Reviewing Kusina Colorado: Filipino flavors and Colorado cuisine create synergy in St. Augustine.  

Lily and Travis Hickman met at Johnson and Wales Culinary School in Denver a decade ago. Despite coming from diverse backgrounds, they were drawn to each other’s passion for creating innovative dishes showcasing their upbringings. Lily, who grew up in the Philippines, fell in love with cooking in her grandparents’ kitchen, where she learned traditional dishes. Travis was inspired by Hatch chiles and the flavors of the Southwest from his native Colorado. The culinary couple decided to make a marriage through love and food, selling everything they owned and moving to Florida to start the Kusina Colorado food truck. 

Kusina Colorado sits parked in a garden setting surrounded by colorful outdoor furniture, flowering tropical plants, and family-friendly yard games. The truck’s name comes from combining the Filipino word for “kitchen” (kusina) and “Colorado,” a nod to the place and flavors that brought the couple together. 

The menu, which is posted on a surfboard attached to the side of the truck, is divided into sections. Filipino favorites include pork adobo, skewers, rice noodles, and egg rolls. Colorado-style dishes are infused with green chile flavor, like burritos smothered with green chile stew and green chili cheese fries. Sisig, a popular Filipino pork belly dish, makes its way into tacos and burritos, creating a fusion of cultures in one dish. More traditional choices like steak and shrimp are also available. Coconut water, bahn mi sandwiches and halo halo (a popular Filipino crushed ice dessert) complete the menu’s Southeast Asian influence.

When I asked what I should try, Chef Lily recommended the Filipino-style pork skewers.  

“Barbecue is our traditional food,” she explained. The flavor of the tender pork come from marinating it in lime, garlic, soy sauce, and spices before grilling. The result is a little bit sweet, smoky, and delicious. The skewers were served with jasmine rice, pickled green papaya slaw, and a vinegar-based dipping sauce. Close your eyes, savor the flavor, and feel the warm Florida breeze, and you can imagine you’re in the Philippines.  

One of the most popular dishes at Kusina Colorado isn’t technically on the menu; it’s listed simply as “Joe’s special.” It’s a plate of cheesy, crunchy, and spicy Chile Rellenos smothered in green pork chili. Wrapping the cheese-stuffed fire-roasted peppers in egg roll wrappers adds a unique East-meets-west twist and a distinctive crunch. Chef Travis ran this as a special once, and a local bartender loved it so much he told all his friends to go and try the special. They came asking for “Joe’s special,” and it has never left the list of specials, even though it’s a popular permanent dish. If I lived closer, this would be on my regular “hit list.” 

If you’ve ever wondered why we can’t just all get along, the good news is we can. Kusina Colorado proves that two cultures and distinct culinary backgrounds can live together in harmony. Chef Lily and Chef Travis have combined their passions to create an outdoor tropical dining experience that offers a happy fusion of flavors. A stop at Kusina Colorado is a great introduction to the culinary scene in St. Augustine, which also promises a melting pot of flavors passed down from the diverse cultures that shaped its history.