Here at PDB magazine, we know there are some pretty awesome things you can do with a pontoon boat. Catch some spray in a wake-drenched tube, drop a line over the rocky haunts of largemouth bass, lay back to soak in a pool of sun rays. Over on the Columbia River, you can even cruise up to the Wilson family’s pontoon and order some all-American chow right there on the water.
The Tri-City Herald spreads the news about the Wilson family’s modified triple-pontoon dubbed Floatin’ Foodies. Before its culinary career began, the Wilsons took their pontoon out often to roam the Columbia. Now while on business, Terry, Joanna, and their boys tend to stay in place at the west end of Columbia Park, so their customers can find them whenever hunger strikes. "Everyone knows where we are,” Joanna says.
Their roosting place is perfect for walk-up traffic from the dockside as well, and orders can even be called in for boats to pick up.
Terry removed the top of Floatin’ Foodies to create their 30-foot restaurant-style kitchen. The Wilsons have sufficient room to accommodate a hand-washing station, three-compartment sinks, a six-foot grill, sandwich stations with ice troughs, and a bar to showcase chips and drinks.
What makes cooking difficult on a ‘toon is providing your own electricity and water to power everything. The gang also had to become skilled at storing everything quickly before they fire up the motor so none of their supplies blow overboard.
The Wilson family has it down to a T. Eleven-year-old Timmy watches over Floatin’ Foodies shaved ice orders while Josh, 13, assembles burgers and dogs. Christian Ille, who serves in the Marine Reserves in California, even lends a hand when visiting home.
Terry and Joanna utilized their decades of experience in the restaurant business to create the succulent sauces used onboard; they even slice their dogs in spirals so the sauce can absolutely enfold the hot dog.
One of the most acclaimed dogs they sell is the Chipotle Dog, adorned with chipotle slaw, red pepper aioli, pico de gallo, cilantro and lime. Burgers come enrobed in everything from their Blazin' BBQ Sauce to herb aioli. Right now their barbecue pulled-pork sandwich is a special favorite.
So if you’re ever on the Columbia River when your stomach starts to growl, head down to where the Wilsons wait to work their magic aboard Floatin’ Foodies.
To read the whole Tri-City Herald story, click here. Photo by Bob Brawdy at the Tri-City Herald.
