Hosted by Tyler Florence, and having aired in the US on The Food Network, The Great Food Truck Race is like nothing you’ve ever seen before*. It’s fast, frenetic, and full of Americans.
Pitching 7 food trucks against each other, the race isn’t getting across the USA as much as is it is competing against each other in the various stops along the way to make the most money. The team that makes the least cash at each stop is eliminated… so there aren’t many stops. It’s innocent fun, though, as you inevitably take sides and root for your favourite team.
With truck/team names like “Austin Daily Press”, “Ragin’ Cajun” and “Grill ‘Em All”, it’s a sub-editor’s wet dream. The characters within aren’t too shabby either, and it’s the inevitable conflict between these characters that heighten the drama and fun. Mixed into all this is a limited budget at each new town they stop it, offering a “level playing field”, as well as challenges at each stop that could win the team immunity. The winners of the series take home $50,000 (which doesn’t seem like a lot considering what they are putting themsleves through).
It’s standard reality fare, it doesn’t demand much, and it’s a great way to settle into a Saturday night’s viewing. It’s no MasterChef, but meh, what are you gonna do? There’s also a second season to air later this year in America. Here’s hoping it makes it here too.
For the record, the closest we’d get would be a race of Mr Whippy trucks… and that’s already been done by the D-Generation.
*=As long as you’ve never watched TV before.
The Great Food Truck Race – Sat 7:30pm, ABC2.