Now that you see Fire & Rice food trucks in multiple locations around the country, do you ever wonder how they came to be? We thought it would be fun to give you an inside look at some of our locations and find out how the franchisees got into the paella catering food truck business. Nick Neveau, Fire & Rice Lansing and Fire & Rice Ann Arbor After graduating from Central Michigan University with a major in communications and a minor in hospitality, Nick worked in the restaurant business for most of his career. In the restaurant world, Nick had done it all, from dishwasher to General manager to Director of Operations to Culinary Director. He also spent several years working for hospitality companies and opened fifteen restaurants in different cities around the country. With years of restaurant and hospitality experience under his belt, Nick was looking to take his career in a new direction and had always wanted to own a food truck. After learning about the Fire & Rice food truck franchise from a friend three years ago, Nick traveled down to the original Fire & Rice location in Naples to learn more. There, Nick spent some time with Chef Paul, founder of Fire & Rice, and was impressed with the concept, success, and scalability of the business. Now, as the proud owner of two Michigan locations, Nick has found his calling in the food truck business, working parties, events, and festivals throughout the region – and having a great time. Annabelle & Walter Johnson, Fire & Rice Low Country Annabelle and Walter Johnson were living in the Naples area as retirees for several years. Annabelle is a potter, who was also a vendor at the Third Street Farmers’ Market, and Walter had been a Director in the IT business. The couple caught up with Chef Paul at the local Farmers’ Market in Naples, and with just one bite of his award-winning paella, they say they were sold on the paella catering concept! The Johnsons had always wanted to live near Hilton Head, South Carolina, and decided to come out of retirement and open up a Fire & Rice franchise in that area. After taking care of logistical matters, such as selling their Naples’ home, the Johnsons uprooted to Low Country, and a new Fire & Rice paella catering food truck franchise was born. Now, you can find them having the time of their lives catering paella parties, wine tastings, and festivals throughout the Hilton Head, Beaufort, and Bluffton area. Glenn Michael Tatangelo, Fire & Rice Fairfield Glenn Michael had been in the restaurant business for many years and was looking for a unique opportunity to grow his career but wasn’t sure where to go. Although Glenn Michael lives in Connecticut, his father resides in Naples and is involved in the golf scene, and, while attending a party with an 18-holer crew, his father had the opportunity to experience award-winning paella from Fire & Rice in Naples. Not only was the paella amazing, the atmosphere was fun, exciting, and interactive. His father couldn’t say enough good things about the business! With Glenn Michael’s passion for the food industry and incredible people skills, his father was certain that he would be a great fit as a franchise owner. After learning more about the concept, seeing beautiful photos of the paella, and hearing his father’s rave reviews, Glenn Michael took a trip to Naples to learn more about the Fire & Rice franchise, and the rest is history! Now, Glenn Michael owns and operates the Fairfield location, catering parties, charity events, and more, bringing delicious paella, fun, and excitement wherever he goes. Fire & Rice: From Naples’ Food Truck to National Franchise, Paella Catering Makes its Mark As franchisees make their mark in multiple locations throughout the country, the paella concept continues to catch on like wildfire. By sharing award-winning paella in an interactive and exciting atmosphere, whether it’s at a party, festival, farmers’ market, wedding, or corporate event, people can’t wait to get in on the fun. If you’re interested in learning more about our franchise opportunities or our Naples’ food truck catering services, call (239) 269-8857 or book your party online. We look forward to hearing from you!
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