It's every Penn girl's dream.
Jonathan Safran Foer peers out from behind trendy square-rimmed glasses, smiles and serves you delicious Jewish food.
Wake up, and head over to 38th and Spruce streets.
Nissim Agiv does wear Dolce & Gabbana glasses; he does serve dishes like shish kebob and matzo ball soup. While this 22-year-old Israeli native may not have actually written Everything Is Illuminated, he bears a striking resemblance to the young author.
He's the owner of the newest food truck on the block - Genesis - which serves exclusively kosher food and Israeli specialities. And at Penn, Agiv thinks he's found the ideal spot to set up shop.
"People used to talk all the time, 'You should open a restaurant,'" Agiv said. "I think it's about time."
He officially opened the cart about three weeks ago, after buying the truck - and accompanying permits - from another owner. He plastered its sides with Hebrew letters and signs proclaiming "kosher."
Business has been a little slow in the beginning, Agiv said, because his prices are higher than other carts on Spruce Street. His entire off-site kitchen has been blessed by a rabbi and undergoes regular rabbinical inspection, which drives up the prices, Agiv said.
But he's already developed a loyal - and mostly Jewish - customer base, and he is optimistic it will keep on growing.
"Whoever eats here is coming back," he said. It's "simple, but it's very good."
Agiv moved to Philadelphia three years ago to be near his brother, a real estate agent.
His mother, Ruth, also came over from their hometown of Ashdod to help him get started with Genesis. She doesn't speak much English, but she smiles proudly as Agiv hands customers their sandwiches.
"We are a very good team," Agiv said. "Mom just came to give me a little push for the start."
Ultimately, Agiv has ambitions to start his own kosher restaurant in Philadelphia. He has also been DJing at the Center City bar Byblos, calling himself DJ Matrix.
But for now, Agiv recommends the chicken shish kebob and a grape Prigat, an Israeli brand of juice.
"That's what all Israelis get," he said.
