Eric Thomas - How To Start a Home-based Food Truck Business

Eric Thomass passion for cooking and barbecue started in Chicago at the young age of ten and carried on with him while he attended college at Jackson State University in Mississippi. Eric has always had an appreciation and love for all things food. While in the military, he gained an appreciation for Korean food and learned how to prepare Korean-style barbecue. While stationed at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas, he immersed himself in the way true Texas-style barbecue is done and also learned how to appreciate and cook a good steak.

After leaving the military, he worked in corporate America for eight years, during which time he continued to cook for friends and family and started working on his next big venture, the Rolling Grill, which specializes in on-site mobile barbecue, catering, and alfresco dining services. The Rolling Grill prides itself on being called the On-site Grilling Professional.

Erics success with the Rolling Grill has also allowed him to start an award-winning barbecue competition team, with teammate Chef Hemmard Thomas, which travels the Southeast competing in barbecue competitions throughout the year. Thomas has also done video interviews and chicken prep videos with Darryl Mast from BBQSuperstars.com.

I would like to thank everyone who in some way, shape, or form has believed in me and encouraged me to continue to think big thoughts and dream big, when I didnt even believe in myself. Without people like that encouraging me, this book would not have been possible.

I would also like to acknowledge the staff at Globe Pequot Press for believing in the book and the special assistance from development/project editor Tracee Williams, who was a tremendous help in getting this book off the ground! I cant thank you enough, Tracee, for all of your help.

After years of cooking, watching cooking shows, and competing in barbecue competitions around the country, I have learned so much about myself as a cook and about cooking in general. I hope that the information in this book can in some way help and encourage others to continue cooking and provide that valuable information needed to go out and start a mobile catering operation, gourmet food truck, or food cart.

I also would like to acknowledge all of the current entrepreneurs who each day go out and continue to push the mobile food movement forward from coast to coast. Without you guys this book has no meaning.

Keep Cooking!

Eric

No one person knows it all and information is changing on a daily basis, but knowing where to go to get further information or to do your own research is a step in the right direction. In this section you will find some useful resources to get you started.

I would also recommend that you become very familiar with how to navigate Internet search engines; they are valuable tools you should be using to get on the spot information. By no means are the resources provided the only information available on the subject, so be proactive and gather as much information as you can from current food truckers, online resources, food truck builders, local or national food truck associations, and your local city government officials.

Continuing to stay abreast of new and old information will help keep you ahead of the pack and well on your way to becoming one of the success stories in the mobile food movement. Knowledge is power, and the more you know the better you and your new business will be. Do your research.

The Atlanta Street Food Coalition

www.atlantastreetfood.com

The coalition continues to work with city government to make Atlanta a fair playing field for food truckers. The website is also a source of information on all the current food trucks in the streets of Atlanta.

Consumers InternationalStreetfood

www.streetfood.org

A street food website that focuses on foreign countries and the abundance of different street food vendors around the world. A big focus is on bringing safe and healthy street food practices to everyone so we all can enjoy safe food.

DC Food Truck Association

www.dcfoodtrucks.org

Comprised of a collective group of food truck owners and operators, this association is working to sustain the availability of food trucks and working with city officials to curtail many of the rules and regulations that could stand in the way of food trucks being accessible to the people of DC and the surrounding areas.

Lunchbox Association of California L.A. Familia Unida

www.loncheros.com or www.saveourtacotrucks.org

This association was formed to help protect the rights of lunchbox owners and operators. The site is primarily in Spanish.

National Association of Catering Executives (NACE)

9891 Broken Land Parkway, Suite 301

Columbia, MD 21046

(410) 997-9055

www.nace.net

An association that provides networking opportunities, professional certifications, and educational programs for catering professionals.

National Barbecue Association

455 S. 4th Street, Suite 650

Louisville, KY 40202

(888) 909-2121

www.nbbqa.org

A networking site for barbecue aficionados who love the business of barbecue and the sport of barbecue competitions.

National Ice Cream Retailer Association

1028 West Devon Avenue

Elk Grove Village, IL 60007

(847) 301-7500

www.nicra.org

The National Ice Cream Retailer Association is a nonprofit trade association of ice-cream retailers, wholesalers, and suppliers to the frozen dessert industry. Their goal is to help their members succeed by providing the support and education that their businesses need to prosper and grow.

The New York City Food Truck Association

www.nycfoodtrucks.org

This group focuses on delivering a great food truck experience for the city of New York and also fights for the opportunity to educate the public and city governments on the importance of food trucks and the value they add to the city.

Southern California Mobile Food Vendors Association

www.socalmfva.com

This association is leading the charge in California to ensure that the rules are fair for food truckers. Its a great place to gather information on trucking events around the Southern California area.

Toronto Street Food Vendors Association

www.sfva.ca

An advocacy group for vendors in the Toronto, Canada, area that works together as a network to promote a strong street food culture, along with working with city officials and businesses in the city.

United States Personal Chef Association (USPCA)

7680 Universal Boulevard, Suite 550

Orlando, FL 32819

(505) 994-6372 or (800) 995-2138

www.uspca.com

This organization supports personal chefs and provides classes and menu planning programs that help personal chefs with recipes and cooking techniques.

All A Cart Manufacturing Inc.

1450 Universal Road