Although the food truck movement has been relatively recent, picking up in the early 2000s, the concept has been around for much longer. Let’s take a quick look back to historic staples in the food truck industry: Ice Cream Trucks This is a classic when you think food on wheels. Despite the fact that they’re not as easily found as they once were, most people, regardless of age, still know the tune of an ice cream truck. Mr. Burt, creator of the Good Humor bar, is touted as the first “ice cream man.” His truck appeared in the 1920s and began the ice cream craze that is remembered most often with hot summer days and nostalgia. Chuckwagons In the late 1800s America was becoming a popular spot for colonists to come, claim land, and settle down. Hundreds of thousands of people traveled west. They needed food. Chuckwagons were the creation…

Fast-food fans can easily relate to the Whopper vs. Big Mac debate because both of these items are their respective chain’s signature items. The Whopper is, of course, Burger King’s signature sandwich – or as the chain calls it, “America’s favorite burger” – while the Big Mac is McDonald’s signature item. Keep in mind that both are marketed as “better burgers” in the sense that these aren’t your regular fast-food burgers with dry beef patties, limp veggies, and bland cheese served on soggy buns. These are instead characterized by flavorful bites and a filling quality that leaves no doubt whatsoever that you’ve just enjoyed great burgers.  The Whopper Introduced in 1957, the Whopper has become Burger King’s signature item and it has certainly lived up to its name. The sandwich has undergone several transformations through the years, such as in its bread and portion resizing, but it has basically remained…

With the growing coffee culture in the United States, the Starbucks vs. Dunkin’ Donuts comparisons are heating up, particularly as each chain has its share of fans. But while these coffee-centric eatery chains offer many similar coffee options, they also have different food options, clientele type, and branding strategies. Breadth of Influence Starbucks may be younger by 20 years than Dunkin’ Donuts but it has grown more aggressively resulting in it being the substantially larger – and more lucrative – company. In 2018, for example, Starbucks earned $24.7 billion representing an increase of 10% from last year’s revenue. In contrast, Dunkin’ Donuts only earned $1.32 billion in revenue, an increase of just 3.6% from the previous year. There’s also the matter of the number of locations for each chain. Where Starbucks has more than 28,200 locations worldwide, Dunkin’ Donuts has over 20,500 restaurants globally. Even in the United States, Starbucks…

Going out to eat can be a great pick-me-up or treat, and there’s no doubt that it’s a more attractive option than spending an hour or so in the kitchen cooking up a meal. It gives you the chance to explore new options or just stick with your favorite stand-by dish that always leaves you satisfied. But these days, with the world of cuisine and dining out so heavily inundated by restaurants varying in size, type, and quality, pinning down a good time and place to eat out may leave you feeling more anxious than relaxed. You may have heard horror stories from diners or restaurant staff – this is a large part of why we suggest first checking out online reviews before you commit to a location! Any previous visitors will let you know if there was a huge red flag or issue that hasn’t been resolved. Pull up…

It’s the new kid in town in a world where meat products and their vast, dangerous consumption are finally getting overthrown for healthy and sustainable alternatives. Impossible foods, a company founded in 2011, has made it their mission to find alternative food sources to create products that are so meat-like in texture and taste, carnivores won’t be able to argue when it comes to healthier options. Here’s what their website has to say about one of their top sellers, the Impossible Burger: Love meat? Eat meat. Impossible delivers all the flavor, aroma, and beefiness of meat from cows. But here’s the kicker: It’s just plants doing the impossible. We’re not suggesting that carnivores give up their delicious delicacies to switch over completely to plant-based food products, but there is some science to back up the change. According to the market, in a short time plant-based products will actually end up…

Spicy foods have a deep cultural history, stretching as far back as pre-colonialism. In fact, the chili pepper – a classic choice for spicy flavoring – originated in Mexico (Mesoamerica), and was eventually carried over to Europe by Christopher Columbus. Chilies were cultivated about 3,500 years before the appearance of Jesus Christ, but they were growing in the area as early as 7,000 BC. Many spicy favorites, including curry and Tom Yum soups, use chilis as the main ingredient for spice. Found in almost every culture, spicy foods are important for different reasons: some people believe that spicy foods actually help make hot, tropical climates bearable. Others believe that they detox the body and allow regular consumers to live longer and healthier lives. That last one has actually been scientifically proven, along with a few other facts. A good amount of spice can kill off bacteria, speed up your metabolism,…

Bigger is better! This seems to be the mantra of McDonald’s when it comes to many of its hamburgers, especially where its North American market is concerned. We can’t blame the world’s largest fast-food chain for its “bigger is better” motto because Americans seem to have grown a larger appetite. McDonald’s offer two large burgers, namely, the Big Mac and the Quarter Pounder. Both are bestselling items, thanks to their large quality – large in size and large in flavor, so to speak. But these are also relatively unique burgers that offer quite distinctive taste. The Big Mac First introduced by McDonald’s in the Greater Pittsburgh area in 1967, the Big Mac has become one of the chain’s flagship products – or as many fast-food pundits say it, the iconic burger that best symbolizes the Golden Arches’ burger line. Such is its popularity that it has even been used by…