The Great Food Truck Race (season 11)

The eleventh season of the American reality television series The Great Food Truck Race entitled The Great Food Truck Race: Holiday Hustle hosted by Tyler Florence began airing on the Food Network on November 27, 2019. It concluded on December 18, 2019, after airing a four episode season, making it the shortest season in the series history. It was announced on October 16, 2019, to be a special holiday-based season of the series. Five truck teams competed against each other in food-based competitions to be the last remaining team with one team being eliminated each week.

The Great Food Truck Race
Season 11
The seasons title card
Hosted by	Tyler Florence
No. of teams	5
Winner	Big Stuff
Runner-up	Lia's Lumpia
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	4
Release
Original network	Food Network
Original release	November 27 (2019-11-27) – December 18, 2019 (2019-12-18)
Additional information
Filming dates	February 18, 2019 (2019-02-18) – March 10, 2019 (2019-03-10)

Format

On the first day five new truck teams meet with host Tyler Florence. Each team receives a brand new food truck and seed money to buy necessities to operate their new truck. Over the course of a weekend they must attempt to sell as much food as possible to make profit. Along with selling food teams must also participate in a variety of challenges which can either help or harm them by having positive or negative responses based on the challenge results. Oftentimes teams either receive immunity from elimination, money toward their total, or extra selling time. The team with the least amount of money at the end of each weekend is eliminated from their competition and is required to return their food truck before leaving. The last food truck remaining is allowed to keep their food truck and receives $50,000.[1]

Truck teams

Big Stuff, Parker, Colorado – This team is all about any food that can be stuffed. Operated by Brad and Eddie, along with friend/"marketing genius" Mike, these three chefs usually work in galley kitchens, so they're used to working in small stations; making a food truck operation a breeze.[2]

Creole Queens, New Orleans, Louisiana – An all female team of married couple Tryshell and Raven, with extra support from their friend Ariana. This is the first team in the race's history to be operated by a same-sex couple, these girls bring both the party and the culture of The Big Easy with food, love, and the overall experience found in New Orleans.[3]

Lia's LUMPIA, San Diego, California – This team consists of head chef Spencer, Tania, and Spencer's sous chef/mother Benelia. Spencer comes from a long line of restaurateurs, with his maternal grandmother being the one to bring Filipino cuisine to San Diego county; and he wants to continue that legacy with his catering company and occasional pop-up restaurants. They specialize in Filipino cuisine, especially Filipino egg rolls or lumpia.[4]

Magical Mystery Heroes, Butler County, Ohio – Self-said eclectic cook Matt, his sous chef Hannah, and his cousin/Hannah's husband/frontman Chris are the employees behind this food truck. Their menu, as Matt calls it, is a "little bit of a mystery", as they change the theme of their menu every day. Matt himself even says, "We may serve sandwiches one day, the next day tacos. We like to keep it fresh."[5]

Slap Shot, Bemidji, Minnesota – Another all female team, sisters Annika and Michaela, with their mother Sheila, come from a region with cold temperatures that rival that of New England. With a name as an ode to hockey, they serve up gourmet hockey-rink concessions faire, as the girls aim to give the everyone on the US a taste of the Midwest.[3]

