The truck serves locally, as well as at the Jersey Shore and in Philadelphia. Its signature dish is the warm lobster roll, but the truck offers steak sandwiches and vegetarian dishes, too.
Hamilton residents Beata and Adam Browne opened the Surf and Turf Truck after having their third child.
Husband and wife open Surf and Turf Truck for a change of pace
By Regina Yorkgitis
When their third child was born, Hamilton residents Adam and Beata Browne decided it was time for a change.
“We were looking for something to combine both of our interests,” Adam said. “I kinda got burnt out.”
For years Adam had worked in hospitality and Beata worked in marketing. Both feeling unsatisfied with their current jobs, they decided to take a risk and start a business where they could express their love of food and spend more time with their family.
Today, the Brownes are the owners of the Surf and Turf Truck, a food truck that sells locally, down the Shore and in Philadelphia. The truck will be featured as a vendor at the first annual Food Truck Fiesta at Mercer County Park on March 29.
Beata and Adam have lived in both New York and Los Angeles during their 11-year marriage. They decided to move to Hamilton to be closer to their family and raise their three kids.
Spending time with their kids at the Jersey Shore this past summer was a huge perk of the job so far, Adam and Beata said.
“It was great being at the beach and having the kids there every day,” Adam said.
Although they were working on the long summer days, they were able to see their kids.
The name of the truck-the Surf and Turf Truck-is designed to give a wide variety of menu options to customers. Their signature warm lobster rolls are their biggest success and the main inspiration for the the first part of their name. The warm lobster in the dish is drizzled with citrus butter and topped with the different flavors of sweet mango. Diced jalapeno peppers give the dish a little kick.
“There are other lobster trucks out there, we wanted to do something a little different,” Adam said. “The idea is to be new and fresh.”
But seafood is not everyone’s thing, so the Surf and Turf truck offers steak sandwiches and vegetarian choices, among other dishes.
Running a food truck is no easy task.
“It’s a lot of work and a lot of fun,” said Adam, who generally handles the cooking aspect of the job. He begins his day with basic truck maintenance, checking the oil in the truck. After driving to the selected destination, he sets everything up to serve. Customers are fed, and then its time for clean-up. Once or twice a week, he goes grocery shopping to ensure that all the food they serve is fresh.
The hours are sporadic, depending on the customer traffic, the time of year and the location. When the weather is sunny, food trucks are able to stay out longer. They usually operate 7 days a week during the summer, and business slows down during the winter.
Beata handles what she jovially called the “not fun part.”
“I do all of the scheduling,” she said. Her background in marketing helps her run the truck’s social media, website and press.
The truck gives the Brownes flexibility that no brick-and-mortar restaurant could offer. With a food truck, the Brownes can bring their dishes directly to the business. Beata regularly checks social media for ideas of where to park the truck and upcoming events that are often advertised on social media. She has never driven the truck, but she often work inside of the truck and helps and cook and serve.
As the difficult as days can be, the Brownes are happy with their decision to take a risk.
“At least the trials and tribulations are our own,” Beata said.
Adam and Beata hope to one day expand their business into a food truck franchise and maybe even open a small brick-and-mortar restaurant as the home base for the Surf and Turf Truck.
The Mercer County Park’s Food Truck Fiesta is the first event of it’s kind in Mercer County and will feature live music and over a dozen food trucks. Kids can enjoy pony rides, bounce houses, petting zoos and a rock wall. Entry costs $5, and includes everything except for food and drink. For more information, go online to foodtruckfiesta-nj.com.
For more information about the Surf and Turf Truck, go online to surfandturftruck.com.
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