The Bumbling Bee on ‘Shark Tank’: What is the cost, who are the founders and how to order from the funky menu?
Vegan food on your mind? Get set to be introduced to a brand new restaurant on ‘Shark Tank’ that offers a healthy vegan fare packaged like junk food. In fact, it is 100% plant-based comfort food! A mother and daughter duo — Cassandra Ayala and India — from Virginia Beach, Virginia, proves vegan food doesn't have to be boring or non-indulgent. Flaunting The Bumbling Bee experience, the brand says on its official website: “Open your mind; your body and palate will thank you...”
Shedding light on how it has been created with “kindness and flavor” the website goes to reveal the journey of the brand: “What started as a small pop-up food truck is now our sole project. We pride ourselves in creating amazing burgers, tacos, and bbq DRIPPING with flavor.”
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What is The Bumbling Bee?
What started as a food truck in Virginia Beach soon blossomed into a restaurant and opened a new branch in Boulder, Colorado. Currently, the Bumbling Bee Vegan Junk Food & Burger Bar operates as a food truck in Virginia Beach and as a brick and mortar establishment in Boulder, Colorado. On its menu, the restaurant has a number of vegan options, including overstuffed burgers, delicious milkshakes, Crispy-Fried Brussel Sprouts, a Mother Clucker chickun sandwich and Fried Mac Balls.
The restaurant is located at 1650 General Booth Blvd. Even after opening their restaurants, the brand continued to run the food trucks named Dixie and Daisy.
Who are the founders?
Cassandra Ayala and India Ayala teamed up to start their food business and they also got Cassandra’s two other children, Olivia and Lexie, to lend a hand. Before starting her own venture, Cassandra was in the field of real estate for over 25 years. In 2011, she decided to step away and live her dream. Back then, India was a culinary student and she decided to jump into the wagon to help her mum.
Why did they go vegan? Cassandra was surprised that both of her children vegans and hence, decided to make it a vegan food business. Opening up about how ‘Shark Tank’ helped them, the two said, “It really kind of gave us the energizing fun factor that we really needed to keep us going. Because that was the height of COVID.”
“We talked about the Mother Clucker, the What the Cluck, and the One Hot Motherclucker,” Ayala said. “And dealing weeds, of course.”
What is the cost?
Several visitors have bombarded their page with positive reviews. “So much to say about this place. My husband and I loved it! He got the burger and fries and I ordered the chick-in sandwich with sweet potato tots. Plus milkshakes! EVERYTHING was delish! Can’t wait to come back!” one post read.
Another said, “The food truck is always a treat to go visit. Always grateful when they come close to home! The staff is amazing and kind. And the food is absolutely delicious. It’s hard to pick a favorite!”
If you're looking for the menu, here's where your search ends. Moreover, The Bumbling Bee can also arrange the Food Truck at your location if you want a personalized experience.
Where is The Bumbling Bee now?
In early 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world, The Bumbling Bee had to stop operations. They then started takeaways and also innovatively began a scheme where customers could pre-pay for meals that were later delivered to the needy.
The shutdown did lead to some losses but The Bumbling Bee was back in the biz by July 2020. The year proved to be fruitful for them and they clinched quite a few trophies in the food world, including the Best New Restaurant (Silver) in 2020’s Best of Boulder County awards. Not just that, The Bumbling Bee also won write-ins in the categories of Best Vegetarian-friendly Restaurant and Best Veggie Burger in 2020.
Talking about their expectations from 'Shark Tank', Ayala said, “I am in Boulder, Colorado. I’m in Boulder because I am the burger flipper right now,” adding, “I’d love to be in Virginia Beach with India, whom I taped it with. But I am in Boulder with Olivia, and we’re excited about seeing it. But I have to flip burgers when it’s on.”
Who will steal the deal?
It seems Barbara Corcoran might have inspired the founders a little too much. A post on their Instagram account reads: “Always considered the underdog shark but underneath is a powerful brilliant woman! She is a killer match for the Bumbling Bee Vegan Junk Food: Boulder, CO & The Bumbling Bee Va Beach family!!”
It continues, “Barbara is already rolling in the food truck world with her investment of the amazing Cousins Maine Lobster trucks & franchises in her portfolio! 🦞 Dixie & Daisy - The Bumbling Bees food trucks - are right up her ally! She is also a maven of incubation for the expansion of quick-serve restaurants - this is definitely in her wheelhouse!! Have I given too much away!?” Nonetheless, it seems like Mark Cuban could be the one who cracks the deal. What do you think?
‘Shark Tank’ Season 12 Episode 9 returned to ABC after the winter break on January 8, 2021, at 8 pm ET. Catch the latest episode featuring products like Jiggy Puzzles, The Scrubbie, The Bumbling Bee and XTorch on April 23, 2021, from 8 pm ET to 9 pm ET.
Missed an episode? Been wanting to catch up? Episodes can also be viewed the next day on demand and on Hulu. Not just that, you can also watch old seasons and episodes on Amazon Prime Video and iTunes.
