Friday night. Bootlegger's Brewery. It's my first time there, and I don't know what to drink. Luis Flores passes over a Mason jar of the Spring Saison, and I'm good for the next couple of hours. I get an insider's view of the Viking Truck's operation (and leave smelling delicious). There's Frank, who likes to crumple the hell out of his tip-jar dollars. We watched Blake “The New Guy” get some exercise, delivering orders to the sea of beer-lovers.
While part one of On the Line (2.0) was all about the food, we switch gears to ask about anything everything else. Fact: Luis is working on a screenplay, but I forgot to ask if it's Nordic. And the most memorable quote of the night, “None of us (food trucks) want to be this fast, cheap, and easy kind of meal. All of our food is going to cost a little more, but you should all expect something extra here at our trucks that you can't get at other places.”
When you're not in the kitchen cooking, what are you doing?
I'm a bit of a gamer. Every now and again, you will find a World of Warcraft reference on our menu. I'm a beer snob thanks to Bootlegger's Brewery, so hanging out at the tasting rooms around Orange County is always fun. I used to train in [mixed martial arts] frequently, but the physical toll kept me from doing almost anything some days, so I had to put that on the back burner to launch my dream.
Last song playing on your radio/smart phone/iPod:
Amon Amarth's “Rune Stone to My Memory.” “When I am dead/lay me in a mound/Raise a stone for all to see/Rune stone to my memory.” LOVE that song — always gets me jacked.
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Where did you grow up?
Born and raised here in Orange County. I would not want to live anywhere else.
How do you know your team?
I
started the truck thinking I could do it with just my lady friend, and
we realized right away we needed some help. We found Big Steve and knew
right away he was a fit.
Hardest lesson you've learned:
Some spots you may love dearly, but unfortunately, you just do not do any business there and have to stop going.
What's your favorite childhood memory?
Watching horror films with my uncle.
Favorite Halloween costume:
I dressed up as Freddy Krueger when I was, like, 10, and then again at 21. There's a creepy difference seeing the two side-by-side.
What were you up to five years ago?
Working in almost every position of a restaurant/dinner theater — from the ticket booth to serving to bartending to managing.
Favorite holiday:
Halloween: Booze, candy, costumes, movies with people getting their heads chopped off. What else do you need?
What is your marital status?
I've been with my amazing lady Heather for almost seven years.
Last movie watched:
Troll Hunter, a Nordic foreign film. It was AWESOME.
Last thing you searched online:
Iphone accessories. I love that damn phone.
Do you have any skills that are not food-related?
I have dabbled in many things in my life, from screenplay writing to sing in a metal band, bartending and film editing. I love interacting with people and ranting about my grub, so the truck was a perfect fit.
What would you be doing if you weren't in this business?
Anything where I can share my excitement with people on things I love — brewing, podcasting, etc.
Follow the Viking Truck on Twitter @thevikingtruck
A contributing writer for OC Weekly, Anne Marie freelances for multiple online and print publications, and guest judges for culinary competitions. A Bay Area transplant, she graduated with a degree in Hospitality Management from Cal Poly Pomona. Find her on Instagram as brekkiefan.