Today we’d like to introduce you to Joseph Hale.
Hi Joseph, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Hi! We’re Kate and Joe Hale, owners/operators of Hale on Wheels Mobile Italian Eatery. Joe hails from New England where he was formally trained in culinary arts. His recipes are inspired by his memories of holiday cooking with his mom and grandma, perfecting time honored familial Italian traditions. Joe, has over 20 years of culinary experience, covering multiple states in New England, as well as Colorado, Florida, and here in Texas! He spent most of those years in the corporate Hotel scene, with some private clubs and independent restaurants mixed in. Along for the ride is his wife, Kate. A nurse by trade, but with a history in event planning, she assists with the business operations side of things and all the social media. Together we created Hale on Wheels Mobile Italian Eatery, bringing the BEST in Italian street cuisine to the streets of DFW!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting a food truck business has been anything but a smooth road. Even with all the experience in the hospitality industry, we did not expect there would be so many additional challenges that come with operating a mobile kitchen. We figured the cooking and serving was going to be the easy part. Our plan was to minimize surprises in the other aspects of the business. We thought buying a new, custom built trailer and a new truck to tow it would delay having to worry about repairs and issues that would come with starting with something used. We were so wrong. The trailer has been in need on non stop repairs, from the plumbing, to the electrical, to new equipment breaking down (always right after the warranty ends), and so much more. Long story short, we ended up replacing the new truck within the first year and a half. Now that we are just about 3 years into it, we are so much more mentally prepared to handle the next issue as it arises, and anticipate the next repair before it is needed.
We’ve been impressed with Hale on Wheels, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a mobile food Truck, specializing in Italian cuisine. We use high quality ingredients, and most everything is made from scratch. Our pepperoni red sauce is the star of the show. Whether its smothered on our signature Meatball Sub or atop a delicious fresh pasta, it is a crowd pleasure! We serve fresh, hand made pasta, offering a noodle and a stuffed pasta option on Chef’s Special daily. Last year, we expanded our menu to include flat bread pizzas. These have been a fan favorite, and cook up super quick! We take so much pride in the food we serve, always aiming to provide the best quality product with quick, friendly, efficient service. We also provide gluten free options, including our signature Meatballs and Chicken Parmesan and our Loaded Italian Fries.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Starting our food truck was the biggest risk of our lives. Joe left his high paying salaried corporate Executive role and went all in on building our own business. We were ready for the challenge, and excited for the possibilities owning and operator our own business would provide. We were confident we could solve any unexpected issues that would come up. We knew there would be, but we just didn’t know exactly what and how frequent! No matter what obstacles we’ve faced, we’ve remained confident in our abilities to produce a consistent, high quality product. Our focus and passion is always on bringing ‘The Best in Italian Street Cuisine’ every time we go out! The first few years provided us with so many highs and lows, one point feeling so overwhelmed that we weren’t sure if we could keep going, but we did and now our business is growing to new heights and we are thrilled! But it sure can feel like a roller coaster sometimes.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://haleonwheelsfood.com
- Instagram: @haleonwheelsfoodtruck
- Facebook: @haleonwheelsfoodtruck
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/hale-on-wheels-grand-prairie-2
- Other: haleonwheelsfood@outlook.com
