JACKSON COUNTY, MI – Sharee Hoyt and Lauren Phoenix were friends working together as nurses at Hillsdale Hospital when they decided they wanted to serve the pubic in a different fashion in 2022.
They landed on a food truck, where they could combine their love for food and rock ‘n’ roll and share it with people in the Jackson County-area, Hoyt said.
They named the truck The Band Wagon Catering, and focus their menu on loaded potato tots, Hoyt said.
“(Phoenix) is a breast cancer survivor,” Hoyt said. “She worked as a fryer at (fast-food chain) Hardee’s in her youthful days, and I have worked and served at multiple restaurants around Jackson County. Tater Tots seemed to fit, especially when she came up with the slogan ‘Show Me Your Tots.’”
The two cook up the tots with rock ‘n’ roll-themed names, such as the Beast of Burden Tots, a Rolling Stones reference. These tots are topped with ground beef, banana peppers, onions, provolone cheese, green onions and sauce.
Another loaded tots option is War Pigs, a reference to Black Sabbath. These tots are still being fine tuned, but right now they come with pork, macaroni and cheese and sauce, she said.
However, their most popular tots are their Brunch Tots, which are topped with sausage gravy, cheese, two fried eggs and sauce.
“It’s comfort food,” Hoyt said.
If people don’t want tots, hot dogs and smash burgers also are sold at The Band Wagon Catering. The smash burgers feature two patties, American cheese and pickles.
Each item is garnished with a guitar pick, to stay true to their rock ‘n’ roll ties.
Hoyt and Phoenix love the food truck because it allows them to work in a “stressful, but more fun environment” as compared to the hospital, Hoyt said, adding her daughter AJ Vogel designed the logo on the truck.
“The design in the truck is really fun,” Hoyt said. “We’re really unique, I’m finding out because it’s just us to women.”
Hoyt and Phoenix hope to grow their menu in the near future and become more involved in breast cancer awareness events and fundraisers, Hoyt said.
Locations, schedules and updates on where to find The Band Wagon Catering can be found on its Facebook page. People interested in booking a gig can contact the food truck at 517-206-3711.
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