#8 Adam from Smoothe Operator – How Humor and Authenticity Shaped his Brand and Business

#12: Matilda from Butter Baby – Building Community and Creativity Through Baking

In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Matilda, the creator of @butterbabynz [https://www.instagram.com/butterbabynz/], a brand that has captured hearts (and taste buds) with her creative donuts and nostalgic flavours. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Matilda for several years and have always admired her passion, resilience and creativity. This conversation is one of the most honest of the season, full of raw emotions—not just from Matilda as she reflects on her journey, but also from me as your podcast host! From her humble beginnings as a shy chef in male-dominated kitchens to building a bakery brand that celebrates heritage and innovation, Matilda’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. Featured in this Episode * How Matilda turned her love of baking into a thriving business. * The challenges of being vulnerable online and how TikTok helped Butter Baby grow. * The importance of building a supportive team and fostering creativity. * How she blends heritage and nostalgia into unique baked goods. * Tips for aspiring entrepreneurs to believe in themselves and just start. Special Shoutout This episode is proudly sponsored by @culleys [https://www.instagram.com/culleys/], New Zealand’s award-winning hot sauce and condiment brand. Add bold, vibrant flavours to your meals with Culley’s! Use the code FOODTRUCK at checkout on culleys.co.nz [https://www.culleys.co.nz] to get 25% off your purchase. Thinking About Starting a Food Truck? Check out my Food Truck 101 Online Course at @foodtruckfoundations [https://www.foodtruckfoundations.com/]  Learn everything you need to know to launch your food truck business with confidence—save time, money, and avoid common mistakes that most newbies make! Follow the Journey * Follow Matilda and Butter Baby at @butterbabynz [https://www.instagram.com/butterbabynz] for more delicious updates. Don’t Forget This is the final episode of Street Food Stories Season#1! Thank you for all your support and guidance through this journey, especially my incredible podcast guests, series partner Culley's and editor Lara Franks! If you’ve enjoyed the series, please leave a review and rate the podcast, it helps us reach more listeners and grow our amazing foodie community! Follow the podcast on Instagram at @thefoodtruckpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/thefoodtruckpodcast] for behind-the-scenes updates and announcements about Season 2.. Excited to return for Season 2!

#11 Nathan & Mulan from Lalele Organic Gelato - 10+ Years of Street Food Resilience Alongside Raising a Family

In Episode 11, I’m joined by Nathan and Mulan, the duo behind Lalele Organic Gelato. For over 10 years, they’ve been crafting organic gelato, waffles and smoothies using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Starting with no business plan and learning as they went, Nathan and Mulan built a family-run business that has become a staple of Auckland’s street food scene. We dive into their journey, from creating a product they’re proud of to the sacrifices of raising four kids while building a business. You’ll hear their advice for new entrepreneurs and why their motto has always been to just start. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN * How Nathan and Mulan turned a watermelon surplus into a thriving gelato business. * The importance of using fresh, local ingredients in building a standout product. * The realities of balancing family life with running a food truck. * Why resilience and adaptability are key to surviving in the street food world. * Their take on how Auckland’s street food scene has evolved over the past decade. SPECIAL SHOUTOUT This episode is proudly sponsored by Culley’s, New Zealand’s award-winning hot sauce and condiment brand. Add bold, vibrant flavours to your meals with @culleys [https://www.instagram.com/culleys/] ! Use the code FOODTRUCK at checkout on culleys.co.nz [https://culleys.co.nz] to get 25% off your purchase. THINKING ABOUT STARTING A FOOD TRUCK? Check out my Food Truck 101 Online Course at www.foodtruckfoundations.com [https://www.foodtruckfoundations.com/] Learn everything you need to know to launch your food truck business with confidence—save time, money, and avoid common mistakes! FOLLOW THE JOURNEY Lalele Organic Gelato: @lalele_organic

#10 Elliot from The Roaming Flamingo - Mastering Street Food & Elliot's Path from Fine Dining to Food Trucks

In Episode 10, I’m joined by Elliot, the mastermind behind the Roaming Flamingo Food Truck. From competing on MasterChef to launching a taco truck in just a few months, Elliot shares his whirlwind journey of bringing bold, global flavors to Auckland’s streets. We dive into his risk-taking spirit, the challenges of food truck life, balancing family and business, and his secret to the juiciest tacos in town. What You’ll Learn: - How Elliot transitioned from fine dining and gin making to street food. - The DIY lessons learned from building a food truck (in a flood!). - Tips for succeeding in the fast-paced food truck world. - Why flexibility is one of the biggest perks of owning a food truck. - The evolution of Auckland’s thriving street food scene. Special Shoutout: This episode is proudly sponsored by Culley’s [https://www.instagram.com/culleys/], New Zealand’s award-winning hot sauce and condiment brand. Add bold, vibrant flavors to your meals with Culley’s! Use the code FOODTRUCK at checkout on culleys.co.nz [http://www.culleys.co.nz] to get 25% off your purchase. Thinking About Starting a Food Truck? Check out my Food Truck 101 Online Course at foodtruckfoundations.com [http://www.foodtruckfoundations.com] Learn everything you need to know to launch your food truck business with confidence—save time, money, and avoid common mistakes! Follow the Journey: Elliot: @flamingochefnz  [https://www.instagram.com/flamingochefnz/]

