The whirs and hisses of drills and welding torches carry outside a warehouse tucked away in a Fort Lauderdale office park. Inside, rows of step vans and delivery trucks are being reborn as food trucks.

As mobile eateries have flourished in South Florida in recent years, food truck builders have also shifted into high gear.

These mobile food truck factories — including Concession Nation in Fort Lauderdale, AAA Concession Trucks and Trailers in Davie, and FoodCart USA in Miami — scour the state for new and late-model Chevy, Ford and GMC step vans as well as used flower, fire and delivery trucks (and in one case, a shuttle van from NASA). They add fryers, refrigerators and stainless steel surfaces and turn them into rolling restaurants.

“Everybody wants one,” said Alexander Alvarez, owner of Concession Nation, which completed 126 jobs in 2012, a 34 percent increase from 2011.

The weakened economy and high unemployment of the past few years have helped drive the local food truck boom. As people were laid off or considering job changes, some decided to become their own boss and invest in mobile units. Meanwhile, TV programs such as Food Network’s “The Great Food Truck Race” and the Cooking Channel’s “Eat Street” were showing contestants making thousands of dollars a day with a customized food truck.

Yes, food truck operators have costs such as gas, food inventory and permits. But these are “less expensive than brick-and-mortar facilities, making it easier to enter the food service business,” said Ron Grimes, manager of environmental health programs at NSF International, a nonprofit that develops standards for equipment used in food service establishments such as food trucks.

“People don’t have to pay rent [with a food truck], and they are not committed to one place,” said Bruce Hicks, owner of AAA Concession Trucks and Trailers, adding that his business doubled to 30 trucks in 2012 from the previous year, from a mix of local and national clients.

He began to shift his business toward food truck building in the past two years after noticing a decline in RV-related jobs.

“I saw that [business] going away. People were in foreclosures and losing their homes,” Hicks said.

These days, he’s getting requests to create food trucks for freestanding businesses such as Popeye’s fast-food chicken and Donna’s Restaurant and Lounge, which has locations throughout Broward County.

He was also hired to outfit an all-white, 8-foot GMC step van for Gozen Yogurt, a self-service frozen yogurt company based in Philadelphia. It will be painted in orange, yellow and blue swirls and have a flat-screen TV, freezer and four self-serve yogurt machines. Once completed later this month, the truck will be ready to dispense sorbet, dulce de leche and caramel-flavored treats at corporate parties and festivals from Jupiter to Miami.

“The real advantage to having a food truck is that you will be able bring the entire frozen yogurt store experience to someone’s home,” said Adam Zell, the Florida partner for Gozen Yogurt.

Of course, none of this would be possible without the ever-growing popularity of food truck fare and events. The National Restaurant Association doesn’t track the number of food trucks in the United States, but the group has found that consumers have been increasingly flocking to mobile eateries.

In a 2012 association survey, 43 percent of adults said they had bought items from a food truck.

The demand for food trucks, Concession Nation’s Alvarez said, comes from a base of customers hungry for “fast-food but better quality. You get a homemade plate served to you in 10 minutes.”

At Concession Nation’s offices and warehouse in Fort Lauderdale, calls pour in from throughout the country. The San Francisco 49ers football team, for example, had the company create a team-themed concession trailer.

And the Fontainebleau in Miami Beach recently hired Concession Nation to build an 18-foot food truck to sell some of the dishes found at the resorts’ restaurants such as Gotham Steak and Scarpetta. The truck will roam the property, complete with three flatscreen monitors showing video of the hotel’s amenities.

“It’s a truck that we are going to use to feature lots of different venues in the resort,” said Thomas Connell, the resort’s executive chef. “We are going to use it for special events, barbecues, LIV [nightclub] after-hours … wherever our customers need it really.”

Costs range per builder, but a used food truck can cost $3,000 to $20,000, depending on the mileage, year, condition and size, which can be 16 or 18 feet long. Fully-loaded new trucks can run as much as $100,000. Generally, vendors find the trucks for the client, but a customer can bring a truck to a contractor and have it outfitted with equipment.

Workers strip the rear (or the box) of the truck, install aluminum walls and diamond-plated flooring. They add stainless-steel counters, refrigerators, sinks and deep fryers, or whatever the client requests. Some owners add LED lights on their roofs and flat screens to promote their menus to potential passers-by.

Concession Nation, which features its work on fastfoodtruck.com, also wraps the exterior of the vehicle to brand the food and services.

“You have a brand-new truck inside and, plus, you have free advertising whenever you hit the road,” said Monica Gonzalez, chief financial officer at Concession Nation. A typical job there lasts about five days.

