PHOTO COURTESY OF MILANES MOBILE

Authentic Cuban flavors and a little Divine Intervention are driving customers to Milanes Mobile.

After buying an old box truck that used to sell Bibles, Carlos and Collyn Milanes said a prayer, left high-paying jobs and dedicated themselves to bringing tastes of Havana to Pittsburgh.

I’m no saint, but I think the grub tastes heavenly.

Carlos, a Miami native, grew up on recipes passed down through generations of his Cuban family. When I arrived at their commissary kitchen in Glenfield, his mom, Cary Milanes, was busy making red bean soup with ham, chorizo, pumpkin and potatoes, empanadas, rice dishes and fried ham croquetas.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MILANES MOBILE

Pittsburgh-born Collyn has worked in the service industry since she was a teenager, from dive bars to Off the Hook seafood restaurant. She kindly warned me to let the fresh-out-of-the-fryer offerings cool, but I impatiently took a hot (but not spicy) bite. The wonderful scents emanating from the kitchen had taunted me throughout the interview, and I just couldn’t wait any longer. Palate pain is an occupational hazard.

I’ve devoured a lot of empanadas in this town (the savory hand pies are the culinary cousin to the pierogi after all). Milanes’ version packs a distinctive one-two punch with a slight sweetness to the dough and a savory smack from the picadillo made of seasoned ground beef, red and green peppers, onions and seasonings.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MILANES MOBILE

I was going to bring a few home to my daughter, but I “accidentally” ate them in the car while sitting in traffic. I can’t wait to not share other menu items such as the Papa Rellenas, picadillo-stuffed, deep-fried potato balls and homemade Cuban bread.

Fluffy in the middle with a thin, crispy crust, the country’s namesake bread is as integral to the country’s namesake sandwich as the ham, roasted pork, cheese, pickles and mustard. Carlos says Cuban sammies are more of a Miami street food, but provide a nice introduction to the cuisine, so they’re a Milanes Mobile staple. You’ll also find signature beverages such as Cafe Cubano and Cafe con Leche.

As the Milanes gear up to launch the mobile unit that Carlos, a veteran food truck builder, converted himself, they’ll serve take-out lunch on Wednesdays from the Valley Veterans Association kitchen at 108 E. Beaver St. in Sewickley and set up shop at area breweries.

You can try Cuban bites on Friday, Jan. 10 at Big Sewickley Creek Brewery and on Friday, Jan. 17 at Allusion Brewing Co.’s North Hills location. Keep tabs on their schedule through Instagram and Facebook.

The Milanes met online by liking each other’s food-related social media posts. They’ve also connected with many Cubans living in Pittsburgh. They hope they can fill lots of bellies as well as a void in the local dining scene.

They haven’t ruled out opening a standalone restaurant in the future, but, for now, they’re happy letting the business roll.