Food Truck Catering

with Vivianna D'Ambrosio of Phoenix’s Food Truck Aioli Gourmet Burgers*

Wedding caterers and menu options have been breaking the mold for years now. There are dozens of exciting (and delicious) options that you might have never expected. Interested in local cuisine, there’s many farm fresh choices. Meat lovers can have carving stations. Pasta lovers, build your own pasta dishes. The possibilities are endless, but nothing is as exciting as stepping outside to order your own mouth-watering meal from a food truck. There is something about food trucks that just appeals to people, and rightly so. It’s comfort food at its best, and most convenient. In recent years, food trucks have seen a major spike in catered events, especially weddings. So let’s dish on all things food truck catering — you might just find it a very appealing option for your wedding.

We got with Vivianna D'Ambrosio of Phoenix’s Aioli Gourmet Burger and Modern Tortilla - Mobile Mexican Taco Truck to bring you the delicious scoop. And of course, we had to ask why in D'Ambrosio’s opinion food trucks are such a win for catered events, over more traditional catering. She explained “food trucks and food trailers make for a much more memorable experience than traditional catering. The food is prepared fresh, there is a variety to choose from and everyone is always excited to something different than the traditional plated or buffet style.” The cost is another excellent reason, especially if you’re working with a tighter budget. For example, D'Ambrosio’s trucks typically cost about $1,500, all inclusive, and that’s for a party of 100. Costs for these particular trucks are based on a minimum spend, travel fee and final guarantee; and menus are priced per person. However, this more casual fare isn’t for everyone. In fact, it may “limit the level/style of cuisine a bride or groom could be looking for.”

And if you’re wondering, there might be other cons for using a food truck to cater your wedding, depending on how you see things. According to D'Ambrosio, the truck requires additional space, and may require power and water, or even additional permits or paperwork based on the venue and location. One perk when “booking with a reputable food truck company, [is that] they should be able to provide proof of insurance and any necessary permits with no issue,” she explains. Of course, we couldn’t not ask what happens if the wedding gets rained out, because as we all know, you cannot plan for everything. And D'Ambrosio tells us that the “weather is definitely against food truck owners, but [they] always have a back-up plan” and if it can be expected, it’s a good idea to talk with the events manager of your food truck about options. In some cases, she explains, the solution might be as simple as changing the parking location or changing the event menu to a buffer. So, if you’re looking for a casual experience that will put in the extra effort, you might not have to look any further than your favorite food truck or food trailer.

*D'Ambrosio is also associated with Modern Tortilla, Oak Wood Fire Pizza and Bro's Seafood in Phoenix, Arizona.

Photos courtesy of Aioli Gourmet Burger