Craig Larson, owner of Lucille’s Bad to the Bone BBQ in Boca Raton and Boynton Beach, wanted a food truck as a side catering business to bring his culinary fare to office workers daily.

“We realized there was as significant truck scene going on down in [Miami-Dade] but didn’t see a lot of it in Palm Beach,” he said.

So last year he sought the services of Concession Nation, which transformed a 2001 GMC 28-foot-long step van used for flower deliveries in Disney World into Lucille’s on Wheels, a black food truck bedecked with the image of a smiling red-headed woman carrying a tray of food.

“We wanted to do something whimsical, slightly southern, slightly risque. The whole deal with the truck was to have fun,” said Larson, whose mobile unit houses a three-compartment sink, two fryers and a 4-foot grill that makes barbecue chicken nachos and fries slicked in gravy. “It’s a whole rebirth for that truck from what it did originally.”

http://www.southflorida.com/news/fl-food-truck-builders-20130306,0,3231810.story

Yesenia Hernandez
Palate Party is scheduled to appear at Jupiter’s first major food truck party

Good news, thin-blooded South Floridians. Last weekend’s “frigid” (read: glorious) cooler temps will start melting away in the next few days, and the forecast for the weekend is looking pretty damned fine. Get out of the house, sans parka this time, and check out what’s shaking in the Broward and Palm Beach County food and drink scenes. Five ideas for the weekend, after the jump.

5. Passover Cooking Contest
Josef’s Table in Boca Raton has called on locals to share their favorite seder side and dessert dishes in a Passover Cooking Contest at 3 p.m. Thursday. Contestants have been asked to bring along their recipes and samples of the dishes like vegetable medley, sponge cake, meringue cookies, and spinach kugel. The contest is in anticipation of Josef’s Table’s Passover dinner on March 25 and 26. Call 954-290-3521.

4. Stout App Night: Drink on the Dark Side
Beer and tech geek cultures converge at Thursday night’s Stout App Night: Drink on the Dark Side at Kahuna Bar & Grill in Deerfield Beach. The bar will host a launch party for the new beer app, Stout, starting at 8 tonight. There’s no admission charge, and the first 50 attendees get a free beer. Other food and drink specials — including craft brews — will be available.

3. The Ultimate Chefs’ Dinner
Four South Florida chefs, including Lenore Nolan-Ryan, will chip in for a four course chefs’ dinner Sunday night at the Pavilion Grille in Boca Raton. The dinner is 6 to 8 p.m. and tickets are $100. Proceeds will benefit United Cerebral Palsy of South Florida. Call 954-315-4057.

2. Nosh Fest IV: South Florida’s Jewish Food Festival
Passover is just around the corner and The Nosh Fest will be stocked with tons of tasty and traditional Jewish treats. The fest is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday at Temple Beth Emet in Cooper City. The cost of admission is five nonperishable food items. The collected food will be distributed among Feeding South Florida of Pembroke Park, WECARE Food Pantry of Broward County, and Jewish Family Service of Broward County. Bites will be available for $2 to $4 with options like a Romanian pastrami sandwich, falafel, and stuffed cabbage, plus other dishes.

1. Food truck fest in Jupiter
About two dozen food trucks are scheduled to appear in Saturday’s Food Truck Fest at Riverwalk Events Plaza in Jupiter. Among those expected are Bite Gastrotruck, Palate Party, Tacos Al Carbon, Fry Daddy, and many others. The event is 5 to 10 p.m., and there’s no admission charge, though you should bring cash to purchase dinner and snacks. Attendees can vote for a People’s Choice winner from among the trucks. Bring your own chair.

http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/cleanplatecharlie/2013/03/south_florida_events_march_2013.php

credit: Tricia Woolfenden
Cheers! It’s South Florida Beer Week.

The big happenings this week are centered around beer. Specifically, good beer. (And if you really want to get to the very core of it, good, Florida-made beer.) The second annual South Florida Beer Week is upon us and there’s plenty to do every night of the week. Check out the South Florida Beer Week list of events to map out your next few days. For other goings-on — including a beer-centric event not included in the original SFBW roundup — find a list of Broward and Palm Beach County events, after the jump.

See Also:
- South Florida Beer Week: Cigar City’s Phil Palmisano Tells Us How to Navigate a Week of Craft Beer
- The Funky Food Club at Le Bistro in Lighthouse Point: For the Truly Adventurous Eater
- Dining in the Dark Returns to SoLita Delray

Monday

Food truck rally in Hollywood
The weekly food truck rally at Arts Park in downtown Hollywood is 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Monday. There’s no cost to attend; bring cash for the trucks. This week’s lineup includes popular favorites like BC Tacos, Bite Gastrotruck, Los Chamos, Jefe’s Original Fish Taco & Burgers, Palate Party, and many others.

