Serving Up Fresh Eats Anywhere: How Food Trailers and Mobile Kitchens Bring Gourmet Food Trucks to Remote Places Like Gorge Harbour

On a crisp autumn afternoon, the team at Apollo Custom Manufacturing picked up a call that would set something special in motion. The new owners of Gorge Harbour Marine Resort, perched on the remote and rugged beauty of Whaletown, BC, were facing a challenge: how could they provide top-notch food service to the steady stream of guests arriving at their island retreat—without leaving a mark on the landscape that drew everyone there in the first place?

Apollo Custom Manufacturing thrives on these sorts of challenges. Right away, our team started sketching out ideas and mapping out possibilities. What emerged was a plan for a 22-foot, custom-built food trailer designed from the wheels up to deliver restaurant-quality meals in even the most out-of-the-way locations. This wasn’t just any trailer, either—it would house a full commercial kitchen, complete with a hefty griddle, a four-burner cooktop and a convection oven perfect for baking fresh, golden loaves every morning. Shelving was planned for storing the freshest local ingredients, from vegetables pulled from nearby farms to seafood caught just off the island’s coast.

But it wasn’t just about the equipment or the size of the kitchen. The real magic of this trailer is what happens when the kitchen staff gets to work. Unlike a fixed menu that never changes, the food at Gorge Harbour’s new trailer is always a reflection of what’s available—what’s in season, what’s just been caught, and what’s growing nearby. Each day brings something new, making every meal a fresh experience and a testament to the creativity of the chefs.

For the folks on Cortes Island, preserving the natural character of their surroundings is more than just a good idea—it’s the only way to do business. Building a permanent restaurant might have brought more concrete, more disruption, and more long-term environmental impact than anyone wanted. By choosing a food trailer instead, the resort’s owners found a way to serve their guests without compromising the island’s quiet charm. The trailer can move wherever it’s needed, rolling into place for major events or busy weekends and tucking away when the island returns to its off-season calm.

There’s another benefit too: flexibility. Running a food trailer means you’re not tied to a long lease or the year-round costs of a brick-and-mortar restaurant. Staff can work the busiest seasons, then pursue other interests or recharge during the quieter months. The business itself can evolve, experimenting with new menu ideas, trying out different locations, and responding to the rhythms of the island community.

For Gorge Harbour Marine Resort, working with Apollo Custom Manufacturing wasn’t just about getting a kitchen on wheels—it was about finding a food service solution that fit the spirit of the island and the needs of the people who love it. And for the guests arriving by boat, kayak, or ferry, it means that even in the middle of nowhere, a great meal is always just a few steps away.