Denver’s The Easy Vegan Competes in Food Network’s ‘The Great Food Truck Race’

For the first time in the show’s history, Food Network’s hit competition series, The Great Food Truck Race, is pitting industry pros against talented up-and-coming rookies in a David vs. Goliath battle of the best food on wheels.

Hosted by Tyler Florence, nine teams across the country with specialties ranging from Jamaican tacos to modern Pakistani street food to elevated vegan dishes must prove their culinary expertise and marketing skills in action-packed challenges to beat their rivals and stay in the race. Los Angeles has long led the food truck movement, and this season takes place right in the center of the industry’s booming business.

“This season’s unique twist really delivers, and while you may think the food truck pros have the advantage, the energy and talent of the up-and-coming rookies make for a level playing field,” says Betsy Ayala, head of content, food, Warner Bros. Discovery. “It’s anyone’s race, and Los Angeles is the perfect backdrop this season. There’s no city more competitive for food trucks, and only the strongest will survive.”

The Great Food Truck Race: David vs. Goliath premiered June 18, and everything will culminate in a head-to-head finale where one team will be awarded a life-changing grand prize of $50,000.

Among the rookie teams is Denver’s The Easy Vegan, a queer-owned and operated start-up business that is not centered around diet or health culture. Founded by couple Alex Mandolini and Taylor Herbert, they, along with their friend Matt Heikkila, use their energy and talent to create unique flavor profiles from fresh ingredients.

“Being on The Great Food Truck Race was an adventure of a lifetime,” Herbert exclaims. “It was such an honor that the casting team reached out to us, and it was very exciting to challenge ourselves and do something brand new.”

The Easy Vegan was started after Mandolini and Herbert both lost their full-time jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mandolini, who is originally from Chicago, has 15 years of professional cooking experience, while Herbert had a surplus of bar and restaurant management expertise at the now-shuttered LGBTQ restaurant and drag bar M Uptown.

“We started this business plan in late 2019, so we knew that we wanted to open a restaurant,” Herbert says. “We kind of started this business as more of a proof of concept to gain a following, and we just wanted to show up for people. Prove that the style of vegan food that we’re serving is for everybody, whether you’re a vegan, a vegetarian, or a carnivore.

“To be honest, I was terrified of this concept,” Mandolini adds. “I had a steady job before the pandemic, and once I lost my job, it was like, we had to make money to pay rent and survive. Fortunately, everything worked out for the best.”

With The Easy Vegan, the pair hope to provide guests an interactive, whimsical, and unpretentious culinary experience that will satisfy their cravings for familiar dishes, drinks, and desserts. They also offer pop-up ticketed dinners, which usually sell out within an hour, and catering services.

According to Herbert, the business immediately received a warm welcome from the Denver community.

“People have been wonderful,” she says. “They’ve been showing up for us since day one, and a lot of our regulars have become like family. We love the community here so much, and even while we were in Los Angeles, people in Denver were telling anyone they knew in LA—cousins, sisters, friends—to come out and support us in this race. It meant so much to us.”

Since The Easy Vegan was born out of the pandemic, Mandolini and Herbert are used to pivoting, adjusting, adapting, and taking on new challenges. By competing in The Great Food Truck Race, they believe the opportunity gave them the chance to try and do the same thing they’ve been doing, but in a different way.

“As business partners and a couple, we were under some incredible stress,” Mandolini admits. “One thing going into this whole experience, we always said if the stress was too much, or if it was affecting our relationship, it wouldn’t be worth it. I think we came back even stronger, and we truly navigated the whole experience very well together. I’m so proud of that.”

“And that went for our friendship with Matt as well,” Herbert adds. “We made a pact in the beginning that if anything was too much or if anything came in the way of our friendship with him, then we would have left.”

Although the duo is content working in their 10 x 10 pop-up tent, their eventual goal is to get into a brick-and-mortar space and open up another vegan concept. Winning the $50,000 grand prize would help with that.

“There aren’t as many vegan restaurants in Denver as there are in other big metro cities, and we’re just excited to have four walls around our business,” Herbert says. “We came onto this show to compete, win that money, and help us open our restaurant!”

For now, The Easy Vegan can be found every Saturday at City Park’s Farmers Market from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and every Sunday at South Pearl Street from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

For more information and to stay up-to-date with The Easy Vegan, follow them on Instagram @theeasyvegandenver, or visit theeasyvegandenver.com. New episodes of The Great Food Truck Race will air Sunday at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on Food Network, with the high-stakes finale airing July 30.

Photos courtesy of Food Network