Hi Steve,
I live in a very small rural area. Our McDonald’s is in a gas station. We have one grocery store, Piggly Wiggly. I have owned a restaurant for many years, but our library needed to expand and had to take my building to do so. Now, I am building a small food truck.
I first had to get out of restaurant mode, and begin to sell food truck mode. I have operated my truck a few times, and see a lot of things I have done incorrectly. Never sold hot dogs, nachos and cheese or such. Now I see the need and the market. (my restaurant was buffet style, older crowd.) There are no trucks in our area, or the 2 surrounding towns.
I have done the taste test with dogs, as you did, have decided on the one. How did you keep your buns? If I sell a burger, I grill my bun. That does not seem right for a hot dog. Remembering that this area thinks biscuits and gravy are the best food, (I am a yankee, and think donuts are a food group) they seem to like chili and cole slaw best on dogs. Are your buns kept warm? wow, lots of chatter for one question thanking in advance.
Love your blog, Janice
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Hi Janice,
First let me congratulate you on persevering in the face of adversity! A lot of people would have given up, but the fact that you are adapting and moving forward speaks volumes about your ability to succeed.
As for buns, I keep mine frozen in a deep freezer. They last a long time. I take them out of the freezer an hour before I head out so they can thaw.
On my cart I steam my buns, but if you have a big flat top griddle in your truck you could butter them and grill them face down. Toasted buns are really tasty. When I was a kid living in West Virginia that is how all the local diners served their hot dogs. I loved them!
Yes, chili and slaw are popular on hot dogs down south. Give them what they want!
If you want to get a lot of word of mouth advertising, put your yankee tastes to the test… how about a donut dog? Take a maple long john, slit it down the middle, and use it as a hot dog bun. Top it with cream cheese. Do you think the whole town would be talking about it? You bet they would.
Even if you don’t sell many donut dogs, just having it on your menu sets you apart from everyone else and will get you lots of attention and new customers.
Best of luck Janice!
-Steve
HDP
P. S. Everything you need to know about selling hot dogs is available here.
If you get up early, sell biscuits and gravy.
I sell biscuits and sausage gravy & breakfast Burritos in the morning, then start Hotdogs at 9:30 – 10:00.
Aye matey !
A donut dog with baked beans be soundin good to me.
Try Mc n cheese with bacon bits. One of me own favorites.
Mix in some new to the area & make it your own!
Best O luck matey !!
Har har har !!
1St Mate Jim
(Retired)
Famous Vinnie told me when I bought my first hot dog cart from him, it wasn’t up to me to force customers to buy what I wanted to sell: “If crap sells, sell crap” was his NYC way of putting it.
Famous Jonny
Northern California
Awesome.
I might have to try that donut dog. That made my mouth water…
that idea sounds great,i am going to try that.want would you charge for that?
Hey good luck that do sound good…
Why not put the dog in a circle, freeze, then after freezing solid, dip in batter and deep fry
till done and have a hot dog filled donut!! Of, course various toppings on top/bottom?
Just a thought. “Sell em’ all”
Jerry
dogs on the run
That is creative thinking right there! Might take a little work to refine the concept, but I like it!
This is so useful and I’m so excited to eat a hot dog donut!!