Tuesday

The Gourmet Food Truck Experience
More than 20 food trucks will converge at Tuesday’s Gourmet Food Truck Experience at Seminole Casino Coconut Creek. The trucks will meet in the west parking lot. There’s no cost to attend and prices vary from truck to truck. Some of the trucks expected to attend include BC Tacos, Flour Power, and PS561. The gathering is 6 to 9 p.m.

Dining in the Dark at SoLita
SoLita Italian Restaurant and Parlor Lounge in Delray Beach hosts Dining in the Dark on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights at 8 p.m. A three-course meal is $59 per person, plus drinks, tax, and gratuity. Be sure to call ahead and reserve a seat.

Funky Food Club
Are you man/woman enough to do it? The Funky Food Club meets at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Le Bistro in Lighthouse Point for a mysterious evening of new and unusual creations. The first rule of the Funky Food Club is…to call for details on how to get involved: 954-946-9240.

Wednesday

Gourmet wine dinner
The Backyard Bar in West Palm Beach hosts monthly wine dinners and the theme for Wednesday’s meal is perfect for Francophiles. The four-course meal features a French-focused menu created by chef Michael Ober and each course is paired with a wine. The cost is $60 per person. The meal starts at 6:30 p.m.

Thursday

Shipyard Prelude Firkin Party
Original Fat Cat’s – hands down, one of Fort Lauderdale’s best, no-frills, no-BS beer joints — will tap a special firkin of Shipyard Prelude on Thursday night. They’ll also have Applehead and Sea Dog Blue Paw on draft. Head there between 5 and 10 p.m. for the Shipyard focused fun.

Hourglass Winery at Virginia Philip Wine Shop & Academy
Audra Chapman will guide guests through four wines from Napa Valley’s Hourglass Winery. The event is 6 to 7 p.m. on Thursday at Virginia Philip Wine Shop & Academy in West Palm Beach. The cost is $35 per person.

Wine tasting at d.b.a./cafe
d.b.a./cafe in Fort Lauderdale is aiming to be the go-to locale for relaxed get togethers for oenophiles and aspiring aficionados (witness their weekly “brown bag wine tastings” on Wednesday nights). Thursday’s wine tasting hosted by Savor Tonight is in line with that goal. The tasting includes four wines — in four differing styles — paired with small bites. The cost is $15 in advance or $20 at the door, and the tasting is 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday.

Cigars on the Patio Lounge
III Forks Prime Steakhouse and Cantina Laredo Modern Mexican are co-hosting an event to highlight Mya Cigars, which has a cigar factory in West Palm Beach. A Cuban tabaquero will hand-roll cigars on site and they’ll be available for purchase. Meanwhile, guests can munch on free appetizers and free tastings of Angostura 1919 Premium Rum and Gozio Amaretto. The event is 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday.

Coming Up 
Want to be the first to know about upcoming events and specials? Sign up to receive New Times‘ weekly dining newsletter, Cafe Bites. Other specialty newsletters focus on music, arts and culture, and free stuff. Check them out and sign up here.

http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/cleanplatecharlie/2013/01/south_florida_beer_week_2013_fort_lauderdale_delray_beach_west_palm_beach.php

BC Tacos, along with nearly two dozen other trucks, will be serving up dinner.

If you’ve live in northwest Broward, rejoice in the fact that you’ll soon have a major food truck takeover next week.

on Tuesday, January 22 from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m., The Gourmet Food Truck Experience brings more than 20 food trucks to the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek. 

From burger to tacos, yogurt to Key Lime pie, you’ll have your chance to eat your way through some of south Florida’s most established trucks, making new favorites along the way.

Trucks scheduled to serve dinner include:

• 90 Miles To Go
• BC Tacos
• Best French Fries
• Big Belly’s Deli
• Boba Station
• Da Burger Shack
• Dough Food Truck
• Fireman Derek’s World Famous Pies
• Firewall Food Truck
• Flour Power
• Guiseppe’s Italian Sausage
• Ideal Fusion Cuisine J
• OJI Yogurt
• Killer Pasta
• Kokua Italian  Ice
• Lobsta Rollin
• Out Of Many Café
• PS561
• The Mediterranean Grill
• The Philly Grill
• VeggieXpress

http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/cleanplatecharlie/2013/01/gourmet_food_truck_experience.php

JM Lexus will be having a “Miami Dolphins” themed event on Friday January 18th from 5PM-10PM.

