The Food Truck Scholar

ABOUT THE SHOW
It’s been a minute since the last episode dropped, so we are coming in hot!

Today’s guest is Marcus Crawford, co founder and co owner of Bro-ritos. Selected by Parade as one of the top Black owned eateries in the country, Bro-ritos is an award winning brand that started with a food truck and later its first brick and mortar restaurant location serving the NJ and NYC area

Marcus stopped by the show to share with us some of his cheat codes to success that include financial capital, branding, social media and growth strategies

BRO-RITOS
Website: https://www.broritosfoodtruck.com/


SEASON 4 SPONSOR
BGT Gifts
Website: https://bgtgifts.com/

Over the past 5 years, I’ve  learned a lot about what makes a good food truck stand out among the rest. I took 8 of those key concepts and created a book where I could have curbside conversations with each of you about them. This book  is not only digestible and not designed to overwhelm you, but also propels you into action. You can purchase Before You Launch A Food Truck TODAY at TheFoodTruckScholar.com/shop in paperback and ebook format as well as on Amazon. 

Over the past 5 years, I’ve  learned a lot about what makes a good food truck stand out among the rest. I took 8 of those key concepts and created a book where I could have curbside conversations with each of you about them. This book  is not only digestible and not designed to overwhelm you, but also propels you into action. You can purchase Before You Launch A Food Truck TODAY at TheFoodTruckScholar.com/shop in paperback and ebook format as well as on Amazon. 

ABOUT THE SHOW
While many people love food trucks, it’s important not to romanticize their relationship with residents, urban planners, and city officials. Over the years, I’ve researched cities that haven’t found a way to properly position food trucks in a way that supports small business owners, the families they support, and the community that supports them.

Today’s guest is Jordan Rubin owner of Mr. Tuna a wildly popular food truck has seen business grow in the midst of the pandemic, but has now seen revenue drop dramatically after he and other food trucks found themselves kicked out of well visited food truck spot after city officials decided to hold a food truck lottery. fighting to support his staff and his business along with other veteran food trucks, we discuss the role residents and city officials play in establishing and protecting a city’s food truck culture.

ABOUT OUR GUEST
Jordan Rubin is the co-owner of Crispy Gai and chef-owner of Mr. Tuna and the forthcoming Bar Futo — all located in downtown Portland, ME. Jordan has always been drawn to Japanese cuisine and has spent his 20-year career working in some of the top sushi bars across New England, including the famed Uni Sashimi Bar in Boston, where he worked and learned from the notable chef and restaurateur Ken Oringer for an indelible span of three years. 

Ready to venture out on his own, Jordan opened the first sushi food cart on the East Coast in 2017, Mr. Tuna. A year and a couple of food trucks later, he opened Portland’s first-hand roll bar in Monument Square and Mr. Tuna’s brick-and-mortar outpost in the Public Market House. July 2021 brought about the opening of Jordan’s latest endeavor, Crispy Gai, a Thai-inspired restaurant and cocktail bar in the heart of downtown Portland.

Jordan is best known for his creative take on sushi hand rolls using traditional techniques and unexpected flavors, with an emphasis on local seafood. He can generally be found behind the sushi bar at Mr. Tuna or rolling up temaki on his food truck at the Eastern Promenade. Jordan and his concepts have received national recognition from Bon Appetit, Bloomberg, and Thrillist as a trailblazer on the Portland dining scene. Up next, Jordan is opening a Japanese-inspired bar and grill, dubbed Bar Futo

SHOW SPONSOR
Thank you to BGT Gifts for being our Season 4 Sponsor!

Over the past 5 years, I’ve  learned a lot about what makes a good food truck stand out among the rest. I took 8 of those key concepts and created a book where I could have curbside conversations with each of you about them. This book  is not only digestible and not designed to overwhelm you, but also propels you into action. You can purchase Before You Launch A Food Truck TODAY at TheFoodTruckScholar.com/shop in paperback and ebook format as well as on Amazon. 

ABOUT THE SHOW
I know one of the major takeaways people often get from my show when it comes to starting their food truck is to step out on faith and do it. However, in addition to faith to launch it, you also have to use logic and reason to sustain it.

I’ve seen many food trucks get into trouble on the business side simply because agreements were not written down. Did you and friend start a business together? Doing your first catering event? Worried someone may steal your menu? If any of that sounds like you, this is your episode.

Today’s guest is my friend Attorney Courtney Howard. Courtney is also a Birmingham native and stops by the show to educate us on what we as business owners can do to protect ourselves and our business on the front end with written agreements. So lean forward and take notes the show starts now.

