Remembering The Rolling Stove Food Truck

On July 7th, 2016, my comfort food world was rocked when The Rolling Stove food truck announced that it had served its last meal.

Hi Folks After 6 years of Rolling around south Florida we served our last Brisket sandwich on tuesday. It has been our…

Posted by The Rolling Stove on Thursday, July 7, 2016

It wasn’t a surprise. I knew the Rolling Stove’s days were numbered.

Troy Thomas (owner of the Rolling Stove) and I had become great friends for over six years. However, I’m not sure that many people outside the food truck bubble understand the amount of work and dedication it takes to run a food truck well.

The Rolling Stove Food Truck & two customers
The Rolling Stove Food Truck with two potential customers

Troy took great pride in his food; I was back then and still am the biggest fan of his comfort food. But, the wear and tear, the daily grind of food truck life, finally got to Troy.

I didn’t want to see the food truck go, but I also didn’t want to see it become a shadow of its former self.

On July 6th, 2010, the Rolling Stove would debut at an abandoned gas station in Deerfield Beach, and then six years later, on the same day, it rolled for the last time.

The Rolling Stove at the Largest Parade of Food Trucks
The Rolling Stove leading the charge at the Largest Parade of Food Trucks
Pictures set to the music of the Miami Food Trucks setting the Guinness World Record on April 20th, 2013

Original Rolling Stove Post on BurgerBeast.com


July 6th, 2010 – On May 16th, 2010, The Rolling Stove Food Truck’s owner Troy Thomas sent me this email.

My menu is simple due to space. I have a special blend of meats for my burger. It’s a combo of skirt steak, ribeye, and bacon that I grind all together. I guess you would have to call it a steak burger. I also will be doing jerk, chicken, pork, and rice. The jerk can be a sandwich or served over rice. I also do what I will call jerk fried rice (kind of like jambalaya) with chicken or pork in it as well as some veggies, Roasted jerk wings. Hand-cut fries that you can get with a midwest cheddar cheese called Merkts on them (can you say obscene). Fried onion loaf and lots of specials on the weekends like ribs, shrimp, fish, and of course a few deserts. Everything will be made by me fresh daily.

The Rolling Stove Food Truck Original Menu
The Opening Day Menu


Troy Thomas, who ran two restaurants in his native Chicago and attended culinary school, is the man behind The Rolling Stove. The Rolling Stove debuted in Delray Beach on July 6th, 2010.

I drove up from Miami to try it. I was so impressed with the flavors and then depressed when I realized that it was predominately going to hit the streets of Broward/Palm Beach. Troy runs the truck with his mom Pat.

Late last year, things changed with the creation of the Miami Street Food Court (2010). As a result, the Rolling Stove came down here with more frequency. I would count the minutes till my next Stove meal and still do.

Yes, The Rolling Stove is my favorite truck, eat there, and you’ll find out why.

I love everything on the menu and don’t even eat tomatoes. But honestly, get the Chicken Crisper Sandwich; it’s unreal.

The Rolling Stove Food Truck Pictures

Here’s a small portion of the dishes I ate at the Rolling Stove Food Truck over the years.

Fried Green Tomatoes
Fried Green Tomatoes
Ron's Bites
Ron’s Bites
Housemade Tater Tots
Housemade Tater Tots
Fried Corn
Fried Corn
Chicken Crispers
Chicken Crispers
Triple Bacon Chipotle Cheeseburger
Triple Bacon Chipotle Cheeseburger
Loaded Hot Dog
Loaded Hot Dog
Ham & Cheese Sandwich
Ham & Cheese Sandwich
Jerk Chicken Grilled Cheese
Jerk Chicken Grilled Cheese
Patty Melt
Patty Melt
Cheeseburger
Cheeseburger with mayo & ketchup
Cuban Sandwich
Cuban Sandwich
Buffalo Chicken Melt
Buffalo Chicken Melt
Cinnamon Rolls
Cinnamon Rolls

Epilogue

Burger Beast & Troy Thomas at the Food Truck Tracker App Event 9-23-11
Burger Beast & Troy Thomas at the Food Truck Tracker App Event September 23rd, 2011

While we don’t talk often, Troy and I are still friends.

When I first began with food popups around town, Troy told me that they were mine to have if I needed any recipes from the Rolling Stove Food Truck.

I asked for one recipe, and it’s currently on my popup menu.

Those cereal breaded chicken tenders, aka Chicken Crispers, always brought extreme happiness to anyone who ate them. So their new name on the Burger Beast menu is Troy’s Chicken Tenders!

Pat & Troy at the Burger Beast Car Hop Drive-in
Pat & Troy Thomas at the Burger Beast Car Hop Drive-in on September 10th, 2020

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