ABOUT US
In 2011, our founder, Matt Basile was working in advertising in Toronto dreaming of one day opening a sandwich shop. Despite his best efforts to develop a business plan that a bank would fully embrace with a loan, his lack of experience ultimately left him without funding. It was in this moment that Matt used his work ethic and creativity to develop Fidel Gastro’s as a pop-up food company – taking his food and brand across the city to breweries, food markets, special events and every fun experience in the city that needed food.
Today, the company has come a long way from those humble beginnings – operating one of Toronto’s most recognizable food truck brands, and offering unique and creative catering for weddings, corporate functions, office and home catering or any event that needs memorable and tasty food.
MATT BASILE-
FOUNDER
Matt Basile is the founder of the Fidel Gastro's Street Food Company. In less than 10 years they went from underground sandwich popup to internationally recognized food brand. With a growing business of food trucks, festival booths and a massive catering division, Matt is always trying to be different in an industry steeped in tradition. Find out more about Matt here.
OUR TEAM
Meet the team ...
KYLA ZANARDI -
CO - FOUNDER
Kyla Zanardi left the world of academia to join a food revolution that started as delicious sandwiches and a folding table. Combining her passion for food and story telling via the lens, she also became an associate producer on the Rebel Without a Kitchen, where Matt’s journey to food truck glory was documented for two seasons. Since then, Kyla has launched her own digital branded content agency, Benson + Oak that produces client and talent facing content in the food and lifestyle space. Kyla is a sought-after food photographer with a number of cookbooks under her belt, including her and Matt’s cookbooks Street Food Diaries, and most recently Brunch Life. Find out more about our sister company and Kyla’s work here.
AMY EISNER-LEVINE-
EVENT MANAGER
Amy’s passion has always been food. Growing up she learned to bake and cook with her mom and grandmother and these became some of her fondest memories and planted the seeds for a future in the food business. Her MA thesis on food television and public health unknowingly created a framework for her future career. Amy has taken passion, her experience with start-up brands, product development, background in customer service and event coordination and implements all those attributes to make every event with Fidel Gastro’s unforgettable.
OUR TEAM
... that adds some salt to your pepper