Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Coltrin
Hi Matt, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Roll Cajun’s story began during my time on active duty, where making boudin started as a personal hobby. It became a way to connect with my Cajun roots and share a piece of Louisiana with those around me. Upon retiring from the military, my family and I moved to Alabama. The decision was based on what was best for us, as I had secured a job in the area. The original vision was simple: cook and sell boudin on Sundays. Being close enough to Louisiana, I was confident there would be a market for authentic Cajun flavors.
However, while working with the health department to set up the business, I discovered that the requirements for a grocery operation were identical to those for a food truck. Simultaneously, I noticed a strong demand for hot, ready-to-eat Cajun items rather than just frozen products to take home. Around the same time, the job I had moved to Alabama for didn’t turn out as advertised. It was clear that it wasn’t a long-term fit, and I needed to pivot.
With unwavering faith and a deep passion for sharing the joy of Cajun cuisine, we decided to take a leap of faith. We invested all our savings into what was once just a side hustle and transformed it into a full-time venture. Roll Cajun LLC was born, blending our heritage with a bold entrepreneurial spirit.
Today, Roll Cajun is more than a business; it’s a way to bring Acadiana to life wherever we go. What started as a small idea has grown into a respected, yet steadily growing food truck, grocery, and catering service. Known for our award-winning Louisiana cuisine, we’ve brought joy to countless events with our signature Boudin, Bayou Italianos, Jambalaya, Shrimp Boils, and more. Our family’s dedication to quality, service, and that unmistakable Cajun charm has earned us recognition as one of Birmingham’s Best Restaurants for Cajun/Creole cuisine and over 110 five-star reviews on Restaurantji.
Roll Cajun represents more than just great food. It embodies the spirit of Louisiana—faith, heritage, and joy—and we’re proud to share it with every event, meal, and memory we create.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not. It has been anything but a smooth road. We started as food hobbyists, not professionals. During my time in the military, I had prepared meals for large groups of people, but never in the context of a business transaction. Transitioning from a passion to a business came with its own set of challenges.
Building the food truck ourselves proved to be a monumental task. The gas, plumbing, and electrical systems all seemed to require redoing more than once. YouTube became our primary mentor, and from time to time, friends in the area would step in to help when we hit roadblocks. Despite these challenges, we somehow managed to keep the ball moving forward.
Funding quickly became a significant hurdle. Even as a 100% disabled veteran, we didn’t qualify for any loans or grants. Every part of the build-out was financed through personal income and credit. Adding to the difficulty, a tornado struck our home just as we began constructing the truck.
Despite all these struggles, we remained committed to our vision. With sheer determination and an unwavering belief in what we were building, we found ways to overcome every obstacle and keep moving forward. This journey has taught us resilience and reinforced our passion for sharing the spirit of Cajun cuisine with our community.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I spent 21 years in the military before owning a food truck, deploying multiple times and achieving the highest enlisted rank in the Air Force, Command Chief Master Sergeant. One of my most pivotal moments was serving as the acting Air Force Component Senior Enlisted Leader of Joint Task Force Washington, DC, on January 6th—yes, that January 6th. At one point in my career, I oversaw 40,000 personnel across 508 geographically separated locations. I’ve also attended several strategic leadership courses, including programs at Georgetown University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and military law school at the Judge Advocate’s Course.
These experiences shaped me, but they also taught me what truly matters in life. It’s not titles, income, prestige, or ego—it’s creating joy and providing a service that makes someone’s day a little better. At one point, I was deeply entrenched in the rat race, achieving every goal I set for myself but feeling miserable. It took a leap of faith and the courage to start my business to truly discover who I am and what makes me tick.
Through this journey, I’ve found a new purpose. After being diagnosed with PTSD during my active-duty service, I realized that anxiety and stress had taken a toll. Transitioning to something I love, like running a food truck, while providing a meaningful service, has significantly improved my mental health. It’s not perfect—as with anything you care deeply about, there are stressful moments—but entrepreneurship offers a different kind of fulfillment. In this world, success and failure are entirely your own. You don’t have to play political games to get promoted. Success begins and ends with the person in the mirror.
My military background taught me an invaluable lesson: You only fail when you quit. There is always a way forward, and nothing is ever as bad as it seems. In every failure, there’s a lesson—a win waiting just around the corner. The key to success is not allowing failures to defeat you or letting victories inflate your ego. Life is an infinite game, and the goal is to keep moving forward, growing, and finding joy in the journey.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Humble yourself and make friends. Similar to my military career, I sought out mentors who were established and experienced. One of my strategies was to give them free food and ask for advice. No one has ever turned me down. The food truck community, in particular, is incredibly friendly and supportive. While I initially expected it to be highly competitive, I quickly learned that everyone strives for the same goals—sharing their passion for food while taking care of their families.
One key observation I’ve made is that those who enter the market solely for profit usually don’t last long. Food trucks give regular folks like me the opportunity to share our culinary creations with the world, something that historically required significant capital to open a restaurant. If you have an excellent product, your business can grow as large or stay as small as you desire.
For us, we take immense pride in staying small and focused. While we plan to open a storefront and add a couple of trucks in the future, we remain committed to preserving the authenticity and quality of our Cajun cuisine. Mass production often takes away the special touch that makes food unique, and we never want to lose sight of what makes our products special. Staying grounded in these values is how we want to grow and be remembered.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rollcajun.com
- Instagram: @rollcajunboudin
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ROLLCAJUNBOUDIN