Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa and Dino Olivieri.
Hi Lisa and Dino, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
We were sitting around a campfire 1 year ago and we just had this thought about starting a food trailer. We like to go out to the local breweries and noticed that many did not serve food. Occasionally they might get a food truck in, if they can find one. So we thought there might be a niche to fill in there and that kind of solidified our idea more. We started looking for a used food truck but we weren’t liking what we were finding.
So then we looked at having one built for us the way we want it. We found a company in Minneapolis (Chameleon Concessions) and that is all they do, build food trucks, trailers, and carts. Many calls, emails, and visits later we had a trailer built to our specifications. As that was being built, we researched the rules and regulations that we needed to adhere to. After we got all of our “T’s” crossed and “I’s” dotted we took possession of our trailer. We had to get inspections done on it before we could get our licenses and permits. It’s like running the 100-meter hurdles. Just getting over one, just to face another.
Finally getting all of that finished, we breathed a big sigh of relief. We were legal and could start a business. That whole process started in Sept. of 2022 and ended in April of 2023. A local place in Fergus Falls called Signworks did our graphics for us using our daughter’s designs. It turned out great. It looks great. We started booking gigs right away and there was no shortage of demand.
Everyone we talked to jumped at the opportunity. Our food, we decided that we didn’t want to sell ordinary carnival food. The best way to describe it would be to call it a Bistro on Wheels. We serve soups, of course, Salads like pasta salads or rice salads, and sandwiches and wraps.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We keep telling ourselves that this is a learning experience for us. Finding a food service was one bump in the road. We are not a sticks and bricks business so they won’t deliver to us, being based out of our home. Plus we are only seasonal. But we found a food service that will work for us and that has helped.
Another ongoing struggle for us is preparing the right amount of food. In the beginning, we were preparing too much and ending up with so much waste. To make things worse almost every event is different from the others we go to. Now that we have had a month under our belts we are slowly getting things dialed in.
We are learning what works where and how much to make. It’s not a perfect science yet but we are figuring it out.
With so many different bookings our menu has to remain flexible. You won’t see the same menu at different events.
It is ever-changing.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We are a food trailer based out of the Ottertail County area in Minnesota. We are not your ordinary carnival type food truck. We don’t have a deep fryer or grill. We serve soups, pasta or rice salads, sandwiches and wraps. We prepare the foods in our trailer and our motto is “Good food takes time”. Our menu is always changing and we try to create different things all of the time.
One sandwich we created seems to be a hit. It is called the “Cheesy Sasquatch” because on the side of our trailer there is a Sasquatch on it. It is our version of a hot dog. It is Italian bread, lots of Provolone cheese, 1/4 pound all beef hot dog cut in half, ham, onion, honey mustard sauce, more provolone cheese and another slice of Italian bread. Then it is grilled on a panini machine.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Our childhood memories have nothing to do with always wanting to own and operate a food trailer. Far from it. The closest thing that we have ever done to working at a fair or carnival was a few years ago we worked at the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City Florida parking cars.
It was a dirty, sweaty job but it only lasted 11 days. From there we met a person that owned a Tram business. So the following year I ended up driving a Tram at the Florida Strawberry Festival along with the Florida state fair and also the Tampa RV super show. That was the closest we have been to being Carnies.
Pricing:
- Soups/Salads $8.00
- Wraps $12.00
- Sandwiches $12.00
Contact Info:
