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.

The Kitchen By Devin Davis is family run food truck started by Devin Davis, a native of Plant City Florida. The Davis family serves the Plant City and Tampa Bay area with a passionate southern spirit. Devin started his food career in culinary school where he obtained his Bachelors in Culinary Management. After completing an internship Devin sought out a way to bring his food to the people of Plant City. In the beginning stages of his culinary career he sought out positions in the area but never really found a position that fit him to the T, he had to start thinking outside of the box. And what's better then owning your own portable kitchen to drive around the city? Nothing! The Kitchen by Devin Davis was born. The food truck idea was inspired by his parents introducing Devin to the food truck industry and Tampa Bay Food Trucks.  While Devin was and still is young with only a little bit of restaurant experience, he makes up for it with entrepreneur faith in his abilities. After doing their due diligence, Devin opened The Kitchen with the help of his family. 

So why "The Kitchen by Devin Davis"? When looking for a name, they started with a concept. Devin wanted to serve southern food done by his own interpretation. His food would come in a quality with a higher standard then typical street food fare. "Food Truck" was synonymous with "Kitchen" and Devin's passion for food and the basis of his career began and was cultivated in the kitchen. The Kitchen fit his concept perfectly. Devin is the master chef behind all of the food and works that come from his truck, so he included his name in the title. The Kitchen is based simply on cooking good food. Their slogan is "Good Food....Southern Roots". Whether The Kitchen is serving up fried chicken of foie gras, Devin makes it properly and delicious. Besides, good food makes people happy. 

Everyone that works on The Kitchen by Devin Davis is family. Whether it's by blood or close friendship, The Kitchen brings them all together. Some very important people on the truck include Devin Davis - the chef and mastermind himself, his Grandma (better known as Nanny) who plays an integral role in the cooking process, his sister, and parents. Devin found inspiration through his parents who own their own local small irrigation business in Plant City. They helped him begin and grow his business, and all together have helped The Kitchen succeed to what it is today.  

Wondering what's the best thing on the menu? The Kitchen by Devin Davis changes up their menu periodically to keep the menu fresh and allows The Kitchen to experiment and try new things. If there's one thing that stays on the menu - it's the fried chicken. This fried chicken isn't like any other fried chicken you've had it before. The Kitchen by Devin Davis goes through a two step process before even making it to the fryer. After getting crispy and juicy, it's served on a toasted bun with a bright red cabbage slaw and a remoulade sauce. A few of Devin's personal menu favorites include Shrimp and Grits, Bacon and Onion Jam Sliders, and Pulled Pork Tacos. The Shrimp and Grits combines tradition with unexpected flavors. Smoky tomato and chorizo cream sauce, creamy grits, and parmesan are just a few elements to the shrimp and grits served up by The Kitchen. The bacon and onion jam sliders is a juicy burger topped with a salty and sweet bacon jam, caramelized red onions, red wine, white cheddar, and a dijon mustard mayonnaise. Last but not least, the pulled pork tacos are simple but delicious by combining juicy smoked pork with a sweet and savory rub on a toasted flour tortilla with a lime, cilantro slaw and spicy chipotle sour cream. 

The Kitchen by Devin Davis sets themselves apart from the competition by simply cooking great food. The menu is constantly fresh and exciting by introducing new items and changing the menu a bit every few weeks. They strive to use the highest quality ingredients possible by shopping at local farmers markets and utilizing things such as locally made sourdough. The Kitchen also loves a great challenge by working catered and private events where they can stray from the menu and offer unique foods that you can't find on the truck on a regular basis. When we asked Devin what's one piece of advice he'd give someone trying out food trucks for the first time he replied with "Just think of food trucks as you would restaurants. Each truck is different and really tries to put out great food. We all have different concepts and types of food. Additionally, I would encourage you try lots of different trucks to see what's out there. You can easily go out to a restaurant and try something new, but many people don't realize that you can go out and have just as much fun trying out a food truck, and the food will often be just as good, if not better, and you don't have to dress up!" Some food trucks Devin is close with include Sawadee Thai Food (Devin suggests the crab rangoon), Pineapple Shack, Chief's Chill Out, and the Rolling Gourmet.  

