March 18, 2025
Chef Mitch Cook Brings Island Flavors to Central Florida with Fat Tiki Food Truck
By Kyle Coppola
Chef Mitch Cook Brings Island Flavors to Central Florida with Fat Tiki Food Truck
SUMMERFIELD, Fla. — After decades in the restaurant industry, Chef Mitch Cook has taken his culinary expertise on the road, launching The Fat Tiki, a gourmet food truck serving up island-inspired cuisine across Central Florida.
A veteran of the high-paced restaurant scene in Ocean City, Maryland, Cook’s journey began humbly at age 12 as a busboy. Over the years, he climbed the ranks to become an executive chef and sous chef at some of the area’s top restaurants, honing his craft in an environment known for its relentless high volume and intense demand.
In addition to his near two decades of hands-on experience, Cook received formal training through an American Culinary Federation-accredited program. His skills and creativity even landed him a spot on Food Network’s hit competition show Cutthroat Kitchen in 2014.
Now embracing Florida’s vibrant food truck movement, Chef Cook brings bold flavors and fresh ingredients to food lovers with The Fat Tiki. The truck, easily recognizable by its eye-catching graphics and tantalizing aromas, serves up a menu infused with island spices and Cook’s signature flair.
(Mitch Cook left stands with the love of his life Suzy Cooper who Mitch says “She changed my life and encourages me to become the best man I can be.”)
Cook opened Fat Taki Food Truck in 2019 and since then, the business has been one of the top rated in the area. Cook credits his father who passed away two years ago in 2023 at 69 after a 13 month battle with cancer for his hard work ethic. “There was never any giving up for my father and I was amazed how he was able to keep fighting while in so much pain. Witnessing a man get up everyday, knowingly and willingly, fighting the inevitable puts things into perspective on what is important in life.” says Cook in a social media post.
(The cuisine that you will find at Fat Takis is a must try. If this truck is in the area make plans to try and get to it. The flavors are incredible.)
“In one of my fathers last days here, he said to me in reference to his self,” there’s 2 kinds of people in this world, winners and losers, not all winners are good people and not all losers are bad people, a born loser can’t stop destiny” he claimed no matter how hard he tried he couldn’t get it right, we had a challenging relationship but in the end I now know he was just trying to survive the best way he could, we all coulda shoulda woulda if you know what I’m saying.” said Cook in a recent social media post. “The reason I’m sharing this is because I have been a underdog my whole life and I am going to break the curse and I will be a winner in this game of life!”
(Fat Tiki’s has won multiple awards and continues to be a favorite of locals in the area.)
Cook is certainly proving to be a winner. Not just in life but in the food truck game as well! Fat Tiki is consistantly voted among the top island food trucks in our area. They have a 4.9 star rating on Google Reviews. Their menu includes Summer Breeze Crab Dip which is to die for! Their award winning 5oz Jumbo Lump Crab Cake with Old Bay Tarter Sauce. Coconut Shirmp and much more! If you enjoy island cuisine then this is the food truck for you. And honestly if you just enjoy food with good flavors, you can’t go wrong with Fat Taki food truck.
(Everything at Fat Tikis is made with love and the flavors and seasonings used on the food are perhaps the best anywhere in Central Florida.)
Fat Tiki is mainly based out of Summerfield and Chef Cook can usually be found at various locations throughout our community. Be sure to keep track of him on his facebook page here:
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
