Today we’d like to introduce you to Carling Ponder.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My husband, Hanni’El Gutierrez, and I have been in the restaurant business our whole lives. Growing up in Puerto Rico, his family owned and operated multiple pizza restaurants throughout the island, which is where he learned his craft. Over four years ago we found a unique opportunity to purchase a food trailer with an existing wood-fired pizza oven onboard.
After a few upgrades and a new logo, Rollin’ Dough was born. At first, we decided it would just be a part-time gig while we worked other various jobs and started our family. We quickly found out it would be much more than that.
Within 2-3 months of being open, we quit our current jobs and went full time, working lunches, dinners, big events, catering… anything we could get into to make a name for ourselves. As pizza is always a hot commodity, we wanted to create something different that no one had ever seen on the streets of Central Florida. Enter our Garlic Knot Sliders… oversized, handmade garlic knots that we turn into classic Italian and some not-so-classic Italian favorites.
The knots are where we have shined, making a name for ourselves in the foodie world all the way from Jacksonville to Kissimmee. After a year of growing Rollin’ Dough, our second food trailer, The Knot was born. Fast forward 3 years from our first event and we’ve now got a third on the road, The Knot 2, which is our first actual food truck. We are so grateful for the love and support these knots have gotten over the years and are so excited for what the future holds. We are currently in the process of opening a brick-and-mortar location, The Knot House, in New Smyrna Beach, which we are hoping to open within the year.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’m not sure any road in Central Florida is smooth, no pun intended.
Every business has its ups and downs, but we believe whatever comes our way is just a learning process for a more successful future.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Rollin’ Dough and The Knot?
We are a family-owned fleet of food trailers/trucks. We specialize in Garlic Knot Sliders. I think our product is something unique and people are amazed at the idea and concept behind our menu.
I am most proud of how far we have come in such a short amount of time and how much we’ve accomplished. We believed in ourselves when no one did and our success has proven we made the right choice when we did.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
PREPARE YOURSELF FOR ANYTHING! I am a firm believer, things happen when and how they need to happen.
Something is always going to go unplanned, but it’s how you react and pivot that will set you apart. Be unique and believe in your product and that will shine through your menu and onto the plates of your guests.
Also, keep it simple! Quality over quantity is what foodies are looking for, so give them a menu that’s going to wow them, not overwhelm them!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @theknot_fl
- Facebook: @theknotfl
