Delicious food, on the move

According to a 2024 study by US Foods, the average person dines out nearly five times per month and orders takeout or delivery three times per month. Having more convenient food options is nothing new in this day and age, and a popular option for this is food trucks. The Bagel Buggy-A Taste of Tiffin is a popular food truck that includes steamed bagel sandwiches, homemade macaroni and cheese, chicken tenders and fries, fresh-squeezed lemonade and coffee, depending on the season and location. Owner Tina Schank is no stranger to the food industry; initially, a storefront was opened with her sisters in Tiffin featuring the steamed bagels, but the location wasn't ideal for their target market. However, Schank believed in her product and decided to move in a different direction where she could pursue a way to go to her customers. The Bagel Buggy is continually on the go with Schank and the help of her niece. This food truck travels to Cedar Point, Waterville, Toledo, Port Clinton, Oak Harbor and other locations as part of their regular schedule. Operating in Tiffin for Schank is one of her biggest challenges since her food truck is too big for the community's designated parking spots, particularly downtown. But those issues for Schank do not interfere with showing her support for her community. Schank loves being able to have partnerships with other local businesses, including serving Bailiwicks Coffee, using Heavenly Pizza's sauce for the pizza bagels, selling MST snack sticks and offering their Griffs and Kitchen Sink sauces for the chicken tenders, and working on offering deep fried Simply Susan's buckeyes. "It's successful in my definition because I love what I do," Schank said. "Am I getting rich, absolutely not, but I just feel like you're successful if you find something that you love to do so you don't really work so that's success to me." Golda's YUMobile has a set location in Seneca County, outside of the JAM's Market in Tiffin, and has been open for a year. The menu includes different options for the days that it is open. On Saturdays, the menu is breakfast-themed, featuring sourdough breads from a local baker, Buzz Worthy Sourdough, for sandwiches as well as offering a breakfast tater tot casserole. On Wednesdays, the menu features three entrees and handmade pierogi. Jami Fadley, owner of both JAM's Market and Golda's, said when she first opened the food truck, she hired someone to run it full-time, but unfortunately, that didn't work out and she stepped into running the truck. Running a food truck has been a pipe dream for Fadley since she was obsessed with the Food Network and anything food-related as a kid. She opened the food truck after an opportunity she couldn't say no to, and she intended to add another offering at the JAM's Market. Although Fadley has experienced logistical issues with pulling the food truck trailer, this hasn't deterred her from being a part of the community. Fadley said she will be stepping back from her full-time interior painting business and will be able to devote more time to the food truck. Fadley will start offering lunches to local businesses, where she will set up on-site with pierogi and toppings. Additionally, Fadley is in the process of opening a bakery café inside JAM's Market that will go hand in hand with Golda's. Every item is made from scratch, which is very important to her. The food truck is named after Fadley's great-grandmother, Golda, and the recipes are inspired by the way she cooked. "Generally, homemade is better," she said. "My great-grandmother, Golda, anytime she ever cooked she didn't do anything from a box she always made things from scratch, but that was the way she was raised so that was the only thing she knew. So, for me or for anyone really, for food prep purposes it's almost always cheaper to buy the ingredients to make it yourself and it's better for you than it is to just go to the store to buy it." Aurora's Tamales is another local food truck with strong family ties. Starting in 2019 in Fostoria, Stephen Castillo wanted to honor his late grandmother, Aurora, who taught him how to make tamales. Castillo said having tamales on the menu is what makes his truck different since there aren't many food trucks that offer this specific food in the area. Also on the menu are burritos, nachos, and a strawberry cheesecake taco. A current best seller is the burritozilla, a big burrito with birria meat. Castillo said his menu continues to change, but the one permanent staple is the tamales. Being his own boss, Castillo has no one to answer to, so trying to stay motivated can be a struggle. But those struggles do not get in the way of setting up within the community. Aurora's does not have a main location; Castillo stays local and also travels to other towns. Castillo said he enjoys traveling around and meeting people from all over Ohio. He also enjoys the Fostoria community because of the people, and the many who support locally owned businesses. "I think the food truck is successful because of the high demand of calls I get to bring it to different locations and that most days we sell out of food," he said. Bayley Heckathorn and Vicente Flores decided in 2022 to pursue having a food truck and created Fatbacks Smokehouse. Flores, labeled pitmaster, developed his passion for cooking while exploring his skill for smoking meats. From there, Heckathorn, on a whim, found a food truck and brought it home and they opened the Fostoria business in May 2023. Fatbacks Smokehouse offers smoked BBQ ribs, pulled pork and chicken with sides of macaroni and cheese, baked beans, green beans, cornbread, coleslaw, loaded tater tots, as well as offering lemon shake-ups and banana pudding. There are no set hours or location for this food truck, but Heckathorn and Flores aim to be out every Wednesday or to be set up at least once a week in Fostoria at the Dollar General Market. Heckathorn said their biggest challenges are finding areas where they can set up as well as balancing working life with family life. Between five kids and operating the food truck, Heckathorn and Flores are busy, but making their business a priority is very important to both. This hard work and family dynamic make them a special food truck, according to Heckathorn. Eventually, Heckathorn and Flores plan on expanding in some way, which could include opening a second truck.