The last two years have been a whirlwind for us as a company and naturally for our team members and partners as well. That being said, you haven't heard as much from us on our blog and until recently our social channels were quieter than normal. 

With an extremely busy 2021 and first half of 2022 it's been a lot of fun and a lot of work. So midway through June, the team embarked on a one day retreat for fun and relaxation. 

No work, just good times with our team. It was a blast. We encourage you all to to also engage your teams in such outings. We're extremely thankful we get to engage with so many customers in helping them to appreciate their team members. Thank you for your business and support over the last two years. 

Did you know that we have Food Truck Rallies in 4 different locations? Every month we host a Rally in Riverview, Lakeland and Plant City. We also offer a Rally in Fishhawk once every quarter!

2020 is even more exciting because all of our Food Truck Rallies are themed! Here’s the list of our themes for the first half of the year:

• January – Break Your Resolution
• February – Celebrate your true love… CHOCOLATE!
• March – Suicide & Mental Health Awareness/Prevention - Portion of our sales will be donated back to a local nonprofit
• April – Wing Fest
• May – Cheese Fest
• June – Summer Cookout (BBQ/Summer Grilling)

As always, be sure that you’re following us on social media where we will be hosting fun giveaways and sharing all the latest news. Cheers!

Can you believe it?! The holidays are here already and 2019 is quickly coming to an end!

We just wanted to take a moment to thank each one of you (both our clients and food truck family) for all the support that you have shown us. We have had the opportunity to work with some truly amazing people and we are so excited to see what 2020 brings.

Happy Holidays from our team to yours!

What draws people to rallies and different food truck events? It’s the food of course! Most importantly, it’s the variety. As the food truck industry continues to grow, there is a need to expand into different culinary genres in order to offer an even more diverse and original variety of dishes!

We are constantly researching and monitoring what cuisine options are working and what is not. We wanted to share our findings to help your truck become a contributing partner in the growth of the food truck scene here in Tampa!

Here are the top 10 Food Trucks that the Tampa Bay Area needs to see more of:

• Middle Eastern
• Wings
• Indian
• Chinese
• Thai
• Mexican
• Seafood
• Churros
• Empanadas
• Poke Bowl

Here are the top 3 that are already saturated in the market:

• BBQ
• Shaved/Italian ice
• Cheesesteaks

You can go anywhere to get average food, and that’s why we suggest branching out of your comfort zone and trying something new. Tampa is exploding with diversity and flavor, and that’s what is performing best right now! The trucks we work with are a collection of different local eateries that reflect their favorite family recipes as well as new, fun trends that are happening in the foodie world.

If you ever need help or consulting starting your brand, you can check out our seminar on how to start a food truck or even engage us to develop your branding down to truck name and menu items. Our Chief Eating Officer, Michael Blasco has been in the food truck scene since 2011. For a full list of our services, click here.

So you’ve decided to utilize a food truck (or food trucks!) for your special day? You’ve made the right choice! Despite the growing street food trend, not all wedding venues are necessarily food truck friendly. Different wedding venues have different rules and stipulations about the usage of outside caterers. Thankfully, we’ve done the digging for you and the 8 venues listed below have been given the Tampa Bay Food Trucks stamp of approval. We have served and successfully executed beautiful events at each of the following locations:

1. Saint Petersburg Shuffleboard Club (Saint Petersburg, Florida)

Did you know the club does more than just host shuffle board tournaments?! This charming venue is tucked away in Downtown Saint Petersburg on Mirror Lake Drive. The St. Pete Shuffleboard Club was established in 1923, and to this day boasts 1,200 members who utilize this 90-year-old club. Don’t let the early establishment fool you, as brides and grooms alike have chosen this club for it’s easily transformable space and central location. If you’re looking for a nifty vintage, coastal inspired, and/or unique wedding venue - you’ve found it! For a sneak peek, see Orange Blossom Bride's (An Orlando based wedding directory) write up on Sarah and Bryan’s wedding at the club. You can even see a food truck in action!

2. Stonebridge - formerly The Lange Farm (Dade City, Florida)

Wow your guests with a combination of southern charm and elegance at Stonebridge. This venue provides a picturesque rural backdrop, with over 80 acres of space. This venue offers a multitude of areas to incorporate into your event, including four different ceremony sites, separate groom and bridal suites, and two reception areas. Replete with oak trees, gazebos, Joshua trees, and the southern blue barn, this locale is bursting with beautiful photo opportunities. It has even been used as a wedding set in TV commercials. This venue is currently rated 4.7 stars out of 5 on WeddingWire.

3. SoireEstate (Lutz, Florida)

Spanning 10 stunning acres of land, SoireEstate steals the show as one of the most romantic, picturesque venues in the Tampa Bay area. Located in Lutz just minutes from Tampa, this location provides a breathtaking locale for weddings of any size. This venue is easily adapted to suite your event's theme, whether you are leaning toward a more rustic, bohemian or glamorous vibe - all with a hint of the tropics. The space is screaming to be dolled-up with Pin-spired ideas, and has earned a solid 4 out of 5 stars on Wedding Wire.

4. Rialto Theatre (Tampa, Florida)

Distressed brick and elegant architecture combine to create an unforgettable wedding location with a rich history. The Rialto Theatre opened in 1924 and closed midcentury as television and suburbanization soared after World War II. The space was re-purposed as a factory until it was shuttered once more in 2005. Today, the vintage space is being used for weddings and special events alike. With over 5,000 square feet of space, this Tampa Heights based venue is a great building to showcase your Tampa roots. There are three different main event spaces, and the building boasts 27-foot ceilings, giving your event a rich, open concept feel. Just a hop skip and a jump from Ulele, Downtown, and Seminole Heights, this venue is perfect for orchestrating a wedding weekend with multiple stops, be it your bachelor and bachelorette parties, rehearsal dinner, and/or post-wedding brunch. This venue earned 4.1 stars out of 5 on WeddingWire. 

