Furious Great Food Truck Race host says teams ‘ripped off the good people of Biloxi’

The weather wasn’t great, the portions were small, the lines were long and the prices were much higher than you’d expect. And that’s what the nation saw Sunday night when the Biloxi episode of The Great Food Truck Race premiered on the Food Network.

After two days of sales in Biloxi, show host Tyler Florence ripped into all six teams for their portion sizes and pricing, saying “Your value proposition for each dish was atrocious, and you ripped off the good people of Biloxi. Shame on you. Shame on all of you.”

Diners were also given the chance to weigh in, with Florence reading their comments to the teams. One wrote “I saw how small the portions were, and the price, and I left.” Another added “I’ll have to take out a loan to afford this food.”

In February, the reality competition rolled onto the Coast town to film two episodes in its 17th season. The Biloxi stop is the fourth of the season, following episodes from Houston; Galveston, Texas; and Lake Charles, Louisiana.

The show films each episode in a different city, and began this season with a group of nine food trucks competing in a series of challenges to make the most money. The team that makes the least money in each location goes home, and as the competition jumps from city to city, Florence cuts teams until one winner gets $50,000.

Crowds loved Bao Bei, Wally’s Waffles when Great Food Truck Race set up shop in Biloxi

Making their way to the Coast were:

• Argentina’s Empanadas: From Wichita, Kansas, a truck led by Carolina Freeman and her husband Chad. Along with friend Paola Mentis, they are focused on making traditional empanadas. The Sun Herald’s Scott Watkins reported in February that this was a popular spot, serving up exotic dishes — gaucho corn mac and tango beef — that drew strong reviews.

• Bao Bei: Led by Kevin Hsieh, with help from friends Zakary Keres and Cody Hoover, this Washington, D.C., truck features Taiwanese street food.

• Fishnet: A Baltimore food truck that focuses on fresh fish and seafood. The operation is led by Istanbul native Ferhat Yalcin and his wife Keyia, with assistance from cook Uswa McDowell. In February, Watkins wrote “the blackened catfish tacos would do well in South Mississippi. The corn tortillas give it an authentic wrap, the delicate catfish was seasoned well and the coleslaw mixed with garlic sour cream were excellent compliments.”

• Plates on Deck: From Lakeland, Florida, this truck focuses on eclectic soul food. Led by Ken James and his fiancee Ziomara Taveras, with assistance from James’ cousin Samuel Jenkins, this truck sold out quickly in February, Watkins reported.

• SOLA Po’boys: From Los Angeles, this truck is led by Serrano Barnes and his girlfriend Randy Butler, along with Butler’s mother Barenese. In February, Watkins reported that the truck’s po’boys were popular, but small.

• Wally’s Waffles: Having already won two episodes, this truck from Chicago was a hit in Biloxi. Wally Strzepka, along with his sister Maggie and friend Joe Caiafa, have been serving waffles throughout the competition.

The results

There were three competitions held across the two days in Biloxi. On Day 1, there was a Comeback Sauce Challenge where competitors had to incorporate Mississippi Comeback Sauce into their meal. On Day 2 there was a Gulf Shrimp Challenge, where the competitors had to substitute fresh Gulf shrimp for a protein in one of their meals. Each challenge offered the chance to earn prize money and a doubling of sales money. Additionally, there was the overall challenge of securing the most money in sales and avoiding elimination.

Bao Bei was the winner of both the Comeback Sauce and Gulf Shrimp challenges. The cooks’ Comeback Special was their Beefy Boy Wontons, and their Gulf Shrimp Special added shrimp to those same wontons. The overall winner of the Biloxi competition was Argentina’s Empanadas, while Plates on Deck was eliminated.

The Coast will remain in the spotlight July 28, as filming from Ocean Springs and Pascagoula will be showcased. Next week’s show will feature events held at The Shed in Ocean Springs, downtown Ocean Springs and then the Jackson County Fairgrounds in Pascagoula.

The Great Food Truck Race is sticking around the MS Coast. Here’s who is left, and where