Meet Toby Tindall of The Beignet Bus in Fort Worth

Today we’d like to introduce you to Toby Tindall.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Toby. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I come from 3 generations of Restaurateurs. When I was a little kid I saw one of the Chefs flambe a pan & I thought “That is so cool, I want to do that when I grow up”. I started my career in fast food, moved up through the ranks to fine dining, then the hotel world. I took a 4-year break and joined the Navy to get away from kitchens. When my enlistment was up, I had to get back to the restaurant business. I started working with a French Chef who totally rebuilt my mind and skills as it relates to Cuisine.

I worked in fine dining kitchens for the next 10 years. Then, my first daughter was born and I advanced to the stability of the Hotel world. Where I would spend the next 16 years. I moved up the ranks from Sous Chef to eventually Executive Chef of The Historic Hilton and Boutique Ashton Hotels (running both simultaneously). That’s running 2 restaurants, averaging 500 people a day in banquets, Breakfast & lunch buffets, Bar food, amenities, 2 executive lounges, ordering, meetings and running 2 crews. With this said, I was never home, and when I was, I just wanted to eat and sleep.

I was on my second marriage and had 3 daughters which were with us full time. Everyone in my house was suffering, my oldest daughter more than the rest of us. I decided I needed to resign my position and put family first. Two of my daughters struggle with severe depression, this disease finally beat my oldest. She took her own life about a year and a half ago.

This put our world into a tailspin, and we continue to fight daily as we heal. I spent a good 3 months in bed, trying to figure out how to move forward. I tell my girls a little bird landed on my shoulder and whispered what I was to do next. We found a little bus for sale, painted it up and put all of the love of our family and family trips to Louisiana into it.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My vision is to have my family on the Bus with me. I want them to see the world is not all bad. We are so saturated from social media, the news, etc.. that our world seems to be in complete chaos. I’ve found when you spend a minute and talk to people, we are all about the good of our selves, family, and community. If you add something delicious and a smile, even the worst day can turn around.

It gets chaotic, you are a one-man show. I don’t have the army of support as I used to. Not to mention 2 daughters in high school (that’s a whole nother article, lol)

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about The Beignet Bus – what should we know?
We are “The Beignet Bus” We are the only Bus selling Beignets in the world. We specialize in classic New Orleans style Beignets. Cafe Au Lait (yes we use Chicory coffee), Hot Chocolate, I use whole milk and make my own syrup, we do iced chocolate and Iced cream coffee (a riff on Vietnamese Sua Da) during warm weather. We also do savory Beignets paired with a soup or salad weekly. I miss the creativity of the Chef world, so do this once a week to release this energy. I feel the weather and shop the markets and come up with something unique. We also will throw in a high-end catering once a month or so and do it up right!

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Putting life into this order God, Family, Work. I try very hard to follow this principle and it helps our path… On our bus, I use an old saying I have used for years… Treat every guest like they are your Grandmother, you always do the best for grandma “house is clean, everyone is dressed properly, you not serving inferior product, your demeanor is positive, etc.”

Pricing:

• Cafe Au Lait & Beignets $8
• Hot Chocolate & Beignets $8
• Todays Savory Beignet & Soup $6

Contact Info:

• Phone: 817.881.4814
• Email: TheBeignetBus@gmail.com

Image Credit:
Baylee Tindall

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