5. Tampa Bay Watch (Saint Petersburg, Florida) 

Dreaming of a waterfront wedding? Think Tampa Bay Watch! This location offers a natural waterfront setting, a large deck with sunset views, close proximity to beach resorts and the airport, bamboo flooring and a neutral palette (which means lots of space to play around with and decorate!), not to mention their expansive grounds. The building is even perfectly angled to catch a classically gorgeous Florida sunset. When choosing Tampa Bay Watch as your wedding venue, you can also feel good about how your money is being spent - to benefit restoring and preserving our waterways, wildlife rescue, and educational programs. There are even two contingency plans in the event a summer shower tries to rain on your parade. This venue has earned 4.9 stars out of 5 on WeddingWire.

6. Casa Lantana (Brandon, Florida)

Casa Lantana is set on a 12 acre estate, offering a peaceful wedding and reception site. This venue is located in Central Brandon, close to I-75 and the Crosstown Expressway. This venue sets itself apart with its location and amenities including: a honeymoon suite, bridal suite, groom's suite, bed and breakfast, 3,500 square feet of air conditioned building space, and of course the buildings themselves; the Mediterranean Grand Villa and Rustic Red Wood Barn to utilize for your ceremony or reception. This venue limits their usage to one wedding per day, so your party won't be ushered off site to make way for another couple coming in immediately after. This space can be transformed for any theme you can dream up and can be as all-inclusive as you would like. This venue boasts a 5 star rating on WeddingWire.

7. Iola Lakeside (Dade City, Florida)

Located in the heart of Dade City, Iola Lakeside provides a quaint, intimate setting to exchange your vows. Hold your ceremony by the lake or inside the white and brown barn, and dance the night away under the stars and Spanish moss! Iola Lakeside sits on 5 acres of lakefront property and the barn is a spacious 4,000 square feet to accommodate your guests. This venue offers a variety of packages, and clocks in at 5 starts out of 5 on Wedding Wire.

8. Bird Island Lake Ranch (Dade City, Florida) 

Bird Island Lake Ranch is a naturally rustic outdoor wedding venue with space for up to 300 guests. Everything from the handmade wooden benches to the fire pit surrounded by rocking chairs allows you to incorporate the feel of private, rural Florida into your special day. There are several outdoor spaces available, providing a unique location to host your ceremony or reception as well as seating, private suites and lighting all available on site. Bird Island Lake Ranch is another venue that limits the use of their grounds to one event per day. This venue has been rated 4.5 stars out of 5 on WeddingWire.

Love is in the air this February with lots of events: the Florida State Fair opens, Wine Weekend in St. Petersburg kicks off, the country celebrates Superbowl Sunday...and did we mention the upcoming food truck rallies?! February 14th is the second Thursday of the month, meaning our monthly Downtown Lakeland Food Truck Rally falls on Valentine's Day! Alongside a display of 20 food trucks in the park, we will be setting out tables with linens, chairs, and will have a romantic playlist set on our mobile DJ truck - perfect for a fun, tasty and nontraditional date night. If you're looking to celebrate Saint Valentine over lunch instead, check out our daily locations page for the food trucks serving near you. Whether you plan to trek out to a truck forever alone or with a date you're sure to walk away with some awesome food. Need another reason to love on food truck dates this month? We've got three more reasons why.

1. Food trucks are a unique alternative to a restaurant. Bring a blanket or some chairs and set up camp at a cozy location to spend some personal time with your significant other (or friend or dog!) You can dine in a more intimate setting rather then a crowded restaurant, buzzing with other couples. Not to mention you'll avoid any awkward interruptions from wait staff. Food trucks provide sauces, disposable silverware and containers that make for an easy clean up and transportation to your "campsite." Food trucks also help you skip the long wait for a table, and avoid fighting for a reservation in advance. Menus are posted for easy access, and the turn time for food is excellent! There's no wait for individual courses to come out or waiting for your check, you can do a simple grab-and-go then set up for an intimate evening.

2. The eats are cheap, convenient and varied. You want BBQ and she wants Vietnamese? You can have both! Most trucks also offer dessert options, sides, and appetizers allowing you to create your own food sampling. Serve up a three course meal with a food truck (or three different food trucks!) You can walk up to the truck and get some quality eats without having to pay $30 each for an entree, as the average main course on a food truck runs about $10. Food trucks also tend to serve larger portions (think of a burger and fries) or smaller sampler portions you can order such as freshly made individual tacos.   

3. There's food for everyone! Do you have a picky eater with you? What about a vegetarian? Food trucks are flexible and willing to help out if your party has some diet restrictions. If a food isn’t disclosed as being vegetarian friendly feel free to go up to the truck and talk to the person at the window. More than likely, they will be able to help you out or make a recommendation! If you are opting to visit a location with just one truck, you can call ahead to ask about the menu. If you’re at a food truck rally just move on to the next truck to see what offerings they have! Are you on the keto diet? You can easily order sandwiches without the bun and skip the carbs. Many food truck menu items can also be ordered without toppings to conform to your date’s hatred of pickles. The possibilities are endless, don't hesitate to speak up!