Episodes

See also: List of The Great Food Truck Race episodes

No. overall	No. in season	Title [6]	Original air date	Viewers (millions)	18-49 rating
70	1	"Blizzard Brawl"	November 27, 2019 (2019-11-27)	0.749[7]	0.21[7]
All five teams arrive via a one-horse open sleigh into the outskirts of the woods to meet with Tyler Florence. Tyler immediately has the teams start their first challenge. Challenge #1: Teams first start out creating a Christmas cocktail party appetizer in 20 minutes with a "naughty" ingredient that was difficult to work with (fruitcake), and a "nice" ingredient that was easier to work with (cranberries). The appetizer Tyler likes the most wins $200 in their till. The winner was Lia's LUMPIA Once that was out of the way, the teams received $300 of seed money and head out to Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. After shopping, with a few stumbles, everyone drives to their locations, Lia's staying by the grocery store, while the others spread throughout downtown. When the teams have settled down and gotten the hang of things, Tyler gives them a call for their second challenge with a big reward. Challenge #2: Tyler has Santa Claus drop off a 20 lbs turkey to the trucks, and requiring the teams to create an original, creative holiday dish with the turkey. The team that makes the most money off the dish over the weekend wins immunity at elimination. The winner was Creole Queens. As four out of the five teams start on that, Slap Shot decides puts the challenge off until their first tickets are done; but it later came back to bite them as they're forced to close down after selling out with not enough time to shop. Later, Day 2 rolls around, as Magical Mystery Heroes attempt to take Lia's LUMPIA's place at the store, but because Lia's asked for the spot first, the Heroes had to move as they dub Lia's their archenemy. Meanwhile Big Stuff decides to stick with one item, which was sweet, but most of the customers start asking for savory. Slap Shot now tackles the second challenge they were given yesterday, while all the teams struggle for customers before elimination.
71	2	"Candy Cane Clash"	December 4, 2019 (2019-12-04)	0.685[8]	0.21[8]
As the remaining four trucks roll into Portsmouth, they start revealing more about why they came on the show, specifically Matt of the Magical Mystery Heroes. He's here to give more to his wife and twin kids, and after a 17-year-old diagnosis of testicular cancer, he found solace in cooking shows. Now he's here to fulfill his dream of running his own kitchen. The teams meet up with Tyler, who introduces them to Chef David Vargas, an up-and-coming chef who turned a simple food cart into four successful restaurants. Acting as an example of becoming big in the business with a food truck, he and Tyler immediately give the teams their two challenges for today. Challenge #1: The four teams had to pair up and had one hour to create a meal for 70 VIPs close to chef Vargas' heart. The meal had to include an entree, side dish, and dessert. Since Lia's LUMPIA won the last week, they can choose their partner, who would be Creole Queens. They were the Red Team, meaning Big Stuff and Magical Mystery Heroes would be the opposing Green Team. After the taste test, the VIPs (who turn out to be 5th graders from Shapleigh Middle School) would draw a unanimous vote for their table on their favorite lunch. The winning team members each received $200 towards their till. The winners were the Red Team. They weren't done there, as Tyler immediately gave them their second challenge of the day. Challenge #2: The teams had to create a dish using Candy canes, and David Vargas would whip around the trucks as the judge. The dish chef David likes the most wins $300 towards their till. The winner was Lia's LUMPIA. Once done, the teams receive their $200 seed money and begin to shop for their 1-day weekend. While on the way to their parking spot, however, Big Stuff experienced a water hose malfunction, costing them two valuable hours of rep and selling time. Meanwhile, the other three start to sell, with the Heroes going all out as Chris is shown cosplaying as Santa. As the teams also begin marketing their second challenge dish, Lia's LUMPIA decides not to advertise it to focus on their main menu and giving a quality dish to chef Vargas. By the end of the day, Big Stuff and Magical Mystery Heroes started running out of food, but thanks to their ingenuity and resourcefulness, they salvaged all the food on the truck into a new dish; as the end of their weekend draws to a close.
72	3	"We Three Trucks"	December 11, 2019 (2019-12-11)	N/A	TBA
