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.