As food trucks roll into cities all over the country, so does a whole new style for their chefs. As with most restaurants, chef attire is largely a case of personal preference. There are many factors to consider when choosing what to wear while cooking and serving from a food truck.
- Atmosphere: By nature, food trucks tend to give off a more casual vibe than typical restaurants. This likely means more chefs wearing t-shirts and everyday clothes. The key to remember is that you are now visible to all your guests and your attire needs to blend in with the atmosphere you hope to create for guests. Take a look at the top-rated food trucks and you will find some chefs wearing traditional chef coats while others opt for logo branded aprons like these Standard Butcher Bib Aprons.
- Location: This factor is dual-sided. On the one hand, you want to consider the geographic location of your food truck. The typical weather for that region should help set your wardrobe needs as you are likely to spend plenty of time both inside and outside of the truck. On the other hand, you will want to consider the smaller setup of your kitchen than a typical restaurant might offer. In a food truck you are likely to be closer to all your heat sources, making it hotter in temperature and a little more dangerous.
- Food Safety/Sanitation: Food trucks are required to hold permits, sometimes from multiple governments. They are also still subject to health inspections. Some cities have created dress codes for food truck personal prohibiting them from wearing certain types of clothing, such as tank tops. Keep in mind that you will be doing a lot of reaching around inside your truck and your guests can see you at all times.
- Marketing: In the food truck business looks go a long way. Not only should your truck be branded in an attention-grabbing way, but so should everything your guests see. This includes what you choose to wear. Logo branded clothing not only sets you up as a marketing tool wherever you go, it also shows just how passionate you are about what you do.
If you’re not completely sure which direction you want to go in the wardrobe department, take a look at what some of the top food truck chefs are wearing. The staff behind Skillet out of Seattle serve up modern American cuisine while sporting long-sleeved plaid shirts. The Coolhaus girls out of Austin and L.A. whip up ice cream sandwiches in everyday clothes. Chef Shack in Minneapolis chose logo-branded t-shirts to wear while dishing out seasonal fare from local family farms.
As with any new relationship, first impressions are heavily based on looks. Take the time to do your research and really think about what your clothes tell strangers about your food truck.