The final three drop by Killington, Vermont, the largest skiing area in the eastern US. As a gift, Tyler lets the trucks sell at the Snowshed Lodge at the base of the Killington Ski Resort. As another surprise, he'll also supply them with their protein (chicken, beef, & Red Snapper) ; that, unfortunately, they'll have to win in a challenge. Challenge #1: The teams will compete in a relay tubing race to fill a Christmas tree placed at the bottom of the hill with ornaments. One teammate will sit on the tube, while the other two fill their arms with ornaments. The person is then sent down the hill to their designated tree, with one of their mates running down to the bottom to catch them and help decorate the tree. Once they used all the ornaments they had, the person in the tube will walk back up the hill, tag in another teammate, and restart the process two more times. Any ornaments dropped on the hill is out of play. The Team with the fullest tree wins first pick of the protein. Big Stuff's tree had the most ornaments, sot they get first pick, in which they chose chicken. Creole Queens had the second most ornaments, so they chose next, were they selected beef. Lia's LUMPIA had the least ornaments of their tree, and were left with Red Snapper. Once in their trucks and receiving their proteins, the teams get to work, improvising their menu to fit their chosen protein and cater to other demographics, like vegetarians and skiers. To up the competition, Big Stuff decided to open up and make everything to order. 30 minutes later, Lia's opens up, wanting to ensure the food's quality to make up for the lost time. After that, Creole Queens opens their doorslast, nearly missing the lunch rush. At Big Stuff, Mike decides to start hawking at the customers, leading to Ariana and Raven jumping off to fight back, and later Benelia. Near the end of the day, Tyler gives the three a call to close up and move to Rutland, Vermont, while also giving them their next challenge. Challenge #2: The teams have to create their take on Figgy pudding and sell it in Rutland for $5. The truck that sells the most Figgy pudding dishes wins $500 in their till. The winner was Big Stuff While shopping, the teams start realizing that prices are very expensive, to which nothing is under $3, forcing them to spent more than they expected. Like yesterday, Big Stuff is the first to open up, but this time, the Queens are open before Lia's. As for the Figgy pudding challenge, the specials are flying so fast that both Lia's and Queens sold out of them, while the fate of being eliminated looms near.
73	4	"New Champ in Newport"	December 18, 2019 (2019-12-18)	N/A	TBA
The final two trucks ride towards the oldest city they has ever been to: Newport, Rhode Island. Pulling up to Beavertail Lighthouse on the Narragansett Bay, Tyler reveals that he has booked both trucks to sell side by side at the Newport Vineyards farmers market; while also handing them their first challenge. Challenge #1: The teams have to add a holiday-inspired dish featuring sweet potatoes and whoever makes the most money off that dish gets $300 in their till. The winner was Big Stuff. As they arrive at the winery market and plan for the challenge, it's obvious that the two will be very busy for today; something Mike found out very quickly. They also look to adapt to this demographic, with Lia's LUMPIA making their challenge dish a little healthier, and Big Stuff making a Colorado version of Coffee milk. Soon, Tyler gives them a call from Provencal Bakery, with the idea of fresh bread-making giving him another idea. Challenge #2: The teams will receive 10 loaves of fresh country white bread courtesy of Provencal, and they have to make an original stuffing dish from them. Whoever sells the most stuffing specials wins another $300. The winner was Lia's LUMPIA. Now forced to juggle two challenge specials in one day, the teams start scrambling to be the first ones open. Mike decides to hand customers in the winery yellow order tickets, in which they give them to Brad and Eddy to fulfill their order. Tania decides to jump on the bandwagon, but instead of standing behind the table, she walks down the line while also explaining their food. Sadly, their efficiency begins to dwindle as Lia's takes longer to get food out the window. But as they say, 'all's fair in love and war' as Tania starts poaching customer from Mike's line, while insulting their food's quality. As Day 1 draws to a close, it seems both lines are endless. Tyler stops by and boards both trucks with the classic insider talk of why the teams started this cold journey; Brad and Eddy of Big Stuff look to gain roots on land and escape the yachts, whereas Spencer of Lia's LUMPIA wants to continue his family legacy in the business, as Benelia's mother opened the first Filipino restaurant in San Diego County. It's Day 2 in Newport, and after the usual over-spending, Tyler gives them a call, ordering them to drive to Long Wharf docks, where they meet Julio and Jennifer Lazzarini, co-owners of the Red Fin Crudo restaurant; giving them pointers on good seafood restaurants, and also giving them their last challenge. Challenge #3: The teams were given a crate of lobsters and had to make a holiday-inspired dish with them. Soon, Julio and Jennifer will come by and taste their dishes, and the one they like most gets another $300. The winner was Big Stuff. After departing Long Wharf the rains start pouring, so the two trucks call up some private lot owners to ensure their presence in the city. The weather, however, yet as it does, makes selling harder; so they, mainly Big Stuff start moving. Meanwhile, Benelia and Spencer have a sentimental mother-son moment, with Lia saying he deserves this win and saying his deceased grandpa would be proud. The last 30 minutes are fierce, as food starts flying off and collected water on the doors drench Mike, with Tyler having them close and make their way to the Marble House, being greeted by champagne, a Christmas choir, and two presents, one of which is containing $50,000.

