The Story Behind the Beignets

If you know Fort Worth food trucks, you know the Beignet Bus. It’s a charming, green and white converted school bus that serves up the best beignets in the Metroplex. You may be familiar with their perfectly golden squares dusted in powdered sugar that are always served with a smile. But how familiar are you with the story of the Beignet Bus?

As a Southern California native, I got to discover all the things Fort Worth had to offer when I started my college career at Texas Christian University. My favorite? Finding a Texas version of Cafe Du Monde in the middle of campus during my first week of school. Ever since, I have sought every opportunity to get my hands on their beignets. Now, as a senior, my love for the Beignet Bus is almost nostalgic.

Toby Tindall, owner of the Beignet Bus, is a fourth-generation restauranter. After serving four years in the United States Navy, he decided that he wanted to go back to doing what he loved: being a chef. Tindall humbly boasts an impressive 40-year career in the restaurant industry. He served as the executive chef for the Hilton and Ashton Hotels in downtown Fort Worth. Simultaneously. Juggling the demands of large banquets with restaurant diners was his forte, but his family was more important than the kitchen.

“I’m doing all of these things at once, two restaurants, an executive lounge, banquets… all while trying to navigate raising three little kids pretty much on my own [after a divorce],” Tindall recalls. He eventually met his now-wife, Rachel, who gladly stepped in as a mother figure for his children. Finally, he decided he would take a break from the restaurant business to spend more time with his family.

photo credit: Emma Dye

Tindall’s decision opened his eyes to the sobering reality of mental illness. He saw his two oldest daughters struggling after his divorce from their mother. Tindall’s oldest daughter lost her battle with depression, dying in 2016.

“It took a long time… for me to get myself back together,” Tindall said. “We’re still hurting.”

Tindall went back into the restaurant business, consulting for several local restaurants to get himself back into the game and to keep himself busy, but he knew it wouldn’t be permanent. He did know that he didn’t want to be an executive chef anymore.

“I’d wanted to own a food truck for a long time. I was looking on Craigslist one day and I saw this little bus that I liked, so I bought it.”

Tindall bought the Bus, painted it to his liking, and let family trips to Louisiana be the inspiration for the menu. In 2016, the Beignet Bus was born. As a career chef, he wanted to do something unique. The Beignet Bus is the only bus in the world selling beignets. Which, by the laws of default and of my personal bias, also makes it the best.

Running a food truck isn’t as easy as it looks. Every time you see Toby Tindall’s warm, inviting smile at the window, you’re only seeing a fraction of what goes into running the business.

“Ten percent of the time is seeing people at the window, the other 90% is everything else. It’s a one-man show. I’m the mechanic, electrician, cook, you name it,” Tindall said. “And I do it because I love it.”

Photo courtesy of the Beignet Bus

The story of the Beignet Bus is a prime example of a parent’s love. In the face of indescribable loss, Tindall found a way to lift himself and his family up. He started something that would allow him to spend more time with his family, while pouring his heart into creating a business that blankets its customers with love and joy. His daughters now work on the bus with him, learning the ins and outs of a family-owned business and the dedication it takes to be successful.

“If you put the passion in, it comes back even stronger.”

Fort Worth is a special place. Coming here from 1,200 miles away was supposed to be a scary thing, but instead, it has been the best decision I’ve ever made. I could say that TCU has been the main reason for this, but I don’t think that that’s entirely true. It’s businesses like the Beignet Bus, with gripping stories and a deep love for the community, that made Fort Worth go from the place I go to college to the place I call home.

Emma Dye is a student in Sarah Angle’s feature writing class at TCU.