Tacos on the Water, The Taco Box
The Taco Box taco boat is a humble former houseboat painted a cheery sky blue. It’s been outfitted with a surprisingly large and exceptionally clean kitchen, boasting a flat-top range and enough space for two people to comfortably navigate. The Taco Box is a vast improvement on the pontoon boat that James Santarsiero noticed while on a family vacation on Sanibel Island, where it was a source for hot dogs and half-melted ice creams. The line down the beach of hungry people willing to pay for the lackluster offerings struck James with a persistent thought: “I could do this so much better.”
James had often dreamed of working on the water, initially considering becoming a fishing guide before he decided to parlay a background in food service and kitchen management into realizing his idea for this new venture. He set about finding the perfect boat and repurposing it into a pristine floating kitchen. James wanted to do something to set him apart from the pontoon cooking hot dogs on a tiny grill—he wanted to have a legitimate mobile restaurant serving delicious, easy-to-eat food to hungry boaters and beach goers. He put an ad on Facebook looking for a chef and that’s how he met, and ultimately partnered with, Corey Everett. Corey moved to Sarasota from Orlando, and was considering leaving the restaurant business altogether, when he noticed the Facebook ad that would change everything. James and Corey have an easy symbiotic partnership: Both had a hand in the menu and Corey is also learning how to boat.
The Taco Box launched in April 2021 after passing all inspections and completing all certifications. The boat docks at various sandbars, such as the one at Boca Grande, and has become an extremely popular floating food truck. Social media marketing and word of mouth have built a loyal group of regulars, some of whom plan their days on the water according to where The Taco Box will be docked. The schedule is Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 11am to 4ish—weather dependent. Tuesday is spent shopping for ingredients and Wednesday is for prep.
The menu boasts barbacoa, carnitas, and chipotle chicken tacos as well as blackened Gulf shrimp tacos with cilantro cabbage slaw and sriracha crema (a crowd favorite). The grilled street corn with chipotle lime crema, queso fresco, and spices is tough to resist and guarantees a need for napkins. Any of the tacos can be made into quesadillas and there are corn tortillas available for gluten-conscious diners.
Don’t carry cash when you’re out on the water? No problem. The Taco Box takes cash, credit, Venmo, and Apple Pay. The only currency they’ve been offered that they don’t currently accept? James tells us with a shrug and a big grin: “Sand dollars.”
