Meet Greg Spangler — a retired events and audiovisual professional (and lifelong passionate home cook) who — even though has already passed his 65th birthday — recently followed his dream of starting a mobile food business. Greg recently enrolled in Instrucktional, Off the Grid’s 2-year mobile food incubator in partnership with Google, where he cut his teeth as a chef and entrepreneur, and refined his concept (a meatball truck that draws inspiration from global flavors).
When Greg first decided to enter the food service industry, the choice of running a food truck was one of practicality. Jumpstarting a mobile food business requires a significantly lower upfront investment as compared to a brick & mortar establishment. And given their ability to serve just about anywhere, mobile businesses are much more agile and less precarious than their fixed counterparts.
Plus, mobile food concepts afford the opportunity to step out of culinary comfort zones, by naturally encouraging unique recipes, exotic menu offerings, or new concepts entirely. “The relative ease of market entry automatically opens up opportunities for people to try stuff that’s different,” Greg stated.
And with the tagline “adventures in round food” Greg’s concept, Bollocks Truck, is no different. While the menu does offer classic Italian meatballs in tomato sauce, there are also more adventurous options including meatballs topped with beer cheese fondue and Korean barbecue style meatballs smothered in Kalbi sauce and ssamjang aioli. Grab a side of burnt veggies or their big fat garlic noodles, and your tastebuds will take off on a wild ride of flavors and spices.
Greg’s entrepreneurial momentum seems to be building, as Bollocks Truck has been tapped to serve up its soulful cooking at Off the Grid’s flagship market, Fort Mason Center this season. And with both beef and plant-based meatballs, there’s something on the menu for everyone to enjoy. “I’m always happiest when I cook. I regret never having the nerve to go out and do that. Now at age sixty-five, I’m at the point in my life where I can,” Greg added.
You can often find Bollocks Truck rolling up to locations all over the Bay Area. Keep an eye on Off the Grid: Fort Mason Center’s weekly creator line-up to see when you can get your hands on these tasty meatballs, a soon-to-be Friday night fan favorite. Or better yet, have Bollocks Truck serve them up to all of the guests at your next special event, with help from Off the Grid catering.
