Food Network to tape show in Jonesborough

Food lovers rejoice. The Food Network channel has announced plans to set up shop in Jonesborough for an upcoming weekend to tape an episode of a new show.
Lunch Wagon Wars, which will begin airing on Aug. 15 at 10 p.m., pulls into town later this month and features competing food vendors vying to sell the most food from their trucks.
“It’s a reality show. It’s sort of like a Survivor-type show, but with food,” said Amber Crumley, Visitors Center manager. “They are really only going to big cities like Santa Fe, New Orleans and New York. We’re the stop between New Orleans and New York. They picked Jonesborough because it is exactly halfway between the two places.”
Taping of the show will take place in Jonesborough from Friday, May 21, through Monday, May 24.
According to the show’s production company, each of the teams is given money on Friday evening to shop locally for the grocery items they need.
Starting at 8 a.m. Saturday, the teams will set up their food trucks along Main Street where they will cook and sell their food until 8 o’clock that evening. Selling will start again at 8 a.m. Sunday.
The two teams who get the most foot traffic and sell the most food then move on to the show’s finale in New York City, Crumley said.
Chef and television personality Tyler Florence hosts the new show.
“It’s exciting to be featured on something as big as the Food Network,” Crumley said. “And it’s great free advertising. We can’t pay for this kind of exposure.”