You will have photo opportunities with the Super Bowl Trophy, Dolphin Cheerleaders, alumni Dolphin Players as well as they will be showing the documentary about the Dolphins 1972 Undefeated Season, More Than Perfect!

And of course your favorite Food Trucks will be there serving up the food!

Friday January 18th

AZ Canteen
Best French Fries
BITE Gastrotruck
Che Grill
Crazydilla
Dog Eat Dog
Dolce Gourmet Cupcakes
JOJI Yogurt
La Nostra
Los Chamos
Lucille’s on Wheels
Mobile Culinary Kitchen
Potoffee Chips
Slow Food Truck
Taco Fresh
Top Fries

The Details:

Food Truck Pile Up
at JM Lexus of Margate
Date: Friday January 18th
Time: 5PM – 10PM
Location: 5350 West Sample Road Margate, FL 33073
Parking: Plenty of Free Parking

http://miamifoodtrucks.com/2013/01/

The Food Truck Invasion comes to Hollywood every Monday from 5:30 to 10 p.m. at the ArtsPark at Young Circle. Hallandale Beach is launching a similar event this Friday outside City Hall, across from Gulfstream Park. (City of Hollywood, courtesy / January 3, 2013)

HALLANDALE BEACH—

Porkalicious. Purple People Eatery. 2 Jive Turkey.

The imaginative names pull you in, and the gourmet grub keeps food truck fans coming back for more.

On Friday, Hallandale Beach officially joins the local craze for mobile cuisine with its own monthly food truck rally.

More than 20 high-end food trucks from Broward andMiami-Dade counties will roll in from 5 to 10 p.m. at Hallandale Beach City Hall, 400 S. Federal Highway, across from Gulfstream Park.

The trucks will sell everything from burgers and pork to vegan dishes, cupcakes and gelato.

Dubbed “First Fridays on Federal,” the event will be held the first Friday of every month and is expected to draw an estimated 1,500 people, says organizer Sef Gonzalez.

Nearby in Hollywood, Gonzalez helped launch the city’s “Food Truck Invasion” in August 2011. The event, held every Monday from 5:30 to 10 p.m., has been drawing hundreds to the ArtsPark at Young Circle ever since.

“It’s become a staple event on Mondays,” said Jaime Hernandez, a spokesman for Hollywood. “It’s mainly locals who come, but the food trucks do have their own following. So they do have people coming in from other parts of the region.”

You can thank Cathie Schanz for bringing the rolling feast to Hallandale.

As the city’s director of Parks and Recreation, she scouted Hollywood’s food truck event and liked what she saw.

“We were interested in bringing that to Hallandale Beach,” she said.

There will be lots of variety to keep taste buds entertained, so don’t expect two pizza trucks at the same event.

Gonzalez says he also rotates food truck vendors in and out of different venues to keep things interesting.

“If you come back and see the same food trucks every time, you can get bored,” he said. “Some of your favorites will be there, but there may be some others so you can try more types of food.”

Gonzalez pulls from a group of about 130 food trucks from West Palm Beach to the Keys.

“Just like with restaurants, not all are surviving,” he said. “Some just disappear. Some go out of business. Some leave the state.”

But others have been showing up in their place, he said.

A food truck event and awards ceremony for the best rolling feast is coming to Fort Lauderdaleon Feb. 2, compliments of Gonzalez. The event is from 5 to 10 p.m. at Esplanade Park.

A food truck event and Cool Wheels Car Show is planned in Deerfield Beach on Jan. 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Quiet Waters Park.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/hallandale/fl-food-trucks-hallandale-20130103,0,1920084.story

Starting on Friday January 4th and every 1st Friday of the Month afterwards you can find 20 of your favorite Food Trucks setting up at Hallandale Beach City Hall (right across from Gulfstream Park). Pinchadiscos 305 will be on hand spinning the tunes so make sure to tell all your friends and family about First Fridays on Federal. Thanks to the City of Hallandale Beach Parks & Recreation for helping to make this happen.

Friday January 4th Line-Up:

90 Miles
AZ Canteen
The Big Ragu
BITE Gastrotruck
Crazydilla
Daddy’s Grill
Dog Eat Dog
Fireman Derek’s World Famous Pies
HipPOPs Handcrafted Gelato Bars
Los Chamos
Marlie’s Delights
Miami Press Truck
Mushaboom
Porkalicious
Purple People Eatery
Snow Caps
Sugar Yummy Mama
2 Jive Turkeys

The Details:

First Fridays on Federal in Hallandale Beach
Date: Every First Friday of the Month
Time: 5PM – 10PM
Location: 400 South Federal Highway Hallandale Beach, FL 33009

http://miamifoodtrucks.com/2012/12/