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!

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.

Food Truck Concept Developement

Making of The Mac Shack Continued

Earlier this week we posted about developing a food truck concenpt, breathling life into an old business and watching the concept take off.  At this point, the truck made it’s way into the shop for repairs! It took D&S Truck and Trailer several days of chasing down unnecessary electrical wiring and switches within the truck to eliminate the battery issue. They finished the job with a box full of wires to show us, that had accumulated over years of different people working on the truck. Once the truck was restored to proper working condition, we washed it off and began sanding all of the paint that was currently on the truck to prepare it for rebranding. 

The exterior was the biggest and most time consuming aspect of  the project. We soon discovered the finish on the outside of the truck was uneven, so we elected to paint the truck and apply the logos in decal form. 
After several days of sanding, a coat of primer was applied, followed by the supreme cheese yellow base coat. With just this basic paint it already looked like a brand new truck! 

After the painting was completed, we added wood paneling to the exterior to give the truck a “shack-like” appearance. Next, we went over the wood panels with a stain to give it a nice, weather-beaten look, and sealed it with a clear gloss topcoat. 

The interior of the truck was in need of some minor work; namely the cabinet hardware was stripped off in order to make room for the wood paneling that would cover it. A new shelf  for the serving window was built, and the hood cover was cleaned and painted to give it refreshed look.

At this point, it was finally time to drive the truck over to one of our sponsors in Land O’ Lakes: Local Wraps. They had created some beautiful vinyl logo decals for us based on our favorite design, to add to the exterior of the truck. Local Wraps prepped the truck’s surface with alcohol, and applied the vinyl decal.

Always the team to get the impossible accomplished, we finished up at Local Wraps with only 3 hours before it’s debut service! We returned the truck to it’s owner and Mac Shack was a giant hit at the Lakeland Food Truck Rally at Munn Park in Lakeland, a large rally we host on the second Thursday each month.

We were thrilled to note that the rebranded Mac Shack truck far surpassed the sales accomplishments of the truck in it’s former life (with it’s original menu and branding) when compared to all of their previous appearances at that same event. We at Tampa Bay Food Truck Rally are here to help you achieve the most possible success with your mobile food truck business. Whether you’re brand new to the market, just have questions, or find yourself floundering, be sure to reach out to us today regarding our business consulting services.

** Update** 3/10/16

During this build we were not able to complete the exterior aesthetics of the Mac Shack for it’s debut rally showing. We have since updated the paintwork to the front of the food truck to give it a real shack like look. The completed truck will be appearing at the Lakeland Food Truck Rally today, make sure you stop by and check the Mac Shack out!

Most often, foodies are drawn to food truck rallies because they offer a wide variety of cuisines in one location. Who wouldn’t want to take advantage of having their favorite Asian, BBQ, taco, sandwich, and dessert shop all together for one-stop eating? Of course it’s a food lovers dream come true every single week! But, believe it or not, there is an opportunity for MORE variety in the variety! As the food truck industry grows by leaps and bounds each year, there is a need to expand into different culinary genres and offer an even more diverse smorgasbord of tasty dishes.

For example, did you know that some of the most popular comfort foods such as classic grilled cheese sandwiches, pizza, or macaroni and cheese are some of the hardest to come by amongst our food trucks? Or, did you know that that there is a large request for fry trucks and Middle Eastern cuisine? If you run a grilled cheese food truck, make magic with Indian food, can cook couscous dishes and hummus with the best of them, or offer a unique spin on a classic dish of macaroni and cheese, the Bay area needs you!

Here the top 10 Food Trucks needed for the Tampa area:

• Greek Cuisine
• Mac N Cheese
• Middle Eastern Cuisine - Kebabalicous and Middle Peace Bus coming to a rally near you soon! (2/23/15) 
• Pizza
• Fry Truck - Heard rumors a poutine truck is on the way but nothing confirmed (2/23/15)
• Indian - Coming in Marchish - The Twisted Indian - (2/23/15)
• German- Heard rumors on this too but nothing confirmed(2/23/15)
• Grilled Cheese
• Bacon Everything (seats taken - The Bacon Boss - (Josh and his team have been planning this since late last year, they attended on seminar and thy'll be hitting the streets soon! 2/17/15) 
• Pho Truck

The top 5 we don’t need:

• Tacos
• BBQ
• Sandwiches
• Cheesesteaks
• Spanish

If you have ever thought of running your own food truck and are interested in helping us bring pizza, grilled cheese, Middle Eastern, or mac-n-cheese to the Bay Area, we want to hear from you. We have the ability to help you find a truck and set your business up- branding and all!

