A Food Truck Thanksgiving
November 21st, 2012 by flanewsIt’s not a traditional way to celebrate Thanksgiving, but it may find a niche in the market. This holiday season, food trucks are offering to cater Thanksgiving Dinner. Curious? Whitney Ray explains what to look for when booking a food truck caterer.
Rebecca Kelly spent 16 years in the restaurant business before striking out on her own with this mobile kitchen.
She started Street Chefs in 2011. The restaurant on wheels serves up southern comfort food with a modern twist.
“We try to make sure that everything is fresh,” said Rebecca.
Street Chefs is just one of a growing number trucks bringing food to hungry Floridians. There are now more than 22-hundred statewide, up 17 percent from a year ago.
“We’ve seen from Pensacola to Miami, these food trucks growing,” said Ken Lawson, DBPR Secretary.
Lawson heads up the state department in charge of licensing and inspecting the trucks. He says they’re just as clean and safe as traditional restaurants.
“Here’s the deal, alright, the rules are the same for a food truck and a restaurant and the food trucks need to be licensed,” said Lawson.
A couple of quick things to look for to know if the truck’s been inspected; look for this purple sticker and a licenses number.
Food trucks are randomly inspected a couple times a year, and now a growing number of trucks are offering Thanksgiving Dinner.
“We’re talking, grilled turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, handmade cranberry sauce, stuffing, even desert, the whole nine yards,” said Rebecca.
Street Chefs haven’t been booked for Thanksgiving yet, but they are catering several holiday parties. And the best part about hiring a food truck for the holidays is.
“When we come by and we do you’re catering. We bring the dirty kitchen away with us,” said Rebecca.
Some food for thought, while scrubbing those Thanksgiving dishes.
Since the trucks are mobile it takes investigators a little more leg work to perform random inspections. One place to drop in on cooks is at food truck fair. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation is hosing its third fair December 5th in Tallahassee. Vendors from all over the state are invited to attend.
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