Danielle Lynch 
When Amanda and Steve DiPasquale created Amanda’s Bananas, they did not realize how quickly it would become a Hoboken staple. Now, since Pier 13 is officially open for the season, Amanda Bananas can be found serving the Mile Square, as well as making appearances at different events, businesses, and schools. This indulgence started as a healthy alternative to ice cream and soon grew into what we all know and love — Amanda Bananas. Hoboken Girl recently caught up with Steve + Amanda to learn about how they got started and their journey in the food truck business. Read on to learn all about Amanda Bananas, serving dairy-free + gluten-free ice cream down at Pier 13.
How They Got Started
It was July 4th, 2012 when Steve and Amanda first started serving Amanda Bananas. “We were at Pier 13, when the fireworks were still on this side of the Hudson, serving ice cream in a pop-up tent,” explained Amanda. Their iconic truck was not yet ready, so they rented all of the equipment and set up shop right there on the pier. It was all hands on deck — friends and family helped out all day, and it was a huge success.
As to where the idea came from, it came from Amanda herself. Growing up, her grandmother would always freeze bananas and turn them into ice cream, and Amanda would always indulge in this delicious treat.
“I have been pretty much dairy-free for a long time now, so this is something I can eat,” she said. As for Steve, he has been in the restaurant business for many years before opening up shop. He was also the owner of Nine, a trendy nightclub in Hoboken, which was where The Cuban now stands. Steve made the transition out of nightlife just as food trucks were gaining popularity.
See More: How Much Does it *Actually* Cost to Have a Night out in Hoboken?
What They Serve
Amanda Bananas hand makes its own dairy-free, 100% fruit ice cream (sans the cream). The process for creating banana ice cream is not a simple one. Bananas must be peeled, frozen, and juiced properly to create the perfect cup. Besides bananas, the food truck also offers other flavor options such as the mango pineapple, which is a half serving of each.
“What sets us apart is that we do not add anything to your ice cream; it’s just bananas,” the owners explained. They offer a huge selection of treats that even accommodate allergies. Plus, each fruit has its own juicer to avoid cross-contamination for those with allergies.
While it is difficult to choose our favorite menu item, Amanda and Steve agree that their best-selling flavor is the banana cream pie, which includes banana ice cream, crushed graham crackers, hazelnut spread, and whipped cream. Another favorite is the mango pineapple soft serve, which puts a twist on the typical ice cream and is made by freezing and juicing both mangos and pineapples. That also has different variants, such as the Island Crunch (which includes granola, coconut, and honey) and the Tropical Berry (with strawberries, blueberries, and coconut).
There are just so many different choices, and the truck allows diners the option to build their own ice cream with a ton of topping choices. Check out its full menu for the delicious options.
The Business
Owning a food truck is a lot of hard work. Steve shared with HG that he wakes up at 5:00 AM to get the truck ready, and FYI: it’s not just a quick pull-up and plug-in process. The team has a commissary where they do all of their juicing and prep work. Then, the food is brought to the truck, where it is served to the public. Amanda, who used to be a math teacher, loves her position as the face of the company, and can be found in the truck taking orders and serving guests.
“When people come to the window and ask if I am Amanda, I say yes. They are always shocked that it’s me.” Steve deals with all of the business aspects, from ordering to payroll to permits and everything else in between. “I had to learn to do so many different things, [and] even tow a trailer,” Steve told us.
Working with fresh fruits also poses an enormous challenge. They have the product-ordering process down to a science now, but in the beginning, it was tough. Over the years, Steve and Amanda have learned how to properly prep and how much fruit and toppings to order for their truck. “In one week, we go through 50 cases of bananas. Each case weighs 40 pounds each,” Steve shared. Owning a food truck as successful as Amanda Bananas is definitely a labor of love, but it’s something that they both enjoy doing together.
Amanda Bananas’ International Trips
In 2019, Steve and Amanda were asked to travel to Osaka, Japan, to participate in the Hankyu World Fair, where they set up a pop-up Amanda Bananas shop. They set up shop for two weeks in Japan and had an incredible experience sharing their ice cream with the people of Japan. It was a huge hit, too. (And we aren’t surprised.)
Amanda Bananas + Its Hoboken Family
Steve and Amanda know that Amanda Bananas is a lot more than serving up awesome ice cream. It’s the family and sense of community that comes along with owning a local food truck. “The best part of it all is seeing families grow up right in front of us,” Amanda told us. “We see a lot of our guests once, even twice a day. It’s very humbling to have that.”
Everyone in Hoboken knows of Amanda Bananas and enjoys the camaraderie and friendships that come with this adventure. Amanda even shared a story of a husband and wife who have been longtime guests of the truck.
“They were expecting a baby, and Amanda knew she was due any day. When we didn’t see them for a few days, we knew that they had the baby. A few days later, the two showed up to the truck with their newborn and it was a beautiful thing — that’s what you get when you are part of the family.”
Location + Hours
During the warmer seasons, Amanda Bananas can be found at its home site, Pier 13. During the week, it is there from 4:00 PM to close, and on weekends from 11:00 AM to close. It is also available for hire during the day for different corporate, school, or other private events throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut, so reach out to them if you are interested in booking the truck for your next party. It can also be found at different festivals and events all over the map. For more information, visit its website or Instagram @amandabananasnj.
See More: 10 Independently-Owned Ice Cream Shops in the Montclair Area
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