Tampa Bay food trucks hosted a local food truck rally with over 10 truck options. The DJ truck was going full blast, setting the tone for the fun evening of eating. Despite the 50 degree, freezing weather, families poured into Fishhawk to get a taste of the amazing variety offered.

When you have 10+ trucks in one lot, you have to have to do something that sets you apart from the rest. Right off the bat, you could notice some trucks with lines outside, and others, with workers just standing idle, waiting for customers to walk up. I wanted to figure out why. I know I’m not the authority in what works and what doesn’t in the food truck business, but I am a consumer, who is able to see what others are enjoying, and what they are not.

....So let's talk about it!

The first stop was The One Stop Food Truck!

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I ordered the aloha burger, and the street corn. The burger was delicious! The meat was perfectly salted, and did not fall apart while you were eating it. The lettuce, tomato, and onions were fresh and added a nice crunch. The potato sticks were very inventive and added to the crunchy, saltiness of the burger, balanced out well by the pineapple and aloha sauce! The fries were well seasoned and crispy, the way they should be. The corn was surprisingly good! Not overly sauced, and the cotija cheese added the perfect amount of salt.

I give it a 9/10. Definitely restaurant quality, and I would order it again! I was surprised at the quality of food that was coming out of that food truck! The other patrons seemed to be enjoying their food as well! I did not see anyone looking disappointed.

Finally dessert, I got the nutella donuts from Glazed Up Mini Donuts.

The donuts themselves were delicious. So warm, and fluffy. The topping tastes more like a Hershey's chocolate syrup than nutella, and it could have used more of it. The picture on the truck showed the donuts smothered in the thick, nutella, while the ones I got had a bit of a thin drizzle.

I give it a 7/10. It would’ve been a 9/10 had it been like the picture on the truck. Nutella has such a rich, distinctive taste, so when you replace it with anything else, you can definitely tell right away.

With that, we closed out the night. Our bellies were full, and despite the freezing cold weather, even more people were starting to arrive to have a night of music and good food! If you’re looking for a creative date night, or a fun event for the family, consider a food truck rally! It gives you the chance to try new foods, in a new environment and even the small kids there were running around having a good time. The music food truck had a lot to do with the great vibe, it definitely set the tone of the event. What a delicious night!

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. 

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. See a full list of services here.

Updated Article Available Published 3/15/24 :
Top 10 Food Truck Friendly Wedding Venues in Tampa Bay

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.

If you're anything like us, the first thought that comes to mind when attending a wedding is probably "when and what are we eating?!" Food is a huge part of wedding celebrations, setting the tone for the whole event. Great food can catapult you squarely into the "Best Wedding Ever" category, whereas lackluster eats can leave guests feeling unimpressed, disgusted and worst of all, hangry. We polled our team of foodies for what they wish they had known on their wedding days about our favorite part of the celebration - the food!

1) Your Guests Will Be HUNGRY...

The reward every wedding guest is looking forward to after sitting through a ceremony is the delicious meal afterward. Let's be honest, as happy as everyone is for you about your nuptials, yummy food is something they get to experience personally. Treating your guests to passed hors d'oeuvres post ceremony is a gesture everyone will appreciate, and helps make the transition from ceremony to celebration. It's not ideal to expect guests to wait for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and speeches to conclude, before finally enjoying a dinner served after 9:00pm.

You can also score a few bonus points by allowing guests to choose their entree on the spot (a food truck wedding catering perk!), rather than a month in advance. Because the only thing worse than being hangry, is being hangry with a side of order envy once your entree arrives.

2) ...And So Will You. But You May Not Have Time to Eat! 

While your wedding day is one of the best days of your life, it can also be pretty hectic. You'll be swarmed with well-wishers at your reception, eager to compliment you on your new marriage, your rings, the ceremony, your dress, the venue, inquire about your honeymoon plans, reminisce about their own wedding...you get it. It's hard enough to answer all these questions between bites of food and thanking your guests for coming. Then there are the challenges of trying to eat without getting food stuck in your teeth, dropping anything on your dress, and trying to stay contained within any expertly fit shapewear!

We recommend eating a little snack as you get ready, and requesting a to-go box of your entrees in advance. You can find time to eat before you officially enter your reception or at the end of the evening. Also asking someone to stash to go boxes of cake in your getaway car is a MUST - you'll thank us when you're enjoying a nice little honeymoon suite snack!

3) Fancy Food isn't Always the Best Food

Your wedding is a special day you want to cherish forever, so when the time comes to make decisions it's natural to want the very best of everything. That perfect venue calls for an equally perfect dress. Your wedding party needs to look as beautiful as you do, which means stunning gowns for the ladies you love most. Then there's your handsome groom and his groomsmen channeling Justin Timberlake's "Suit and Tie" song with impeccable threads. Since the ante has been upped for every other wedding detail, you also need the fanciest reception food to blow away your guests, right?

The truth is, if your budget is on the tighter side, a luxurious menu can send you far beyond what you originally planned for. You don't want to disappoint… but does anyone even like snails or foie gras? We'll let you in on a little secret: your wedding guests will be most impressed by great food that means something to you. We're huge fans of incorporating ingredients or dishes that carry special meaning for the two of you. Food truck catering easily allows for customizations like naming your food "first date pizza" to commemorate cute moments of your relationship, or the incorporation of ingredients from both families heritages. These are thoughtful ways to keep costs down, while making your event unique and personal.

Be guided by the food and flavors you love, and don't feel pressured to select the priciest options because you feel like this is your "one chance" to host a fancy party. Our team of planners is here for you!

