Equipment

• These trucks can be outfitted to prepare and serve quick snacks or whole meals. It's all about what's inside. Some, called cold trucks, are minimally equipped with a refrigerator, some shelves and a few coolers to sell prepackaged food and drinks. Hot trucks, however, can contain propane gas grills, deep fryers, ovens, steam tables and hot and cold running water.
  
  

Locations

• Carnivals have long used mobile kitchens to serve traditional specialties.country fair image by jedphoto from Fotolia.com
  
  These mobile restaurants can be found anywhere that people gather. Sporting events and carnivals, construction sites, college campuses, military bases and urban areas.
  
  

Cuisine

• Food truck offerings vary greatly, depending on their location and the cooking talents of the roach coach chef. At carnivals and events, they might serve up specialty snacks like popcorn, cotton candy, fresh-cut french fries and fried Oreos. In urban centers, they serve hot meals, from sandwiches and side dishes to ethnic cuisine, like tacos, falafel and even schnitzel.
  
  

Reputation

• Initially, these mobile food preparation units got a bad rap, because many wondered how sanitation could be maintained with their limited space and resources. Food trucks are built to meet local health standards, according to the Orange County Business Journal. They are recognized by many, including celebrity chef Tyler Florence, who hosted the Food Network reality show "The Great Food Truck Race" in 2010.