A new food truck has entered the Lehigh Valley scene and is serving up hungry boozehounds, farmer’s markets, and employees throughout the Lehigh Valley. The BobBQ truck, serves, of course, barbecue, and is now popping up throughout the area.
The truck had a curious beginning. Bob Gates, a property manager in PA and NJ, rang up his daughter, Alexis, then a server and bartender, and asked her if she wanted to open a food truck. Her father had stumbled upon a food truck in working condition and, with a food truck being a long-time passion of hers, she agreed. While neither of them have professional culinary training, like the best BBQ masters, Bob learned in his backyard. His love for barbecue drove him to pursue the hobby, and ended up with a competition-level BBQ trailer that includes a smoker, chicken roaster, and a pig roaster. In addition to catering jobs, Bob has placed 3rd in a local BBQ competition for his ribs, as well as developed his own line of BBQ seasonings. Alexis, who is a co-owner and helps run the truck, has been in the restaurant industry since she was 16, adding serving experience to the operation.
Alexis told us the whole thing has been a long-running joke between father and daughter. Before she finished her college degree, her dad would joke that he was going to buy her a hotdog cart, while she told him that her career would consist of traveling the world. He upped the ante with her graduation present, a book called, “How to Start Your Own Hot Dog Cart,” which she admits, scared her because she thought he followed through on his promise.
The jokes became a serious business proposition as Alexis graduated college and started researching the mobile food industry and discovered that it is one of the fastest growing sectors of the culinary industry. Of their decision to run a food truck instead of a restaurant, Gates said, “There are some great things about a food truck that restaurant doesn’t offer. A food truck is mobile so you can pick up and go to the people with your food, creating convenience for the customer…Modern food trucks today serve gourmet cuisine and that’s what our goal is with our BBQ.” She also mentioned that food trucks are fun (we agree), which fits her and her father’s humorous nature.
So, to the food. They’ll be serving up beef brisket, jerk chicken, and pulled pork sliders with Bob’s custom spice blends, as well as daily and weekly specials. While the menu will stick to those staples, Alexis said they will strive to use local and seasonal ingredients, which may change up their dishes from time to time. They’re currently signed with Trexlertown, Macungie, and Saucon Valley Farmer’s markets and can also be found at Bucks Count Brewery, the Bridgeworks Enterprise Center (which houses Hijinx Brewery, Colony Meadery, and County Seat Distillery), and Weyerbacher Brewery in Easton. They’ll also post up their daily location on their Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. And, since we know a lot of people in corporate buildings, industrial parks, and large businesses read this site, the Bob-B-Q truck wanted us to let you know that you can request their truck at your location by contacting them via their website.