USF alumnus and entrepreneur Julius Forte runs a food truck primarily in Tampa and St. Pete called Bowlz and Bunz, where he showcases his passion for food while building relationships within his community.
After graduating from USF, Forte needed to transition from being a college athlete to being thrust into life with bills to pay. Inspired by his mother, who was a professional caterer, Forte decided to start his own food truck. Forte has found that running the food truck has been similar to his sports career on the football field.
“This was actually the thing that I’ve found that gave me like the same butterflies like it gave me the same pre-game jitters. I’m nervous before every time we pull out the truck. I’m eager to hear what people think of it,” said Forte.
Bowlz and Bunz has something for everyone, from their seafood mac to their handcrafted chicken sandwiches. You can’t forget their Smack Sauce, which is a savory sauce with a spicy kick. Forte and his team put their hearts and souls into every recipe on the menu.
Forte has help. He credits his friend Lorenzo, a “phenomenal chef,” with creating the Smack Sauce, “which is our No. 1 selling sauce, whether that’s [on] wings or a fuel bowl, or even our salmon burger. And the Smack Sauce is freaking phenomenal. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a bad comment about it,” said Forte.
Running Bowlz and Bunz is a team effort for Forte, as his sister, Dominique Forte, plays an important role.
“She’s actually a firefighter,” Forte said. “But on her days off, she hops on the truck, helps us out and she also creates the lemonade that’s on the truck. So she’s kind of everywhere on the truck that we need her to be she’s usually working the window, very personable person.”
Credits
Reporter: Daniel Finton
Producer: Antonio Delucca
Show Editor: Alice Barlow
Anchor: Emari Craft
Web Editor: Rachael Schroeder