SEASON 4 SPONSORS
BGT GIFTS

Over the past 5 years, I’ve  learned a lot about what makes a good food truck stand out among the rest. I took 8 of those key concepts and created a book where I could have curbside conversations with each of you about them. This book  is not only digestible and not designed to overwhelm you, but also propels you into action. You can purchase Before You Launch A Food Truck TODAY at TheFoodTruckScholar.com/shop in paperback and ebook format as well as on Amazon. 

ABOUT THE SHOW
Food Truck owners are hustlers who make their dreams happen. Today’s guest is a brother that takes that to the next level. To some on social Derrick Wood is the owner of My BBQ Man and a food business coach man but to the residents of Dumfries, VA, he’s also the mayor.

Derrick and I talk about his entry into the food truck industry and public service and how his hustle fueled both

SHOW SPONSOR
Thank you to BGT Gifts  for being our show sponsor!

Over the past 5 years, I’ve  learned a lot about what makes a good food truck stand out among the rest. I took 8 of those key concepts and created a book where I could have curbside conversations with each of you about them. This book  is not only digestible and not designed to overwhelm you, but also propels you into action. You can purchase Before You Launch A Food Truck TODAY at TheFoodTruckScholar.com/shop in paperback and ebook format as well as on Amazon. 

ABOUT THE SHOW
Today I’m giving you a followup episode on a guest that has been a fan favorite since season one. I have always gotten messages and comments from people who have been inspired by the story of Patrick Lanier and wanted to know how he’s been. Like many of you who are listening, the pandemic brought the owner of LipSmackin Creations Food Medic in Nashville some challenges. Add to that some tornadoes, inability to secure emergency Covid funding from the federal government and new food truck regulations which almost led to Patrick selling his food truck. Earlier this year, I started a GoFundMe for Patrick and many of you have chipped in, but we still have a ways to go. Today, I share with you part of Patrick’s follow up story and hope you can share and give what you can.

Patrick's GoFundMe
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-patrick-lanier-keep-truckin

Patrick's CashApp
$LipSmackin

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Over the past 5 years, I’ve  learned a lot about what makes a good food truck stand out among the rest. I took 8 of those key concepts and created a book where I could have curbside conversations with each of you about them. This book  is not only digestible and not designed to overwhelm you, but also propels you into action. You can purchase Before You Launch A Food Truck TODAY at TheFoodTruckScholar.com/shop in paperback and ebook format as well as on Amazon. 

Today’s episode features an entrepreneur that I met through clubhouse and has now got me ready to come to Florida to try these Henny wings and meet my little internet nephew in person. Jeremy “Jerm” Battles and his wife Kaydian Battles are the owners of RightOn Que BBQ in Tallahassee. And Jerm hopped on the mic to share with his journey from being a teacher to a food trucker and the giant leaps of faith and work that went into it.

Over the past 5 years, I’ve  learned a lot about what makes a good food truck stand out among the rest. I took 8 of those key concepts and created a book where I could have curbside conversations with each of you about them. This book  is not only digestible and not designed to overwhelm you, but also propels you into action. You can purchase Before You Launch A Food Truck TODAY at TheFoodTruckScholar.com/shop in paperback and ebook format as well as on Amazon. 

Today, I wanted to share some of my thoughts around grants: where to find them, how to apply, and other tips I've learned along the way.

This episode is only available to my Patreon members. I want to thank everyone for supporting my Patreon page! This helps me off load some of the work of producing The Food Truck Scholar that has now become overwhelming while also providing additional value for YOU.

You can become a Patron member for as little as $10/month HERE

Over the past 5 years, I’ve  learned a lot about what makes a good food truck stand out among the rest. I took 8 of those key concepts and created a book where I could have curbside conversations with each of you about them. This book  is not only digestible and not designed to overwhelm you, but also propels you into action. You can purchase Before You Launch A Food Truck TODAY at TheFoodTruckScholar.com/shop in paperback and ebook format as well as on Amazon. 

All of you are part of The Food Truck Scholar no matter if you’re a listener or guest, but I LOVE when listeners become guests! Shae Cole owner of Sincere Saints in Jacksonville, FL is someone that has listened to the show, went through the process of starting her food truck business at the height of the pandemic, and is continuing to flourish. Today’s episode covers her journey from the Great Resignation to the Big Launch and the steps in between. Plus, we talk about how she has used her food truck journey to create a space for other women in the industry

Sincere Saints FB
Sincere Saints IG
Female Food Truckers FB Group

Book Available!
Looking for food truck books to read and starting to feel overwhelmed? Are you trying to find the right answers but realizing you haven’t asked the right questions to get those answers? That’s why I created Before You Launch A Food Truck: 8 Questions Every Aspiring Food Trucker Should Ask.