Williamsburg Cucina has arrived in Tampa, Florida! This authentic Italian Gourmet food truck started its journey as an idea in a NYC apartment and has now landed itself in the streets of Tampa to bring the fine dining Italian restaurant experience to those who haven’t experienced it before. 

Owners Niky and Sophia met at a Pizzeria under the Brooklyn bridge in New York City and quickly found love not only in one another but in their shared passion for food. The two crossed paths while Sophia was on vacation from Texas and Niky was visiting on a visa from Italy for boxing and training at the world famous Gleasons gym in Dumbo Brooklyn. Sophia quit her job and moved to New York and the two were to be married three months later. Niky put boxing on a hold and pursued his other passion for the food industry (his family owned the most popular gourmet deli and groceries shop in the beautifull town of Rimini, Italy). He started working and managing in some of finest Italian restaurants in Manhattan and Brooklyn including Trattoria Il Passatore, Piadina NYC, and more. While Sophia was successfully working as a published make up artist, she had deep roots in cooking from her grandfathers: one was a baker and the other served in the army as a chef. It was a few years before Niky and Sophia actually decided to pursue running their own business.

This is how Williamsburg Cucina Caffe' e Bottega was born; born out of an idea of doing something that could both display their love for good food created from amazing local ingredients while remaining true to their roots of New York and Italy. Since a regular restaurant wouldn’t allow Sophia and Niky to travel the country like they wanted and showcasing authentic Italian cooking to people who couldn’t access it they decided to be mobile by opening a food truck.

Williamsburg Cucina offers a different food experience from what you’d expect from the average truck. The truck’s menu ranges from meat and cheese plates to artisanal open faced sandwiches such as the Caprese (toasted open faced sourdough bread with creamy burrata cheese, local roma tomatoes, wild arugula, and Modena balsamic glaze) and the Crostone Classico (with imported prosciutto, marinated artichokes, sicilian sea salt, mayo & EV olive oil). The truck also offers daily specials such as salad bowl with local greens and seasonal vegetables, pastas and sweets such as Nutella croissants and daily baked goods. Williamsburg Cucina goes beyond the typical drink fare with the additional options of imported San Pellegrino sodas, glass bottled Coke products, and local Buddy Brew Cold Brews. 

The concept of this particular truck is farm to table. Because the truck serves local produce the menu changes about three to four times a year depending on their seasonal ingredients' availability. Williamsburg Cucina gets their produce from local Farms, where Sophia and Niky handpick their produce when the farmers aren’t able to. The sourdough bread they utilize in their open faced sandwhiches and other dishes is another local item and is baked fresh before every food shift Williamsburg Cucina attends. See Williamsburg Cucina's current menu. 

What does Williamsburg Cucina Caffe' e Bottega stand for? 

Williamsburg comes from the Brooklyn's  neighborhood that gave Niky and Sophia a home far from their own hometowns that influenced them with it’s artistic vibe and historic surroundings.

Cucina stands for Kitchen in Italian and symbolizes the origin of their concept.

Caffe’ stands for coffee and they decided to serve that because in Italy coffee symbolizes relaxation and chilling out..a moment to appreciate the small things in life. 

Bottega stands for shop as they feature imported goods and handcrafted products from small family owned businesses from all over Italy. 

What does Williamsburg Cucina suggest to those who’ve never tried food from a food truck before? Clear your mind from everything you know or expect from  food truck and let the food take you for a ride. That’s the only way you can truly appreciate the experience! 

Interested in booking Williamsburg Cucina for your next event or wedding? Contact us today to book one of Tampa Bay Food Trucks' resident farm to table food trucks. 

We have awesome news! Thanks to The Pineapple Shack, the cult classic Dole Whip dessert no longer requires a trip to Disney World - you can find it locally roaming the streets of Tampa!

