Today we’d like to introduce you to Tommy Medeiros.
Tommy, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started California Mobile Kitchens after recognizing a need that was often overlooked. Through my experience in the food service industry and disaster response, I saw firsthand how schools, hospitals, restaurants, senior living communities, and government agencies struggled to keep serving meals during kitchen renovations, emergencies, or unexpected equipment failures. Too often, their only option was to shut down operations, which wasn’t acceptable for organizations that depend on serving people every day.
With that in mind, I founded California Mobile Kitchens to provide turnkey temporary commercial kitchen solutions. Our mission is reflected in our slogan: “Keep Your Kitchen Cooking.” Whether it’s a planned renovation, a natural disaster, or an unexpected equipment failure, our goal is to keep our customers operating without interruption.
We don’t just rent kitchen trailers—we provide complete support, including refrigeration, dishwashing facilities, ADA ramps and decking, generators, fresh water and wastewater systems, propane, permitting assistance, delivery, setup, and ongoing service throughout the project. We strive to make the transition into a temporary kitchen as seamless as possible so our customers can focus on serving their guests instead of worrying about logistics.
Over the years, we’ve grown from a small operation into one of the West Coast’s leading providers of temporary commercial kitchen facilities. Today, we’re proud to support projects throughout California and across the United States. Our clients include public school districts, hospitals, senior living communities, country clubs, restaurants, hotels, construction companies, and government agencies, including emergency response organizations.
One of the things I’m most proud of is the reputation we’ve built. When customers call us, they’re often facing a stressful situation with deadlines that can’t be missed. Our team responds quickly, develops a customized solution, and works alongside them until the project is complete. We believe that great customer service is just as important as great equipment.
As we’ve grown, we’ve continued investing in newer equipment, expanding our fleet, and improving our services to meet our customers’ evolving needs. But one thing has never changed: our commitment to “Keep Your Kitchen Cooking.” Every project, regardless of size, is an opportunity to help our customers continue serving meals safely, efficiently, and without interruption.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. Building California Mobile Kitchens required a lot of problem-solving, persistence, and learning as we grew.
One of the biggest challenges has been managing the complexity behind each project. Every customer has different site conditions, utility requirements, permitting rules, timelines, and operational needs. A temporary kitchen may look simple from the outside, but there are many moving parts, including transportation, electrical service, water, wastewater, propane, refrigeration, health department requirements, and accessibility.
Another challenge has been responding to tight deadlines. Many customers contact us during renovations, equipment failures, emergencies, or unexpected delays when they need a solution quickly. That means our team has to remain flexible, communicate clearly, and coordinate multiple vendors and services without disrupting the customer’s food operation.
Growth has also brought challenges. Expanding our fleet, maintaining equipment, finding dependable transportation and service partners, and making sure every project receives the same level of attention takes discipline and continued investment.
Like many businesses, we have also dealt with rising costs, supply-chain delays, changing regulations, and the uncertainty that comes with serving customers across different industries and locations.
Those struggles have made us a stronger company. They taught us to prepare for the unexpected, build dependable relationships, and focus on solutions rather than problems. Most importantly, they reinforced why our mission matters. When a customer is depending on us to continue feeding students, patients, residents, employees, or guests, failure is not an option. That commitment is what drives us to “Keep Your Kitchen Cooking.”
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’ve dedicated more than 30 years to the food service industry, and what has always motivated me is finding ways to serve people and solve problems. Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to manage more than $45 million in government food service contracts across the western United States, supporting organizations such as the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, National Guard, and the Federal Aviation Administration. Knowing that our work helped feed the men and women who serve our country has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career.
I studied Culinary Arts and Food Service Management at Johnson & Wales University, and I’ve always believed that understanding both the culinary and business sides of food service provides a strong foundation for making sound decisions.
Today, as the Founder, Principal, and Vice President of California Mobile Kitchens, I oversee all aspects of the company, from strategic planning and customer relationships to operations and project execution. Every project presents unique challenges, and I enjoy working closely with our team and our customers to develop practical solutions that allow them to continue serving their communities without interruption.
What I’m most proud of isn’t the size of the projects we’ve completed—it’s the reputation we’ve built. I believe in answering the phone, doing what I say I’m going to do, and treating every customer like they’re our most important customer. That commitment has led to long-term relationships and repeat business throughout California and across the country. In my experience, trust isn’t built through marketing—it’s earned by consistently delivering on your promises.
For me, the greatest satisfaction comes from knowing that our work makes a real difference. Whether we’re supporting a school district, hospital, senior living community, restaurant, or government agency, we’re helping organizations continue serving meals to the people who depend on them every day. That’s a responsibility I take seriously, and it’s what continues to motivate me after more than three decades in this industry.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I believe the most important quality behind my success has been integrity. In business, your reputation is everything. I’ve always believed that if you say you’re going to do something, you do it. If there’s a problem, you communicate honestly, take responsibility, and work until it’s resolved.
I’ve also learned that success comes from being responsive and building strong relationships. Many of our customers come to us during stressful situations with tight deadlines and high expectations. Being available, answering the phone, listening to their concerns, and following through has helped us earn their trust and build long-term partnerships.
Another characteristic that’s been important is perseverance. Building a business isn’t always easy. There are challenges, unexpected obstacles, and setbacks along the way. I’ve learned to stay focused on finding solutions instead of dwelling on problems. Every challenge is an opportunity to improve, and that mindset has helped both me and California Mobile Kitchens continue to grow.
At the end of the day, I believe people do business with people they trust. If you consistently treat others with respect, keep your word, and work hard to exceed expectations, success will follow. Those principles have guided me throughout my career and continue to shape how I lead our company today.
Pricing:
- For a customized quote or to learn more, visit www.californiamobilekitchens.com or call (805) 459-1254.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.californiamobilekitchens.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/camobilekitchens
