GetChewaBox
There are a lot of new local food trucks on the streets of Panama City. A lot of different styles, menus, and personalities, but there is one truck simply dominating the local scene with their delicious PO-boys, wings, and custom fries. GetChewaBox is a local food truck in the Panama City area and ever since their debut on July 16, 2020, everyone has been raving about the different flavors in every bite.
I was able to sit down and ask some questions this week with the owner of GetChewaBox, Antonio Middleton:
GetChewaBox has been getting a lot of attention since you came on the scene but tell us a little bit about you and some of your background experience.
My name is Antonio Middleton and I was born and raised in Panama City, Florida. I am a Culinary Graduate from Gulf Coast State College with a passion for cooking. My background in cooking is Southern Creole. My past work includes numerous restaurants in the Panama City Beach area. I was a Sushi Chef for Wyndham Resort, a Banquet Chef at Bay Point, and an Executive Chef at Shrimpboat Restaurant and Barefoot. I am now the owner of Chef Middleton Catering and GetChewaBox Food Truck.
With all your experience and knowledge within the restaurant industry, what made you decide to become an owner in the food truck industry?
My goal is to eventually own and run a brick-and-mortar restaurant, however, these are pretty pricey start-ups. I figured if I ran a food truck that is a little more cost-efficient, then I could save up my money and continue to work towards my dreams.
Tell us a little bit about the story behind the name, logo, and menu for GetChewaBox.
The name GetChewaBox came from a neighborhood friend and the spelling came from a close cousin. The logo came from me wanting to have something that represented my brand with a graffiti street feeling to it. The menu came from something that I love to eat. Po-boy sandwiches, especially with leidenheimer bread. I figured, why not get the bread and put my special spin to it. Fish with crabmeat, green tomatoes, etc.
What is your favorite dish that you sell?
My favorite dish at the moment would be the Fries Rich Girl (crabmeat lump and shrimp). But it is very hard to choose. Many of our sandwiches are delicious and people seem to enjoy all of our menu as a whole.
If you had to say something that makes GetChewaBox different from other food trucks, what would you say? Also, what would you tell someone if they were thinking about opening and owning a food truck?
I don’t know what makes us different from other food trucks. All I know is we just try our best every day to serve up top quality, freshly made to order sandwiches and delicious specialty flavored wings. As for the question about if someone wanted to start a food truck, I would say anyone curious about opening a food truck should know it takes heart. There is a lot of work and dedication with no days off. But I will also tell you that it is well worth it if you are fighting for your dreams to come true.
What would you say is next for GetChewaBox?
I would say that next up for GetChewaBox will be a brick and mortar. I believe we can expand our menu and offer a larger variety of Po-Boy Sandwiches.
Wrap Up
I would like to wrap up this interview by giving a big shout-out to Antonio Middleton and GetChewaBox for taking time out of their busy schedule to answer some questions and looking forward to eating some of their delicious PO-boys anytime I see them around town. Pictures in the article were contributed by GetChewaBox and Antonio Middleton.
