Air Force Veteran Matt Coltrin finds new mission with Roll Cajun Boudin food truck in Birmingham

By Chanda Temple

When Matt Coltrin retired from the Air Force after 21 years, he thought he’d found his next mission and that was to work for a high-paying telework job in Birmingham. It was the kind of role most people would envy.

The money was good. The benefits were better. But the happiness he expected never appeared.

That part would come much later, in a food truck parked on Birmingham streets, where the smell of Creole pork and rice, wrapped in sausage casings felt more like home than any office ever could.

Matt, a 42-year-old veteran from Breaux Bridge, La., spent nearly two decades in the military, including Iraq, where he helped build systems that protected aircraft from enemy fire. He returned home with discipline and PTSD, which helped shape who he now moves through life.

He found healing in the rhythm of cooking, a connection to his Louisiana roots through something familiar: boudin. The sausage his mom used to ship to him when he was stationed away from home became his therapy, his comfort and later, his business.

In March 2024, he turned his craving for boudin into Roll Cajun Boudin, a trailer on wheels, selling frozen boudin. But patrons soon wanted him to serve the boudin hot, along with his other Cajun creations. He started working on a food truck and finally took it live in August 2024.

It didn’t take long for Birmingham, a city known for its flavor and food, to welcome him. The demand became so great for his boudin, jambalaya, chicken boudin egg rolls and more, that he had to quit his full-time job in December 2024 to pour all of his focus into the food truck. (He also does homemade cheesecakes, king cakes, and five types of boudin.)

“Birmingham reminds me of home,” he said.

These days, Matt flies flags connected to the Air Force, UAB and the American flag on his food truck, which also has military coins embedded into wooden counter. They are all small nods to where he’s been and where he’s going. He recently hired Bet, a former Marine, to join his growing team. For hm, that’s what Veterans Day is about: looking after people who’ve walked similar paths to help serve others.

“Anyone who’s served, whether for a minute or a lifetime, deserves to be seen,” he said. Next up for Matt are plans to open a brick-and-mortar location in downtown Birmingham in 2026. He plans to have lunch and dinner hours, as well as a grocery section, in the former Iron City Grill location that is attached to the Iron City Bham event/concert venue.

For Matt, who is married and the father of two, he said he pushes to take Roll Cajun Boudin to the masses in order to help those who’ve been by his side since he first started.

“I don’t need a whole lot of money to be happy and survive,” Matt said. “The reason why I’m expanding is I had a lot of people who came into this really early who helped me develop the brand and grow the business. My goal is that every one of them can have healthcare, one job, be happy, work hard and be passionate about something special,” he said.

Chanda Temple is an award-winning writer living in Birmingham, Ala. She blogs at  http://www.chandatemplewrites.com. If you have a food story idea, email her at chandatemple@gmail.com. Follow her on Instagram at @chandatemple. 

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