Exploring Life & Business with Vivianna D’Ambrosio of Food Trucks PHX

Today we’d like to introduce you to Vivianna D’Ambrosio.

Hi Vivianna, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.

I grew up in Westchester, New York, in a large Italian family. Everything revolved around food and when we were going to eat. My dad, Alfred DePole, was and is still an executive corporate chef, and my mom, Paola Valenza, has worked in food and beverage administration her entire career. The love of food and hospitality was ingrained in me at a very young age by my parents and my grandmother, Maria Valenza.

I decided to follow in my dad’s footsteps and attend The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. From there, I worked for The Greenbrier, America’s Resort, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, under some of the most prestigious chefs in the country. While I enjoyed the pressure and passion of the back-of-house, I always wanted to know what it was like to be guest-facing.

I was presented with the opportunity to work as a front-of-house manager at Prime 44 West, the onsite steakhouse. Once I made the switch, the rest was history. I truly enjoy being involved with my guests and making their experiences memorable.

While in college, I met my husband, who was in a culinary apprenticeship at the same resort, and we decided to move to Phoenix, Arizona—his hometown—to open a food truck business with some of his high school friends. I continued to work in hotels such as The Four Seasons in Troon and The Arizona Biltmore Resort, the Jewel of the Desert, as a restaurant sales manager, where I learned how to offer service at the luxury level in Arizona.

I took everything that I learned and decided to finally join the family business. We launched Aioli Gourmet Burgers Food Truck in 2015 and never really looked back. We now own and operate six food truck brands (Aioli Gourmet Burgers, Modern Tortilla, Oak Wood Fire Pizza, Super Mac Bros, Protein & Poke, and Bros Seafood); a restaurant (Aioli Gourmet Burgers on 32nd Street and Shea in Phoenix); three shared kitchen spaces (BLT Kitchens); a meal prep company (Scratch Culinary); a corporate catering company (BLT Culinary); a wholesale beverage brand (AZ Lemonade Stand); a wholesale candy brand (AZ Candy Stand); and lastly, Food Trucks PHX, our food truck coordination business.

I am currently the Senior Executive Sales Manager for private events, but I wear many hats. We have created a brand family, so I do my best to be the “mom” to each of them.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

If it was easy, everyone would do it, right? Yes, there have been struggles. We did have to learn things the hard way because we were creating something none of us had ever done before. It is rare to find an ownership group that launches six different food truck concepts with over 15 mobile food units.

In addition, we are a family business, which does make things interesting. At the end of the day, we all have a common goal: for the business to be successful and to have fun making it happen. Some examples of our struggles include staying current. Social media and SEO play a major role in the marketing of any business, and because they change constantly, it can be hard to keep up with trends while running your business.

Our goal is also to never say no. This can be a challenge when you are fully booked but still want to cater to your clients as much as possible. Growing at a rapid rate was another challenge. We completed our five-year business plan for Aioli Gourmet Burgers in one year. There was no time to stop. We kept up with the momentum, but as a small company run by fewer than five people, we faced difficulties.

Watching costs is something that every business deals with, but it is a challenge that comes with owning your own business and never really goes away.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

Our goal has always been to never say no. We want to find a way to make things work, which is really how Food Trucks PHX came to be. We wanted to assist our clients even when our six food truck brands were booked at capacity. In addition, we wanted to offer food styles that we did not specialize in.

We meet new food truck owners daily because they need a place to prep and store their food through BLT Kitchens, our shared kitchen brand. This has allowed us to build strong relationships with local food truck owners, which adds value to our client relationships and overall support of our local mobile business community.

From corporate events to weddings, we connect clients with the best food trucks in Phoenix, Arizona. Easy booking, diverse cuisine options, and guaranteed satisfaction.

At Food Trucks PHX, we specialize in premium food truck catering and beverage services for events across Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, and the entire Arizona metro area. Whether you’re planning a corporate event, wedding reception, pop-up activation, or private party, our curated network of over 150 licensed food trucks, chef stations, mobile bars, and coffee carts ensures your guests enjoy an unforgettable culinary experience.

From permitting and logistics to on-site setup and seamless service, we handle every detail so you don’t have to. Our team works with trusted local partners to deliver drop-off catering, full-service food truck experiences, and interactive kitchen activations tailored to your vision and budget. We are your one-stop shop. If you’re searching for reliable food truck catering in Phoenix or want to elevate your next event with a customized chef-led station, Food Trucks PHX is your go-to source for gourmet mobile catering and event planning expertise.

What sets us apart from other food truck coordination businesses is that we are food truck owners ourselves. We understand the daily challenges and know what our partners need to be successful.

Brand-wise, we are most proud that Food Trucks PHX grew organically from our other brands. This growth has allowed us to better support our clients and, in turn, our local food truck community. We turned our competitors into partners. When you book within our brand family, you are treated like one of our own.

Whether you’re looking for a food truck, simple catering, meal prep, shared kitchen space to launch your small business, or a great-tasting lemonade made in the Valley of the Sun, we have you covered.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?

Finding a mentor should come naturally. When you’re out there doing what you love—learning about it or even just talking about it—a mentor will often appear. You are what you attract. Having an open mind and refraining from self-doubt are key.

It’s easy to feel like you’re not capable when you’re young or just starting over later in life. If it’s something you truly want to do, you will find a way to make it happen.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://foodtrucksphx.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodtrucksphx/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FoodTruckPHX/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivianna-d-ambrosio-30398476/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/food-trucks-phx-phoenix-2
• Other: https://www.google.com/search?q=Food+Trucks+PHX+Reviews