Da Tabura Braddahs and the Amazing Food Truck Race

Via The Pineapple-Coconut Wireless and Mom “Helen Tabura”

Last year, I got a call one day from numbah one son, Lanai, telling me that he and his brother Adam are going on a two month cross-country competition with the Food Network’s “The Greatest Food Truck Race.” My immediate reaction was “WHAT? What for?” My Son said, “RACE!” Me: “What kine Race?” My impatient Son: “Ma, don’t you watch the Food Network show?” Me: “No!”

Then Lanai explained how a friend asked him to do this food truck race and they decided to include his chef brother, Adam. Naturally, Adam asked, “What’s in it for me?” Number 1 Son explained, “$50K and a Food Truck if we win!” There were details and rules for the race including elimination of teams.

Meanwhile, I am the worrying Mom concerned for their regular jobs. Lanai explained it’s like the Reality Show of food truck cooking. Both Tabura boys wanted to do it and said they would work out the details with jobs and family. My advice was on point to Lanai, “Well, you’re all men and if that’s your decision then go for it! Only one thing, braddah, NO FIGHT with your brother! If you do, Adam is going to walk off!” Later, my Chef son called and expressed the same mana’o that this would be a good experience for both of them.

Evidently, competition was going to be fierce with eight food trucks going cross-country and cooking and selling their creations within the specific rules for each stop! Little did I know how intense this food truck race would be and its impact of Aloha in action upon our extended family and friends (new and old) across America, in Hawaii nei and on our little island of Lana’i.

Before you know it, they are in California and preparing for the Great Food Truck Race. The first competition stop was in Beverly Hills. The Food Network gave each team a budget per meal to prepare and to sell. The negative risk of that first week was if any the team was eliminated the first week they would be out immediately! The first day of the competition in Beverly Hills was to make and sell 25 plates of hamburgers for $25 a plate. The Aloha Food Truck sold nine (9) plates and the other teams sold 10 and 11 plates. Luckily, there were no eliminations and the race was on! Yippee!

Next – San Francisco — they did “not do too bad” selling plates and was still in the race!
Onwards to Oregon where they learned really fast about the competition. They would call friends and the Pineapple-Coconut wireless went out over the Internet and the team even created a page on Facebook to update everyone on the team’s stops and progress and where to buy the food! Idaho, Minnesota, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C.

The incredible support of the Hawaiian expats community at each stop throughout the race was overwhelming; it made the boys cry in appreciation! Thankfully the guys also survived the stress of being with each other 24/7. Many calls went back and forth with motherly advice to both sons “no fight”…”you came this far, cool head”…”cool head and relax”….and so on.

Initially, Chef Adam told brother he would be in charge of Sales and Marketing and collecting the money. Friend Shawn and third guy on the team was the driver and responsible for gas, water and oil, plus check everything before the daily journey. Shawn also assisted Chef Adam with tasks like buttering the bread, washing the veggies and other assorted cooking tasks. Eventually, Lanai did the promotions and collected the sales while Chef Adam focused on cooking. The guys adjusted to working, cooking and selling from the food truck’s limited space with minimal disagreements (that’s another story of three braddahs working in a small food truck).

Meanwhile, the Food Truck race is getting huge attention from Hawaiians living on the Mainland and they show up to support the Aloha Truck Team with music, hula and eating all the food creations!!! At home, it became a weekly gathering with family and friends to cheer them on! Everyone was excited to see how well the Hawaii team was doing!

Toward the 7th week, Lanai called and told me what a genius Adam is. I asked, “… I am so happy it took you this long to figure him out and what a compliment. Thank you, Son.”

Two days later, Chef Adam calls and compliments his brother saying, “Mom, you have a gifted son! Ma, he knows so much people in this world! Amazing my bradda!” I said happily, “Thank you for complimenting him that is nice, Adam.”

That brotherly appreciation of each other was one of the best outcomes of the food truck race by working together and focusing on what they each did best – Adam with his food expertise and Lanai with his networking expertise!

Right now the Aloha Food Truck is in Los Angeles and the team is overwhelmed with the offers for it. There had been some promotional events and perhaps more in the future. The food truck race was a life experience for the three guys to compete with others, to make new friends and to see the Aloha Spirit in action across America!

Mahalo from this relieved and happy Mother and to the Food Network for giving them that opportunity to broaden their horizons. Mahalo nui loa i ke Akua for taking care of all them throughout this exciting adventure and journey.

Congratulations! They won the whole competition!

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