So, whether you currently have a truck with the offerings our area needs, or you have the recipes that could make a truck of your very own a smashing success, Tampa Bay Food Trucks wants to hear from you so we can put more food truck cuisine variety in our variety and keep customers coming back for more! 

Located at the intersection of need and solution, the modern day Food Truck is no longer the eyesores of the office parking lot. When the recession hit in the mid 2000s Food Trucks became the solution to economic decline of the working class. What started with the basic burgers, tacos & sandwiches has evolved into the one-stop-shop for gourmet cuisine on a reasonable budget. Whether you’re craving Savory Abracadabra Crepes from Krepelicious or The Scallywag Seared Scallop Wrap from Rollin’ Zoinks Tampa’s Food Trucks have adapted to the need for variety from their daily customers.

Beyond the wide food selection, modern day food trucks have evolved in their marketing campaigns to attract new business. From incorporating mobile payment systems such as Square and Apple Pay into their social media marketing efforts, Food Truck owners have found a way to mix convenience with accessibility in ways that typical fast food restaurants have yet to provide. Other ways that the food trucks of today have adapted to the needs of their followers are by involving them in every step of the process. By rewarding their visits through Foursquare, Crowdsourcing recipes through Facebook and even special deals targeted to Twitter followers using a special hash-tag, Food Truck owners are using free social media tools to build the network beyond their daily routes.

Who said Food Trucks have to only serve Breakfast and Lunch options? Tampa Bay Food Trucks have welcomed a Mobile DJ Truck perfect for bringing the party wherever you’d like: backyards, public parks and even outdoor wedding receptions. Need a dance floor? No problem. Want to add a barista? They have great connections to book for you .  What about tables and chairs? Also not an issue they have everything you’d need for an awesome event.  If your sweet tooth has been bothering you, have no fear Lizzy Cakes Food Truck is not too far away. With their menu covering every craving from cakes, pies, one of a kind cookies and to die for maple bacon brownies to their white chocolate key lime pie there’s no need to suppress your desires for sweets any longer.

Christmas is the time of the year when people let loose! It's time to have fun, to be with family, eat good food and drink a little more than usual. Fortunately, you can fully enjoy the holidays and have fun while staying safe. Having a good holiday doesn't need to be done carelessly or dangerously. Here are 10 ways to make sure your Christmas holiday is fun, memorable and safe.

• If you are going out, plan for a designated driver. You should actually do this all year long, not just during the holidays, but it's a good reminder, especially for those who don't go out much.

• If you are the host, make sure you don't drink too much. If you are hosting a party, you're the one responsible. You want to keep your mind clear to make sure nobody is going to drive drunk and that everyone stay safe.

• It is always fun to put up the Christmas tree with the family or with friends. Make sure you buy a fresh Christmas tree. By "fresh," I mean one that isn't dry. A dry tree can be a fire hazard.

• A fun idea, you can light candles and sing songs with your family. This is a great way to fully experience the Christmas spirit and tradition. To stay safe, make sure you keep all lighter and candles away from children.

• Cook Christmas dinner instead of using a buffet service or packaged food. The delicious aroma of the food will fill up your house and really bring Christmas alive in your home. Children love to take part in dinner preparations so involve them as much as possible!

• Put up lights with your family and friends. This is a really fun activity to do and gives you a good dose of fresh air. It also makes your home more festive! Be sure not use outdoor lighting indoors or indoor lighting outdoors.

• If you live in a snowy climate, take the time to go tobogganing with friends! You will feel like children again, and that it the true spirit of Christmas. It is also another way to get some fresh air, after being cooped up inside with parties and diners. Just make sure you slide far away from the streets and highways. Stay safe!

• If it's too cold to go tobogganing, rent a movie and watch it under warm blankets, with popcorn and a nice holiday beverage. The holidays should be a relaxing time.

• When you unwrap your presents, do not burn wrapping paper in your fireplace. This will create a lot of smoke and can be hazardous since wrapping papers ignite very fast and burn intensely.

• Finally, just have fun! The Christmas holiday is the best time of the year. It's a time to be jolly and happy.

Above all, when in doubt and you can figure it out, find your nearest food truck! They are sure to have delicious eats with a holiday spin for you to enjoy. Happy Holidays from Tampa Bay Food Trucks!