The Pineapple Shack has hit the area courtesy of Rae and Chris Bridges. The couple began toying with the idea of starting a food truck, wanting to serve something cool and refreshing that would bring a smile to the faces of their fellow Floridians. Ice cream fit the bill on all counts, but it wasn't until a trip to Hawaii that they stumbled upon their true inspiration. One taste of Dole Whip and they were hooked! Rae explains the transition from vacation to business; "We thought, why not bring the flavor of the islands here for everyone to savor and enjoy? That's when the wheels started to turn. For the non Dole Whip devotees, the treat is a creamy Hawaiian pineapple soft serve, however diehard fans claim that oversimplified description lacks some of the magic represented in the treat itself. Dole Whip can be ordered by itself, or as the base of Pineapple Shack's signature items such as the Aloha Colada Whip and Dole Whip Shortcake. In addition to Dole Whip treats, The Pineapple Shack offers a variety of local handcrafted ice cream, and delicious dipped cones such as toasted coconut, chocolate, birthday cake, etc. Sundaes and other unique sweet treats are also available.

The pineapple on their truck doesn't just represent the main flavor of their signature ingredient, but has been a symbol of hospitality for many generations. "We carry on this tradition at The Pineapple Shack Island Creamery with the warmth, charm and style of the islands. We love traveling to new places for events and meeting new people from all walks of life. One of our favorite things is watching a customer's reaction when trying one of our delicious treats for the first time."

Follow The Pineapple Shack to see where you can catch them next - and be sure to try the famous Dole Whip for yourself!

The Pineapple Shack will be present at the following upcoming events:

April 7th 2017- Riverview Food Truck Rally
13050 Summerfield Blvd Riverview, FL 33579 from 5-9pm
 
April 13th 2017- Lakeland Food Truck Rally 
Munn Park 6-9pm

AND MORE!!

We wanted to take a moment and introduce our Food Truck Fans to one of the newer members of the Tampa Bay Food Trucks family: The Poutine Truck!

Owners Sherron Coletti and her husband Shaun Lacroix hail from New England and Quebec, and after tiring of the brutal northern winters, hatched a dream of moving down south to open a food truck. Sherron explained, “the dream was mostly for our retirement years, but it’s a good thing we didn’t wait as it’s a lot of work!”

In June of 2016 Sherron’s second father passed away leaving her mom solo in Florida. While it was a difficult and life-altering decision, this event proved as a great catalyst and they grabbed the chance to make a major life change. With the support of their family, Sherron and Shaun paired her kitchen skills and his mechanical experience with welding, motors, and equipment repairs to open their truck. Their skill sets have expanded even further as a result of this venture “my husband is a people person....what I found out though is he is also a good cook! My mom is actively involved in the business as well. She helps prep and sets up for events and will be helping with the bookkeeping.”

A true family business, there was some discussion over what type of food they should serve. In consulting with Tampa Bay Food Trucks, Sherron originally pitched the idea of doing kebabs, but mentioned the truck would need to be outfitted with a small fryer to make Poutine, one of their favorite foods, for certain events. Pronounced “puts in”, CEO Michael Blasco said “Poutine is absolutely what you need to do!” Until Sherron and her family rolled into town, Poutine was missing from the expansive roster of food trucks in Tampa Bay. “My husband was so excited as this is the food from his country. My daughter considers it a food group.”

For those unfamiliar, Poutine is a Canadian brown gravy, fresh curd cheese and french fries. You can create different variations with different toppings, keeping the fries and cheese curds as your base. Shaun makes the gravy daily from scratch (no canned or powdered mixes here!) The cheese is shipped in fresh weekly, with a two week shelf life to ensure maximum freshness while the fries are fried once to precook and then fried a second time to order. The truck currently features four types of Poutine, with a goal of featuring a weekly special very soon.

“We are huge foodies and lovers of Pinterest, which keeps the ideas flowing. We are excited to be open for business and it’s really giving us a chance to get to know the Tampa area and meet new people.”