Just a little. Kenny. Okay, Dave, thanks a lot. This summer, whether you’re at the pool or a baseball game, food trucks will be coming to every event around the Piedmont Triad. If you think it’s hot to stand in line for food, imagine how hot it is inside an enclosed space. Making that food on a grill. Kelly Kendall talks to local food truck drivers about how hard the job is. She joins us live tonight from a still pretty muggy downtown Winston-Salem. Right? Kelly? Oh, sure, it’s hot, and we’re not going anywhere. Unfortunately for food truck drivers, it can get even hotter inside the truck. I talked to a few local food trucks, and one owner said temperatures can get up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s pretty hot, but he says the key to being able to enjoy grilling all summer is to be prepared. Rob Turner Jr. started his Winston-Salem-based business, Big Dogs Catering & Food Truck, two years ago. He says cooking for people is his passion. It makes him smile. It makes him happy. He loves seeing people happy eating the food he makes. It’s what motivates him to tackle the less fun parts of the job. Heat Turner’s truck serves everything from hibachi-style classics to chicken wings. To make that hot food, he keeps the grill and fryers in the truck hot. Even in the heat of summer. Summer is the busiest time of the year, but it’s also the hottest time of the month for us, Turner says. Staying cool isn’t just a matter of comfort, it’s a matter of safety. The truck can get up to 110 to 120 degrees, which is dangerous for many. It’s really dangerous. People who run food trucks don’t take that into account. Staying cool and hydrated is very important.Turner’s truck is equipped with fans and air conditioning, but he also has a strategy for beating the heat. If the temperatures are going to be over 90 degrees early in the morning or early in the day, you want to be prepared for that. You want to have something, anything, park in the shade and not turn everything on at once. Leave the fryer, the grill, everything on. But Turner’s main trick for keeping food out of the window is simple, and it’s mainly drinking big cups of ice water. To be honest, it’s to stay cool. And what I’ve heard from him is how important safety is this summer. If you order food from a food truck, he says to be patient and remember that the people cooking inside can be exhausted by the heat. But Turner promises that the wait will be well worth it. Kelly, Winston-Salem
Triad food truck owners share how they’re beating the summer heat
A food truck owner in Winston-Salem says temperatures inside his truck can reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit. How do he stay cool all summer long?
Updated: June 21, 2024 at 11:15 PM EDT
With temperatures reaching over 90 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s already been a hot summer in the Triad region, but it could get even hotter for food truck operators. WATCH: NOWCAST Streaming Newscast Robert Turner Jr. started Big Dogs Catering & Food Truck, a Winston-Salem-based food truck, two years ago. He says cooking for people is his passion. “Cooking makes me smile,” he said. “It makes me happy. I love seeing people enjoy my food. That’s what drives me.”One of the less enjoyable parts of the job is the heat. Turner’s truck serves everything from hibachi-style staples to chicken wings, and the grill and fryer will be cooking food in the summer heat. “It’s summer, so it’s also our busiest time,” Turner said. “But for us, it’s also the hottest time of the month.”Click here to get the latest interesting news stories. He says staying cool in the summer isn’t just a matter of comfort, it’s also a matter of safety. “It can get to 110-120 degrees on top of this truck,” he said. “It can be dangerous for a lot of people. It can be dangerous. People don’t take that into account when they’re running a food truck, but staying cool and hydrated is very important.” Turner uses a few strategies to stay cool during the summer. He says it’s important to check the weather because it helps him plan when the best time to open is. “If you start out at 90 degrees and you’re going to end the day at 90 degrees, you have to be somewhat prepared for that,” he said. “Park in the shade, try not to run your fryers, your grill, everything at the same time.” To get the latest news and weather, download the WXII app here. But Turner’s main advice to food truck operators is the simplest one. “Honestly, I mainly just drink a big cup of ice water to stay cool.” Turner said food truck operators appreciate patience with their customers and it’s worth the wait. Navigation: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | Featured News | Trending Stories
Winston-Salem, North Carolina —
With temperatures reaching over 90 degrees, it’s already been a hot summer in the Triad area, but it could get even hotter for food truck operators.
Watch: NOWCAST Streaming News
Robert Turner Jr. opened Big Dogs Catering & Food Truck, a Winston-Salem-based food truck, two years ago and said cooking for people is his passion.
“It makes me smile,” he says. “It makes me happy. I love seeing people enjoying my food. That’s what motivates me.”
One of the less enjoyable parts of the job is the heat, and since Turner’s truck serves everything from hibachi-style staples to chicken wings, the grills and fryers will be cooking even in the summer heat.
“It’s summer, so it’s also our busiest time,” Turner said, “but it’s also the hottest time of the month for us.”
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Staying cool in the summer isn’t just a matter of comfort, he says, it’s also a matter of safety.
“These trucks can get up to 110 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit,” he said, “and it’s dangerous for a lot of people. It’s unsafe. People who run food trucks don’t take that into account, but staying cool and hydrated is very important.”
Turner uses several strategies to stay cool during the summer, and he says keeping an eye on the weather is important because it helps him plan when is best to open his store.
“If temperatures are starting in the 90s or ending the day in the 90s, you need to be prepared for that,” he says. “Park your car in the shade and try not to run everything at once, like fryers and grills.”
Download the WXII app here to stay up to date with the latest news and weather.
But Turner’s main advice to food truck operators is also the simplest.
“Honestly, I just drink big glasses of ice water to stay cool.”
Turner said for customers, food truck operators appreciate their patience and it’s worth the wait.
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