Pleased to meat you: Marie Yniguez the mobile mastermind behind Smokin' Fred's ’46

Being busy is something Marie Yniguez enjoys.

The James Beard Foundation semifinalist runs My Mom’s in Downtown Albuquerque during the week.

On weekends, she’s the mastermind behind Smokin’ Fred’s ’46 A Smokehouse.

“I’ve always wanted a food truck,” she says. “Having a brick and mortar restaurant is difficult.”

Pleased to meat you: Marie Yniguez the mobile mastermind behind Smokin' Fred's ’46

The idea for a food truck began to ruminate prior to the pandemic.

In 2020, Yniguez began to outfit the truck.

The food truck dream came true after Yniguez competed on the “Great American Food Truck Race” in 2021.

“Doing the food truck race in Alaska made me realize that I wanted to be mobile,” she says. “It would allow me to get out of my box.”

Opening Smokin’ Fred’s ’46 has allowed Yniguez the opportunity to smoke meats.

“It’s an addition to my wheelhouse,” she says with a laugh. “There’s so much you can do with smoking meat. That was one of the reasons.”

Yniguez named the food truck after her father, Fred or Frederico. He was also born in 1946.

“He took me to eat at Quarters when I was nine,” Yniguez says. “I wanted to dedicate this to him because he taught me what barbecue was.”

The food truck operates two days a week, as well as caterings.

Yniguez will be in Nob Hill on Saturday, May 4, as part of a community event. The food truck takes cash and card.

On the menu, Yniguez sells Freddy’s Mac N Stuff, as well as a signature Smoked Pork Ribs, Smoked Pulled Pork, Smoked Wings, Smoked Chicken Thighs and Smoked Carne Adovada.

“Everything is named after Fred,” she says.

Yniguez is also gearing up to begin Food Truck Fridays at Civic Plaza, which takes place each Friday through the summer.