Maximum efficiency in the smallest space: The mobile kitchen in just four square meters

Individual cuisine in a compact space: Jonas has been on the road with his mobile cooking box for about two years. He uses it to conjure up culinary highlights in less than four square meters – that’s how efficient working in the smallest of spaces works. In this blog article, you’ll learn firsthand about the opportunities and benefits of a mobile kitchen.

Jonas’ Kochbox – Forget about time when eating!

Jonas Fehrle is a restaurateur and chef with heart and soul: Since 2021, he has been on the road with his Kochbox under the motto “Forget about time when eating!”: a small food trailer, which he uses flexibly and in a variety of ways – whether at events such as the Street Food Market in Freiburg, wine festivals or private events. The offer is just as versatile – his street food ranges from Badischer Döner to burgers and quesadillas.

Best practice: the versatility of the mobile cooking box

As a trained chef, more precisely a chef with a federal certificate, Jonas already brings with him many years of professional experience in all areas of gastronomy, be it a forest hut or a gourmet restaurant. Since he started his own business as a private chef, he has been offering fine dining directly at his customers’ homes, barbecuing from professionals in nature, or working as a rental chef for the catering industry and with Jonas’ cooking box at Christmas markets, wine festivals, company as well as private parties.

How did the idea of a mobile cooking trailer come about?

After working in the restaurant business for several years, I wanted to do something of my own in the field. So I had the idea to come directly to the guests as a mobile chef with a cooking box. There are plenty of stationary restaurants, but mobile chefs are rather rare.

So that my “cooking box” fits everywhere and is not too big for me alone, I was looking for a small trailer and came across BuddyStar.

What advantages do you see in running a mobile cooking trailer?

Thanks to the compact size of the trailer, I can stand, cook and sell almost anywhere. Especially during the Corona heyday, this was worth its weight in gold: when stationary restaurants were forced to close, I was able to continue operating with my cooking box. Thanks to the great flexibility, I can find a place for my Kochbox anywhere from the marketplace, the fairgrounds to the small courtyard driveway or the parking lot in front of the front door. This also makes it possible to use it at private parties.

How do you reconcile your various activities?

There are synergies throughout my various activities: Through my other mainstays, I can also promote the respective other business – whether private chef, rental chef or mobile cooking with Kochbox – during my assignments. The fact that each area revolves around cooking results in a profitable interaction.

What features and requirements were particularly important to you?

Behind the idea of a cooking box is, of course, a certain compactness and small size. That’s why I wanted my trailer to be rather small, so that I could stand in a garden with my mobile kitchen and have all the ingredients and equipment at hand so that I could handle jobs on my own and manage the trailer well. At the same time, however, there should also be room for a second person, so that I can also call in help for larger events. I found this optimal size with the Retro Buddy M.

For my cooking project, cooling options, a grill, warming basin and sufficient storage space were essential, so it can be used for many variants.

What is your Buddy suitable for? What can you prepare in it?

My cooking box, as I have set it up and with the option of using different equipment as needed, is very flexible. And therefore, my offerings are just as versatile: I sell bagels, burgers, stuffed potatoes, sausages, raclette, and on and on. I have also prepared 3-course menus or finger food for private parties in my Buddy, and I can also prepare fresh stews.

What is the saying? Small but mighty! That definitely applies to my Buddy as a mobile kitchen on just four square meters.

How did the start with your mobile cooking box go?

My first assignment was at a weekly market that didn’t have a food stand until then. Here I offered bagels and market sausage. I couldn’t wait to get started and it was a great experience to see how well my selection was received and accepted in a sales world that was new to me. It was really a lot of fun!

Due to this new offer and also due to the high phase of Corona, I met with a very good response with the mobile-ready Buddy.

Where can you be found everywhere with your cooking box?

Currently, I am mainly in use with my mobile cooking box at private and corporate parties. During the summer, I can also be found more often at wine festivals and hocks.

Did you have any concerns about current challenges, such as the energy crisis and recession, regarding your mobile business?

Concerns are part of it – especially when you’re self-employed, you naturally lack a certain amount of security. But you keep going, because filling your head with negative thoughts makes little sense in my opinion. Instead, it’s important to remind yourself and your guests what you stand for and what drives you: My goal is to convince my customers of a good concept. That’s why I’m looking positively to the future.

Finally, a few tips for getting started with a mobile cooking trailer:

• Think carefully about what activities you want to focus on and how much time you want to invest in the sales trailer business yourself.
• Think about the design of your trailer, because this is the first thing your customers will notice and it will attract their attention.
• Get thoroughly informed about the legal basics, such as necessary permits and licenses.
• Think carefully about where you can sell and whether your concept matches the demand – because the right choice of location is crucial for your success.

 What else would you like to share with us?

Creative ideas are always well received by customers. Finding them and living them with heart and soul – that’s authentic and convincing!

Thank you very much for your time and the insights into your business, Jonas. We wish you continued success with your mobile business!