It looks like “The Great Food Truck Race” is once again pulling into Fort Myers.
Social media was abuzz Monday with news of the popular Food Network show coming to downtown Wednesday to film the last episode of season 17 with the final two food trucks.
The public is encouraged to show up in full foodie force as the last two teams rolling are welcomed at Centennial Park by celebrity chef and host Tyler Florence.
That scene will reportedly be shot from 9-11 a.m.
Then around 11:30 a.m., both trucks will be in action, competing and selling food on First Street.
“The Great Food Truck Race” is a reality competition that pits food trucks against each other with $50,000 in prize money on the line. Trucks visit new cities, face challenges, and vie for sales. The truck with the lowest profit at each stop is toast at the end of each episode.
Following the online trail of news stories and social media posts, season 17 has been traveling the Gulf Coast.
“So, season 17 is going to be so much fun because we are hitting the entire Gulf of Mexico,” Florence told station WLOX in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, earlier this month.
What started with nine competitors will be down to two by Wednesday’s Fort Myers visit.
Stops have been made in Texas (Houston and Galveston), Louisiana (Lake Charles), Mississippi (Biloxi and Ocean Springs) and most recently at Panama City Beach on Friday, Feb. 16.
The show, which debuted in 2010, came to Fort Myers in 2019 to film an episode for season 10.
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During that stop, trucks went out to downtown Fort Myers, Fort Myers Brewing, Millennial Brewing and Old Soul Brewing. One joined up with Jonesez BBQ Food Truck in Fort Myers.
Florence was spotted throughout the area as well, visiting Bennett’s Fresh Roast, Dixie Fish Co. and Rosy Tomorrows Heritage Farms. Dixie Fish is the only one still open.
Go to foodnetwork.com for more.
Robyn George is a food and dining reporter for The News-Press. Connect at [email protected]