What is The Muthah Truckah?

The Muthah Truckah is a unique food truck serving up Darn Good Sandwiches on the streets of Portland, Maine. Serving up Golden Griddled Artisanal Sandwiches utilizing locally sourced ingredients. Taking familiar flavors and adding a uniquely delicious twist!

What inspired you to create Muthah Truckah?

I started my life in a small, 'down home cookin' restaurant, owned by my mother. I grew up in Wells/Ogunquit, working for our family-owned businesses. I Made my way from a young age, working in the kitchen making things like hummus and mayo and pesto, all while doing dishes to general manager. The restaurant business is in my blood. So, coming up on 30, I had been working In kitchens and waiting tables and had that moment of 'what the hell am I gonna do with my life?!' I had always wanted to start a food truck and at that point decided, it's time! I purchased my truck April 2014, which was an old linen truck. It took 5 months to build it as The Muthah Truckah. I opened the window in October 2014 and ran straight through the winter and have just kept on Truckin'!

What do you do outside of work that directly impacts your career? 

Living in Portland, there are no shortages of new restaurants, new flavors, new talent that can inspire new items on my own menu for the truck. Experimenting with different flavor profiles and cooking techniques continue to keep the menu fresh & new. Of course, we have those Fan Favorites that are staples on the menu that can never be replaced! However, I believe it to be very important to try new things, whether it be experiences, food, friends. All of that comes into play not only in my personal life but also professionally.

At what point did you realize your passion for food would become a career path?

Growing up in the restaurant environment, I suppose I never really saw my path as anything different. Over the years, my Focus has changed, however, creating delicious food has always been a passion. Watching my mother cook as a little girl and eventually creating in my own kitchen, I've always LOVED to taste that final product. So fulfilling & satisfying to know that my own two hands created THAT.

How important is having a daily routine?

Operating as a single owner/operator, a daily routine is vital to the daily operations of The Muthah Truckah. Not only am I responsible for everything that the general public sees but also everything behind the scenes. Everything from whipping up our Famous Bacon Jam to making sure the propane tank is full & generators have gas for our daily service. The routine is simply ingrained in my mind at this point. In order to ensure that I don't forget anything! There isn't anyone else there to make sure I've got it all, it comes down solely to me.

What are one challenge and one lesson you’ve learned from your experience as a food truck owner? 

One challenge for me is balance. Balancing my personal life & my professional life. Not allowing for my professional life to consume my personal. With so much work to be done, it's all about staying organized and ahead. After 3 years of operating The Muthah Truckah, I feel pretty good about having that balance dialed in.

One lesson I've learned would be gratitude and how important that is, not only personally, professionally as well. I am SO grateful for my experiences, for the wonderful people I get to meet every day, for my own personal support system. I couldn't do it with out them. 

Can you give us one invaluable resource that has helped you in the development and growth of The Muthah Truckah? 

Some may say money, some may say some professional resource. However, I owe it all to my family, my mother. Holy moly, she's my rock. The one that I call when I'm ecstatic, when I'm exhausted and when I just need someone to bounce my ideas off of. She's been my number one supporter since the very first time I called her and asked if she was up for a six-hour road trip to buy a soon-to-be 'food truck.' I couldn't do it without her. 

What are your top two MT memories thus far?

Oh boy, there a quite a few, as it's always an adventure on that rig! My first would be the night I drove the truck home from Presque Isle. I had never driven anything as big as that in my life! I was nervous, I was so excited & all I could think about was where I was gonna begin in building the truck the very next day.

My second would be a day that I was set up at Rising Tide Brewery. A very nice woman came up to the truck asking what our number one seller was. I proceeded to tell her about the Lola, which one of the main ingredients is that famous Bacon Jam. She quickly scoffed and told me she 'Hadn't eaten bacon in 40 years!' I told her my process, how it was cooked and ended up as this deliciousness in your mouth. In the end, she tried it! After 40 years of not eating bacon, that same lovely woman came back and ordered TWO of those sandwiches! At that point, I figured I must be doing something right!

What is your favorite inspirational/motivational quote? 

Never underestimate all the good a simple Smile can do.

In one word, describe yourself:

Gregarious 

You can connect with Erica & The Mutha Truckah Via

Facebook/MuthahTruckah || Instagram/themuthatruckah || Twitter/MuthaTruckah

Email: gspeed23@yahoo.com

Call (207) 251-2045