#9 Sarah & Otis from The Lucky Taco – Pioneers of NZ’s Gourmet Food Truck Scene

Welcome back to The Food Truck Podcast! This week, we’re diving into the incredible journey of Sarah and Otis, the masterminds behind The Lucky Taco, one of New Zealand’s first gourmet food trucks which launched back in 2013! In this episode, Sarah and Otis share: - How a life-changing trip to Mexico and LA inspired their love for tacos. - The challenges of building their iconic food truck in 2013 and being pioneers in the NZ street food scene. - Their transition from serving tacos on Ponsonby Road to creating nationwide products like hot sauces and taco kits. - Lessons learned from scaling their business, facing setbacks, and finding balance between quality and growth. - Honest insights about the grit, resilience, and passion it takes to thrive in the food truck industry. This episode is packed with inspiration, real talk, and advice for anyone dreaming of starting a food truck or growing their own foodie empire. Stay connected with Sarah and Otis by following The Lucky Taco on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/theluckytaco_nz/] for updates on their food truck, new products, and exciting collaborations. 🎧 Tune in now to hear their amazing story! Big thanks to Culley’s, New Zealand’s award-winning hot sauce and condiment brand, for powering this episode! 🌶️✨ 🔥 Exclusive Listener Offer: Get 25% off your next Culley’s purchase. Just head to culleys.co.nz [https://culleys.co.nz/] and use the code FOODTRUCK at checkout. Don’t miss out—add some bold flavours to your meals today! Feeling inspired to start your own food truck? Check out my Food Truck Foundations Online Course for all the tools, tips, and insights you need to get started. Head to foodtruckfoundations.com [https://www.foodtruckfoundations.com/] to learn more!

#8 Adam from Smoothe Operator – How Humor and Authenticity Shaped his Brand and Business

In this episode, Maggie sits down with Adam, founder of Smoothe Operator, a smoothie business known for its quirky personality and refreshing blends. Adam shares his journey of moving from the UK to New Zealand and how a simple hangover craving sparked the idea for his smoothie business. With a mix of humour and authenticity, Adam has crafted a brand that resonates with his Kiwi audience, all while balancing a full-time job and evolving his business in the street food world. What you'll hear in this episode: * The leap into street food: How moving to New Zealand inspired Adam to launch Smoothe Operator. * From cravings to creations: The origin story of Smoothe Operator and its unique blend of flavours. * Building a brand with personality: How Adam’s humour and authenticity became essential to his brand identity. * Innovating with purpose: The journey of refining Smoothe Operator and connecting with the right audience. * Community and collaboration: Adam’s insights on the value of mentorship, market research, and support in the food industry.   Links Mentioned: Follow Smoothe Operator on Instagram: @smoothe_operator [https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fsmoothe_operator%3Figsh%3DaXZqazNrNG9wNW9v%26fbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0wOCtHuHaeYPEMT_NHvLsK8cTwFYWB48vr-hP2CgjEm64NrmKitZs46nw_aem_BYwyUisGp0fhbOzXqRw_bw&h=AT20vDR9vEfgvT1O5mmtsV_-WL8Hx68wijZwhPEIGajtmyGgs0_uLW6v1Niv6gJQJ1pL9s114Exwpex7VOdAGyiykmc__vS7-pcsMIruCD2ArdDwfcHZ5IBUv71NWCctTQQ3t6pc] Learn more about Maggie’s Food Truck Foundations Online Course: @foodtruckfoundations [https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Ffoodtruckfoundations%3Figsh%3DdmRlZzN5ZHN0Z2Iz%26fbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0op2VqEZZXnMZER8tkEA6Qh3eszelU3Z0HTgy5p4zoTFJdpYVWcPDun6g_aem_cadfsAO5LKXMLuMZaeMoHg&h=AT20vDR9vEfgvT1O5mmtsV_-WL8Hx68wijZwhPEIGajtmyGgs0_uLW6v1Niv6gJQJ1pL9s114Exwpex7VOdAGyiykmc__vS7-pcsMIruCD2ArdDwfcHZ5IBUv71NWCctTQQ3t6pc] A BIG thank you to our sponsor, @culleys [https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fculleys%3Figsh%3DOGNqcmtnaXI4ZGNi%26fbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2QE2DAa05USCFM-RO6lTWnRfevQNHhDsGlVCRnYA7oFXOQkApU1ALbz9k_aem_Xxy5q8u9JaeLjPow1ll3LA&h=AT20vDR9vEfgvT1O5mmtsV_-WL8Hx68wijZwhPEIGajtmyGgs0_uLW6v1Niv6gJQJ1pL9s114Exwpex7VOdAGyiykmc__vS7-pcsMIruCD2ArdDwfcHZ5IBUv71NWCctTQQ3t6pc] Use promo code 'FOODTRUCK' for 25% off at checkout: culleys.co.nz [https://culleys.co.nz/] Don't forget to Subscribe to the podcast on your favourite platform, leave us a review, and follow us on Instagram for behind-the-scenes content and updates: @thefoodtruckpodcast [https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fthefoodtruckpodcast%2Fprofilecard%2F%3Figsh%3DY29uaGwxd3A4cnJx%26fbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1IXIAwLUagYZiXp7_1001zoiwmVMwgGi5q227IKliXrPVeuBm0g73nFGc_aem_7VSLriqVMCbOtoTIgL3pew&h=AT20vDR9vEfgvT1O5mmtsV_-WL8Hx68wijZwhPEIGajtmyGgs0_uLW6v1Niv6gJQJ1pL9s114Exwpex7VOdAGyiykmc__vS7-pcsMIruCD2ArdDwfcHZ5IBUv71NWCctTQQ3t6pc] Stay tuned for our next episode, where we dive deeper into the world of street food!