For the past 5 years that I’ve been studying the food truck industry and being a diehard food truck customer, I’ve  learned a lot about what makes a good food truck stand out among the rest. I took 8 of those key concepts and created a book where I could have curbside conversations with each of you about them. What makes this book different is not only is it digestible and not designed overwhelm you, but it also propels you into action.

You can purchase Before You Launch A Food Truck TODAY at TheFoodTruckScholar.com/shop in paperback and ebook format as well as on Amazon. For every copy purchased, I’m donating a copy to organizations committed to helping formerly incarcerated individuals re-enter society, particularly those interested in starting their own food business. So buy a copy today to help yourself and someone else get rollin and keep truckin!

Over the past 5 years, I’ve  learned a lot about what makes a good food truck stand out among the rest. I took 8 of those key concepts and created a book where I could have curbside conversations with each of you about them. This book  is not only digestible and not designed to overwhelm you, but also propels you into action. You can purchase Before You Launch A Food Truck TODAY at TheFoodTruckScholar.com/shop in paperback and ebook format as well as on Amazon. 

I know, y'all been wondering where I've been. Well, I got plenty of updates for you!

I'm a moderator for  the Food and Business Summit!
Join sharp like-minded food truck and restaurant owners to develop an ecosystem for success through structure, stability, and security.

With years of experience as a consultant and proven track record of success working with the TOP food trucks and restaurants in Los Angeles WFE Consulting wanted to create a space to share knowledge, experience, and resources with other restaurant and food truck owners across the nation and invited me as one of the moderators for this food truck tour.

Thankful for the #FoodTruckTitans to be along on this journey to share their tips and tricks that have allowed their business to be recession proof! AllFlavorNoGrease, Billionaire Burger Boyz and Wut-A-Pickle

This will be moderated by none other than Ariel D. Smith "The Food Truck Scholar"  and @thegreatglaspie of @coolassblackwoman. 

With special guest marketing strategist @juntaedelane of @digitaldelane

Register TODAY by going to www.foodandbusinesssummit.com and use the discount code FTS22 for 10% off General Admission and VIP tickets!

Help Patrick Lanier Keep Truckin
 am fundraising for a past podcast guest and food truck owner Patrick Lanier . He is the owner of Lip Smackin Creations Food Medic in Nashville, TN. I first met Patrick in February 2019 when I visited Nashville to interview his friend Terry Key, and I immediately gravitated towards his story and decided to interview him as well. With his ambulance-turned-food truck, Patrick truly has been a first responder in his own way, serving others however he could. Now he needs his city to have his back.

Covid has been difficult for many food trucks with event cancellations, labor shortages, supply chain shortages and inflations to name a few challenges. Patrick has found himself experiencing all of this, all while still trying to push forward to support his family with the food truck as his only means of support. Applying for federal relief has been difficult, stressful, and unsuccessful. Applying for funding in general has presented several challenges for many first time entrepreneurs. He has acquired a new truck that help him take his business further, but it will need to be compliant with new TN food truck regulations and he cannot afford to stay compliant without our help.

I am asking the community (near and far) to support Patrick to help him keep truckin. He needs $12,000 to put towards the following: a new generator, suppression system, fees for 2 front

Over the past 5 years, I’ve  learned a lot about what makes a good food truck stand out among the rest. I took 8 of those key concepts and created a book where I could have curbside conversations with each of you about them. This book  is not only digestible and not designed to overwhelm you, but also propels you into action. You can purchase Before You Launch A Food Truck TODAY at TheFoodTruckScholar.com/shop in paperback and ebook format as well as on Amazon. 

The Food Truck Association of Georgia is working on a bill to help all food truckers in the state. Call Governor Kemp's office TODAY at 404-656-1776. Share this 5 min episode to all you know. This is HUGE

Over the past 5 years, I’ve  learned a lot about what makes a good food truck stand out among the rest. I took 8 of those key concepts and created a book where I could have curbside conversations with each of you about them. This book  is not only digestible and not designed to overwhelm you, but also propels you into action. You can purchase Before You Launch A Food Truck TODAY at TheFoodTruckScholar.com/shop in paperback and ebook format as well as on Amazon.