In Focus | Ian Locket of Surf Side California

In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition for the people, businesses and organizations that help make our city great. The team at KelownaNow.com is passionate about this community and the people that make it amazing. We want to show our friends, neighbours, family and colleagues that we notice them and the fabulous things that they do.

What is your name?
Ian Locket

What do you always find yourself saying?
"Let’s do this thing!"

If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select?
Guy Fieri, driving around in his Red Camaro visiting Diners and Dives! It would be exciting to tour different restaurants and see what goes on behind the scenes.

If you were to receive any existing public award, what award would you like to win?
The "Key to the City" would be fun!

Who inspires you?
My Kids, they are all amazing and talented!

What are three things on your bucket list?
I am 1st generation Canadian and have never been to London England where my family is from.
Buy a Coach and go on an endless road trip to everywhere!
Take my son to Tokyo, who thinks it would be really cool.

Please tell us about a defining moment in your life
1990 when I realized I never had to work for someone else's dream and became self-employed. It was the most liberating feeling I have ever experienced and still feel it every day.

If you had an enormous yacht, what would you name it?
Endless Summer

If you could foresee a single day of your future in its entirety, what date would you select?
I could not do this it would spoil the surprise!

What are you passionate about?
My relationship with Heidi. Our awesome kids. Food, lots and lots of Food!

What has been your favourite day of your life, up to this point?
This is an interesting question. Every day is my favourite day; they are just a different kind of favourite.

What has been your proudest accomplishment?
There are a few but most recently building Surf Side from the wheels up. We literally bought a Shell on wheels and put an awesome, fully self-contained kitchen in it!

Where is your favourite place to dine in Kelowna?
Sushi, Ozekie. BBQ, Memphis Blues. Night out, Cactus Club. Thai, Bai Tong

What is your favourite activity or event in Kelowna?
Beach Life, it’s the Okanagan and it doesn't get any better than that.

What is the name of your business/organization?
Surf Side California

What does your business/organization do?
Surf Side California is a south west coast inspired mobile Food Truck.

Where can people find you or your business online?
surfsidecalifornia.ca

Where can people find your business on Facebook?
Surf Side California

What is your Twitter account?
@surfsidecalif

What is your mission?
Our mission is to bring the Okanagan Valley some of the best Shrimp and Fish Tacos with a variety of other delicious foods!

If you could achieve one thing within your field, what would it be?
To bring our customers the best possible Food Truck experience.

Where do you want your business/organization to be in five years?
We want the brand to expand, maybe a truck or two and a small brick and mortar restaurant

Who do you consider to be a forerunner within your field?
Mobile Cuisine, they are fantastic at bringing information and insight to the mobile food business.

What three qualities do you feel that your business/organization exemplifies?
1) Healthy choices to fast food. We offer gluten and dairy free as well as Vegan, Vegetarian options.
2) Quality of our products, Ocean Wise seafood and local fresh Vegetables.
3) Integrity of every one of our staff. They are all amazing!

What would you like to say to your employees/volunteers?
We could not have done it without you guys! You are truly an amazing group of young adults!

How does your business/organization impact the community?
We bring a warm relaxing atmosphere to all of our events and festivals.

What makes you successful? Tell us about it.
Friendly staff. Great atmosphere. Quality and Consistency of our Menu. When you have our signature Fish taco for the first time or the tenth time it will be just as you would expect it to be…delicious!

If you were trapped in an elevator with several wealthy investors from any field, which field would you want them to be experts in? What would say to them/talk about?
Sounds like a Dragons Den, next stop Penthouse please! I would sponge as much information out of them as possible and maybe get an investment into our future!

If I could change one thing about Kelowna, it would be:
The City has started installing left turn signals at intersections, this helps when you are driving a food truck with sharp knives and hot fryers behind you! We would love to see the city relax its vendor by-law to allow Food Trucks downtown at certain hours.

What do you think makes Kelowna great?
Kelowna is great, and that is why we live here, it has pretty much everything you could possibly want and need!

My choice for the Kelowna In Focus spotlight is:
Peter Irvine of Kelowna Ford

Some general comments I would like to share are:
It has been a fantastic ride in the food Truck Business. Our never ending new and returning customers is what makes us successful. Big thank you to: Peter Irvine who has been our most valued customer, Geoff Goodman for his countless volunteer hours on the window, Theo at Okanagan Propane, for keeping Surf Side on the road, Great Way Martial Arts Academy for giving us their parking spot, Barry Cretien at Buzz Media for designing our fabulous website, Mitch Carefoot @Getintheloop for your energy and support, Tim and Tracy at TNT, Peter Dieppe Green 17! Thank you for welcoming us into your lives and supporting our adventure!

We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below, and submit your own nomination by clicking HERE. You are also welcome to submit a form of your own by clicking HERE. Thank you, Kelowna!