Elimination history and results

Food Truck Elimination Table

Truck	Week 1 Wolfeboro, NH	Week 2 Portsmouth, NH	Week 3 Killington, VT & Rutland, Vermont	Week 4 Newport, RI
Big Stuff	4th ($1,437)	2nd ($2,028)	1st ($4,528)	WINNERS
Lia's LUMPIA	1st ($2,568)	1st ($2.763)	2nd	RUNNERS-UP
Creole Queens	2nd ($2,335)	3rd($1,837)	3rd ^4[9]
Magical Mystery Heroes	3rd ($1,654)	4th ^3[10]
Slap Shot	5th ^1 ^2

     Team that won The Great Food Truck Race.

     Team who came in first that week.

     Team that won money towards their till that week.

     Team that won a non-monetary challenge for that week.

     Team eliminated for that week.

Notelist

• ^Note 1 : Slap Shot held off the Turkey Challenge until Day 2, while the other four teams used the turkey on Day 1.
• ^Note 2 : Dollar amounts were not announced, but the difference between Slap Shot and Big Stuff was $70.
• ^Note 3 : Dollar amounts were not announced, but it was said that if Creole Queens did not win the money from the team challenge, they would be going home instead.
• ^Note 4 : Dollar amounts were not announced, but the difference between the bottom two was $183.

Production

Food Network announced the season as part of their holiday programming on October 16, 2019.[11]

Filming

Filming for the first episode began on February 18, and ended on February 21, 2019, in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire.[12][13][14] The second episode began filming in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on February 24, 2019, at Shapleigh Middle School, and continued on February 25 in Market Square.[15][16] Episode three filmed at the Killington Ski Resort Snowshed Base Area in Killington, Vermont, on March 2, 2019, before moving to Rutland, Vermont on March 3.[17][10] The final episode began filming on March 9, 2019, with a special kick-off event at Newport Vineyards in Newport, Rhode Island, the season then concluded filming on March 10.[9]

References

1. "The Great Food Truck Race, hosted by Tyler Florence". Food Network. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
2. Ritter, Cassidy (November 27, 2019). "'Colorado comfort food' truck appearing on Food Network, then Denver streets". Business Den. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
3. "Meet the Food Truck Teams from Season 11". Food Network. November 27, 2019. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
4. Bell, Diane (November 27, 2019). "San Diego chef gets unforgettable food truck experience – in New England". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
5. Schwartzberg, Eric (November 27, 2019). "Butler County residents vie for $50K in Food Network food truck contest". Journal-News. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
6. "Shows A-Z – great food truck race, the on food". The Futon Critic. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
7. Metcalf, Mitch (December 2, 2019). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.27.2019". ShowBuzzDaily. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
8. Metcalf, Mitch (December 4, 2019). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Wednesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.4.2019". ShowBuzzDaily. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
9. Flynn, Sean (March 9, 2019). "'Great Food Truck Race' pulls into Newport County". Providence Journal. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
10. Bendavid, Ike (March 3, 2019). "The 'Great Food Truck Race' visits Downtown Rutland". Downtown Rutland Vermont.
11. "Food Network Makes the Holiday Season Merry and Bright with More Series, Specials and Stunts Than Ever Before, Celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year's". The Futon Critic. October 16, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
12. Florence, Tyler (February 18, 2019). "That's a wrap on day one of our holiday #GreatFoodTruckRace special. Moultonborough, NH is a winter wonderland. Thank you @castleinthecloudsnh for your amazing hospitality. @foodnetwork @discovery". Instagram. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
13. Florence, Tyler (February 21, 2019). "Bye New England.... see you Monday in Portsmouth NH for another stop on the #GreatFoodTruckRace ... Now, on to the next one... Sunny Miami for the @sobewffest". Instagram. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
14. Jones, Lloyd (February 20, 2019). "'Great Food Truck Race' comes to Wolfeboro (Tyler, too!)". Conway Daily Sun. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
15. Florence, Tyler (February 24, 2019). "Thank you #Miami had a blast as always.... Now, on to the next one.... the #GreatFoodTruckRace continues in Portsmouth, NH... tomorrow. Glad I brought my boots. @sobewffest @sohobeachhouse #LetsGetRolling". Instagram. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
16. Barndollar, Hadley (February 26, 2019). "'Great Food Truck Race' a hit in Portsmouth". Sea Coast Online. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
17. "THE GREAT FOOD TRUCK RACE". Killington. March 3, 2019. Retrieved November 27, 2019.

External links

• The Great Food Truck Race – list of episodes on IMDb
• List of season 11 episodes on Food Network