Tasting Tampa Food Truck Rally Comes to Largo

In July the tough economy caught up with Todd Sturtz’s engineering job. After a few days of being unemployed the 30-year-old engineer got antsy and decided to succumb to his love for food.

“Two to three days into it [being unemployed] I got bored and started Tasting Tampa food blog,” Sturtz said.  

In about three months of “tasting’ Tampa, Sturtz’s relationship with food trucks and local restaurants laid the ground work for his first Food Truck Rally in Tampa.

“Our first event generated a lot of attention. Every truck ran out of food,” Sturtz said.

Sturtz found a full-time engineering job at the end of summer, but hasn’t given up on Tasting Tampa.

“Juggling both can be a challenge. But I’m making it work right now,” Sturtz said.

He pulled in some reinforcement from his wife Shannon and friend and business partner Mike Blasco.

The events have become so popular that the trio turned it into a business.

“We have food trucks calling us,” Sturtz said.

Churches, businesses and even the city of Largo have called them to organize food truck rallies.

This Saturday Tasting Tampa is bringing the Food Truck Rally to Pinellas for the first time. There will be about 20 food trucks at 500 West Bay Dr. in Largo from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 19.

Tasting Tampa has five events planned n December and ideas to expand to other food related events like tasting tours.

“The Food Truck Rally is the beginning of the business, certainly not the end,” Sturtz said.

The city of Largo’s Community Development Department reached out to Tasting Tampa after seeing the success of the first food truck rallies.

Organizing the event on city property was challenging says Sturtz. With the city's help they got the required permits and plans to set up the rally.

“There are a lot more hoops to jump through on city property,” he said.

The Tasting Tampa team put over 100 hours of planning into Saturday’s event. They are inviting citizens of Largo and residents from across the Bay area to support local food trucks and enjoy the food.

"We want to bring good people and good food together," Sturtz said.

For more information about Tasting Tampa visit their website or email Todd Sturtz at todd@tastingtampa.com.

If you go

What: Food Truck Rally

Where: 500 West Bay Dr. in downtown Largo

When: Saturday, Nov. 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cost: Free

Food Trucks Attending Pinellas First Food Truck Rally:

• Wicked Wiches
• Michelle Faedo
• 3 Ballers
• Fire Monkey
• Fat Tortillas
• Killer Samich Truck
• Coconut Bo's
• Nelly Nel's
• Cuppin Cake
• Whatever Pops
• Burger Culture
• Taco Bus
• La Creperia
• Mr. Empanada
• Gator Country
• Gone Bananas
• Monsta Lobsta
• Just Smoking BBQ
• Foodeez Mobile
• Flying Sliders
• Chicago Beef