The Food Network’s Great Food Truck Race made its most recent stop in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and enlisted the help of some Sailors, Coast Guardsmen and a Marine April 30 to pick the episode’s winners.

The 14 representatives of the military’s maritime services from the seven ships in Port Everglades for the Fleet Week in South Florida made up part of the final judging team for the desert competition.

The episode will air in July, so the winner cannot be revealed, but the service members enjoyed the opportunity to compete in the show.

“The Food Truck Challenge was a fantastic experience.  It was great not only to try some amazing desserts, but also to meet the talented creators on the spot,” Lt. Valerie Tucciarone said.

The show spotlights a selection of food truck owners competing against one another as they try to sell the most food in a different city each episode.  The owner that sells the least is eliminated from the competition.  The four trucks were in South Florida for the fifth episode of the show’s 10th season and their visit coincided with Fleet Week Port Everglades.

The winner of the final competition receives a cash prize and a new food truck.

The Great Food Truck Race coming to Fort Lauderdale during Fleet Week was a happy coincidence and the show staff were ecstatic about being able to coordinate with the military to give the episode a unique feel.

“Thank you so much for the Navy, Coast Guard and Marines coming out to participate,” field producer Eric Streit.  “It makes the episode very special and the dessert challenge a real stand-out.”

This is the 29th annual Fleet Week Port Everglades which provides an opportunity for the citizens of South Florida to witness first-hand the latest capabilities of today’s maritime services.  About 2,000 Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen are in town to showcase the capabilities of today’s military and build relationships with the general public.  Fleet Week will run through May 6 when the ships depart to return to their homeports.

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