ORLANDO, Fla. — Imagine watching a movie that changes your life. For Isaac Escañuela, that's exactly what happened.

Moving from Barcelona to Florida in 2015, he says he took a leap of faith after being inspired by a movie — one that led him to start his own food truck business. 

What You Need To Know

  • Isaac Escañuela, who was living in Barcelona at the time, says he watched the movie “Chef” and became obsessed with the idea of opening up a food truck business

  • Escañuela says he and his wife moved to Orlando to serve authentic, homemade Spanish cuisine

  • He says life comes with trials and challenges, but taking risks can be rewarding

Before moving to Miami, Escañuela saved for nine years to turn his dream into a reality.

Taking a leap of faith, he and his wife relocated to Orlando to offer authentic, homemade Spanish cuisine.

“This all started because I watched a movie,” Escañuela said.

That movie was "Chef", and Escañuela, now the owner of Barrio Español Food Truck, launched his business in Orlando years after watching it.

“It influenced me big time because I became obsessed with opening up a Spanish cuisine food truck in the U.S.,” he said. “The movie is about a well-recognized chef in a Michelin star restaurant and because of a bad review, they fired him, but he opened up a food truck.”

Escañuela says he saw demand for Spanish food in Orlando.

“I loved to come to Universal, but when I left Universal, overall, I noticed there is no homemade Spanish food accessible,” he said.

Escañuela was determined to change that. 

According to BCC Research, food trucks are increasing in popularity around the country, so Escañuela is not alone.

The organization projects growth of the global food truck market to increase from $19.4 billion in 2022 to $26.3 billion by 2027.

The key factors driving the growth of the food trucks market, include the rising demand for fast-serving food, and providing authentic food at the best prices compared to traditional restaurant spaces.

From Monday to Sunday, Escañuela ignites the gas appliances to fire up the fryers and ovens in his food truck. 

He said his seasoning and cooking are things he inherited from his family. 

For him, having a food truck means sharing a bit of home and teaching people about Barcelona’s culture.

“Serving fresh products, and word of mouth, then time will work its magic,” he said.

His food truck opens daily at 11:30 a.m. and can be found at A La Cart in the SODO district, located at 2207 East Michigan St.