sharing the Rodriguez family’s
Caribbean culture, one plate at a time.
Business owners Angel and Nia Rodriguez have lived in Centre County for about seven years. They opened their first State College business, Coffee Hemp & Tea, in summer 2023. The business offered health-focused and flavorful beverages and treats.
“We started the business because I am very particular about my coffee,” Nia says.
They used fresh-ground coffee beans and loose-leaf teas in a French press, paired with homemade syrups ranging from strawberry to maple bacon for the perfect sip.
The business offered hemp as an addition to drinks, which Nia says the body receives like a vitamin supplement or boost. The brick-and-mortar Coffee Hemp & Tea also offered Caribbean and soul fusion food every week. The menu rotated, serving primarily traditional Puerto Rican meals. Angel led the culinary efforts, flexing cooking skills learned from his grandmother in Puerto Rico.
Pernil (roasted pork), Oxtail with Coconut Rice and Beans, and Mofongo with Shrimp are all favorites for Angel Rodriguez and his family. Now, those family dishes are the primary focus of Rumba & Soul, which launched in early 2025.
“We do soul food and Puerto Rican food because we pull from both of our backgrounds,” Angel says. “We are doing ancestral dishes which will come from our indigenous backgrounds, the Taino and Arawak [Caribbean indigenous peoples].”
The couple say every dish they serve tells a story and they hope to connect with the community through the food they prepare.
“I love feeding people,” Angel says. “People are connected through food.”
“Everybody is so amazing in the food industry,” Nia adds. “We’ve met people who own different shops and food trucks, and all of those people welcomed us with open arms. It’s not a competition — it’s about creating good food and sharing.”
Both say the food business community is diverse and supportive, with individuals sharing what they love with others. The Rodriguez family sometimes trades with other vendors so they can all try each other’s specialties.
For Rumba & Soul, the business and community outreach are a family effort, with daughters Phoenyx, Erin, Nico, and Chyna each contributing their talents.
Angel heads the culinary side, while Nia crafts homemade syrups to accompany fan-favorite drinks like Café con Leche, a Puerto Rican staple of coffee with scorched milk and brown sugar; Masala Chai; and Guava-Piña.
Those seeking a sweet treat can try one of Nia’s Brigadeiro, a Brazilian chocolate truffle, or Angel’s Pastelillos de Guayaba (guava pastries) and Quesitos (cream cheese pastries).
The Empanadillas are a good handheld option for walking around outdoor events. Rumba & Soul offers beef, chicken, and plant-based varieties of these fried and filled favorites.
Everything they prepare has its own twist. Angel encourages diners and foodies to try Rumba & Soul’s dishes, even if it’s something they have previously tried elsewhere.
“Our ancestors bounced from island to island, so a lot of dishes are similar, but the tastes are dramatically different because of the influences we pull from,” he says of Rumba & Soul’s offerings, compared to those of others who may be cooking similar dishes.
Rumba & Soul’s menu changes according to what seasonal ingredients the family can gather, since homemade and fresh food remain priorities. The family tries to source from local businesses, as well as Black and Latino-owned farms.
“We want to get what the locals have, and we want them to know it’s fresh,” Nia says.
Angel, Nia, and their family hope they can make an impact and plan to share their “food with a purpose” in Centre County and beyond.
Find Rumba & Soul on Facebook and keep an eye out for their turquoise food truck at events and festivals. For catering, call or text (814) 230-0848. T&G
Hannah Pollock is a freelance writer in State College.