4) You Won't Have Time to Micromanage Service or Staff

After months or even years of planning, it can be really hard to stomach the idea of handing responsibilities over to someone else. One of our recently married brides admitted, "I was kind of a control freak, I wanted to be involved in and handle everything. Then suddenly on the day of, I just didn't care about handling any of the problems that popped up. It didn't matter if the reception room blinds were closed, or how my relatives who drank too much were going to get home, or that my maid of honor suddenly decided she needed an alternate dessert because she wasn't eating gluten that week. I just wanted to enjoy myself. Thankfully our venue came with a coordinator, so she and her staff took over and handled everything to perfection."

We're all in agreement: save your sanity, and delegate! An on-site event coordinator can ensure trash cans are being emptied regularly, attend to any staff issues or guests who have unforeseen needs, and handle emergencies without tearing you or your family away from the festivities. Be sure to ask us if you're interested in hiring an event coordinator, odds are they'll smooth any issues over before you even know there is a problem. So. Worth. It.

5) When It's All Over, You'll Be Hungry Again.

"When my husband and I got back to the hotel after our reception we immediately ordered a pizza. Which is funny when you think about how much money we had just spent on food," - we hear this all too often.

Your wedding appetizers and entrees may be wonderful and plentiful, but drinking and dancing throughout the night will keep your appetite at an all time high. We recommend a substantially stocked dessert table of doughnuts and cupcakes that guests can nibble on towards the end of the evening. Alternately, rolling in a food truck serving late-night snacks like mini pizzas or tacos is fun and unique addition to your event that will help fuel your guests into the wee hours of your celebration.

Interested in learning more about catering by Tampa Bay Food Trucks?
Ready to chat with one of our planners?  We'll be in touch after you fill this form?

Practical Setup for Food Truck Catering for a wedding:

We all know that when it comes to wedding catering, great food will make or break your big day. We've already established that food trucks offer customizable catering almost anywhere,  which can make them the perfect choice for your wedding festivities. Whether you need your rehearsal dinner, cocktail hour or reception catered, a late night snack of tacos or donuts, brunch the following morning, or all of the above, Tampa Bay Food Truck Rally can make it happen!

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Today, we'd like to talk a little more​about the logistics of incorporating a food truck (or trucks) into your Wedding. First off, the sooner you contact us with your date and cuisine requests, the better chance we will have of securing your first choice truck(s) and can begin the process of building and finalizing your menu. At least six months notice is ideal so we can secure your truck and get your program built while we button up the fun stuff like the deposit and contract.

Second, we'll figure out where the trucks will be parked and when. In the simplest scenario, on the day of your wedding the trucks will arrive a reasonable amount of time before service start. For example, catering your reception cocktail hour and dinner changes arrival and prep times. Not to mention the style of food you have selected heavily impacts how much time will be needed to setup. So in a utopian world your dinner is at 7:00pm, the trucks will be on site to set up no later than say 5:30pm. However, the food truck catering arrival is subject to adjustment depending on your event's location and itinerary.  For example, if your ceremony is outdoors at 5:00pm, with a cocktail hour nearby, and your reception in the same location (all outdoors) we will schedule the trucks to arrive prior to 5:00pm, even if they are not serving until 7:00pm, so as not to disrupt your ceremony and subsequent events.

The setup time and arrival  is also dictated by the type of service you have selected. If the trucks are serving out of their windows, their setup time is less than if they are arranging a buffet service (indoors or out) for your guests. No matter the style of service and activities you have planned, we work to ensure the trucks will arrive with enough time and be ready to serve in a way that best complements your wedding and guests.

Stop back and check out our next post for "Onsite Kitchen for Fresh Dishes"

Be sure to contact us today to discuss your options!

Organizing a food truck rally is no easy feat! Between chasing down a food truck (or a dozen trucks!) to attend your event, ensuring they are properly licensed and insured, hoping they will show up on the day of, and that they have the capabilities to serve the number of people you have in the time allotted, it's a task with many moving parts. How well versed are we in these difficulties? We've encountered new ones every time we've done an event! With several years of experience in hosting food truck caterings and events in Tampa Bay, we have handled just about every eventuality that may occur during your event - which means we also have a big head start on developing a work-around solution!

Part of our process begins with vetting the food trucks themselves. When you look to hire a food truck it can be a shot in the dark. Are they going to meet your expectations and be reliable? Is their food quality consistent? Can they deliver a great customer experience? Are they able to turn tickets quickly enough? We can recommend the appropriate number of trucks to fit your needs, and who will deliver the services you require. The trucks we work with have been determined to be reliable partners through experience, and know our standards and procedures. We can also help to ensure the trucks have the information they need prior to arriving, in order to be well prepared for your event. This does not mean that every truck we work with is infallible, but our history with the trucks, our knowledge of their strengths and weakness, and the vetting process ensures a much higher rate of success.

If you're looking to have a fun and seamless experience, look to us to handle the hiring of food trucks at your next event. Contact us today at 813-802-9119 or fill out our food truck booking form, and a local expert will contact you shortly to discuss your event in more detail.

Making of The Mac Shack Continued

Earlier this week we posted about developing a food truck concept, breathing 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!

Just the Goods was a food truck based out of Lakeland, but it was in need of quite a bit of help aesthetically and the owner, Beth Stokes, didn't want it to be good, she wanted it to be great! That's where our team came in, and pitched the idea of rebranding.

Nico's Arepas Grill is the food truck that came about due to Adrian Castillo, one of our resident food truck operators. If you are craving arepas, call Tampa Bay Food Trucks to book Nico's Arepas Grill!