The Orange County Inland Empire Small Business Development Center (OCIE SBDC) was eager to show its support and welcome those attending the official grand opening celebration of Yucaipa’s newest gourmet restaurant on wheels, Metal Kitchen Food Truck.
The energy was contagious as the ribbon-cutting ceremony commenced and local officials granted recognition to the new business launch. Founders Cory McLeod and Daniel Reyes generated excitement all around them as they engaged with attendees. They are committed to building a sense of community wherever Metal Kitchen is positioned, treating new visitors and repeat customers like old friends while addressing many patrons on a first-name basis.
More on Metal Kitchen Food Truck
Metal Kitchen prides itself on being more than just a place to eat, aiming to create a quality, gourmet food experience intertwined with roaring music. McLeod touched on the unique style of Metal Kitchen: “We strive to provide a high-quality culinary experience without the pretension associated with gourmet restaurants. While we love the formal dress and beautifully sauced white-plate presentations, sometimes food should just be fun without sacrificing quality.”
Metal Kitchen Food Truck serves specialty burgers and meats with a heavy metal theme. Burgers and other menu items take on themed names like Zeppelin, Warpig, and Motorhead, and there are even rotating limited special event items, including both food and merchandise available for purchase.
If you couldn’t make it to the grand opening, there are more opportunities to try Metal Kitchen Food Truck and see what all the hype is about. Visit Metal Kitchen Food Truck’s website to see their upcoming schedule, mouthwatering menu, or even book a private event: metalkitchenft.com
OCIE SBDC’s Hand in Metal Kitchen’s Launch
McLeod and Reyes contacted the OCIE SBDC for consulting support and were matched with expert consultant Jay Allis. Allis specializes in every facet of the food industry, along with pricing, operations, licensing and permitting, and digital optimization. With more than 25 years of experience working for corporate and independent restaurants, Allis has provided a wealth of knowledge to help businesses start, function, and streamline food service operations.
“Cory and Daniel’s passionate approach to starting their food truck has resulted in not only awesome and consistent food, but also as a way to support and enhance their community of Yucaipa. You can hear their desire for excellence when you speak to them, you can see it in the presentation of their food, and taste it in every bite you take,” says Allis.
The one-on-one consulting OCIE SBDC offers is a highly effective, practical approach for small businesses seeking assistance. Small businesses tend to face unique hurdles and challenges while establishing themselves, and these must be overcome to remain competitive. Consultants provide specialized knowledge, personalized guidance, and solutions that pertain directly to their client’s circumstances, giving them valuable perspectives to be leveraged. The OCIE SBDC takes pride in its role of providing small businesses with the most relevant consultant matches so business owners can maximize the quality of their exchanges and hit the ground running with solutions for success.
McLeod and Reyes are excited about Metal Kitchen’s future. “With only a few service events under our belt as we learn to streamline workflow, we already have a small following starting up and are seeing more familiar faces with each service we do,” says McLeod.
The OCIE SBDC team hopes Metal Kitchen Food Truck continues to grow successfully while spreading joy through the combination of delicious burgers and electrifying metal music. We look forward to seeing how they thrive within the lively community of Yucaipa.
Looking to Start or Grow Your Business?
At the Orange County Inland Empire SBDC, we are here to assist you with every aspect of your business to help it grow and become successful. Connect with us to receive no-cost training, workshops, and one-on-one consulting to help your business flourish. Give us a call at 1-800-616-7232 or schedule a quick, 15-minute intake appointment at ociesmallbusiness.org/intake-appointment to see how we can help you start, grow, and succeed.
