Hey Steve,
How important do you think it is to have a grill with a portable cart? Do you personally use or have used a grill? If so, why or why not?
Thank you,
Abebe K.
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Hi Abeba,
I think of a grill as an accessory. You don’t have to have one but it gives you more options.
A grill is great for putting char marks on the hot dog and tightening up the skin. You can also grill bacon if your local health codes allow it.
Another benefit is the ability to prepare grilled onions. Put a skillet on the grill, heat up a small quantity of oil and add your chopped onions. Put a splash of Dr. Pepper in the pan about half way through and let the heat cook it off. The sugar in the soda will carmelize the onions and add a nice sweet flavor. Yum!
The biggest benefit of a grill is the smell it creates. The aroma of the hot dogs, bacon and onions will draw folks in like crazy. The sense of smell is a powerful trigger.
I don’t have a grill on my E-Z Built hot dog cart but I do set up a small camp stove and use it to grill onions in a skillet.
I would never trade my steam table for a grill. If you have to choose between one or the other, go with the steamer. A grill by itself will dry out your dogs really quickly and you’ll throw a lot of them away. If you want to use a grill, grill the hot dogs for a minute or two then throw them in your steamer where you can hot hold them for a long time.
The only situation I can think of where a grill would be an absolute necessity is in certain geographical areas. There are places where the locals expect hot dogs to be grilled. Period.
I always say “Give ’em what they want.”
It is possible to educate folks to a new taste sensation but it takes time and effort. I did this when I brought Chicago Style hot dogs to rural Missouri ten years ago. At first people thought it was weird, putting all those vegetables on a hot dog.
But after they tasted it they were hooked. Still, it took a while for word of mouth to spread and demand to build. But build it did!
One of my students in Michigan takes grilling to the next level. She really puts on a show for the customers and delivers an experience that gets folks talking about her. Click here to see what Marge is doing to make her hot dog cart unique!
What do you say slingers? Are you grilling? If so, do you have any creative tips or tricks that you can share with us? Let us know in the comments.
-Steve
We grill here in downtown Pittsburgh . The customers prefer it. Like you said, give them what they want.
Indeed.
I use the flat top grill. The customers like it better. It also gives me time to get to know the regular customers. I tried to boils but it did not seem to work as well with the customers.
Flat tops are nice!
grills are nice. but not all health depts. allow them.
they are great for finishing up your dogs,
also to attract buyers also,
just grill some onions and green peppers on it,
and the smell with bring them to you like a rat smelling cheese.
Yep.
I steam my dogs but use crock pots when I’m working horse shows for my pulled pork and pork and beans.
The disadvantage to grilling is that the dogs don’t seem to get cooked uniformly like the do in steam pans and tend to be a little drier.
Also…you can’t get that flavor that the dogs get simmering in the juices…umm umm !
Grill ’em in your backyard for the neighbors and relatives and ‘steam’ ’em for your paying customers…lol !
Great advice Robert!
I’ve tried both – Ole’ School Dirty Water Cooking is now the preferred method for our customers.
Grilling just added “something else to clean” to our business model of Simplicity….
Good Luck….
I have a friend who helped me install a smaller grill on my cart last year , along with a larger one The top burner, mostly for boiling water, but also use frying pans for grilling brats and onions Late @ night, onions are a magnet, the smell carrys in the thin night air, I have been told before by customers for up to four blocks! Now late @ night the brats sell equal to the hot dogs! So if you can get away with it, a good grill is a real selling point, be it selling the hot dogs @ night, or in the day time Be sure to check out the recipe on internet for the official pushcart onion recipe form New York People can not get enough of these onions! Happy hot dogging, whether you griil them or boil them! Put on a hot dog show they will not forget!
Thanks Gary.
i like having a grill, but most of my dogs where made in the steamer. I do use the grill for brats and polish or links. But most people just want a hot dog. plus steaming them makes them plump and they appear much larger than a grilled dog, also if your in a really high traffic area, a grill cannot keep up with a steamer for quantity of dogs made per hour. not even close.
Right on Beau. Still want to interview you. I’ll be in touch.
At the D&P Dog pound we definately use the flat top grill to tighten the steamed dogs and draw folks in. I also put onions on the grill along with an occational squeeze of mustard. Carmalized onions is also a good calling card. My set-ups are for two auctioneers with many repeat customers. We set up about twice a week as we enjoy the fun part of meeting folks and also the extra “play funds” it brings in. The cart has been a good release for my wife and I as she is once retired and myself twice retired. Oh and did I mention garlic and basil infused canola oil!!!!! like they say it only cost a little more to go first class. LOL
Sparky T
Nice Sparky!
I think steam is better and dogs are not exposed to the elements like grilled dogs. You can prepare more in steam table and maintain constant heat. The grill makes a greasy mess to clean.
In LA County they are requiring carts to have grills, which is unfair to those who have carts.
I put my onions in a little water and some butter add a little celery salt, in one compartment of my steamer with a lid that has a opening for a spoon, it let’s the smell out, works great
I love that! Steamed onions!
I only boil my dogs (dirty water dogs) never have had someone ask for something special helps i’m the “only game in town” and at some events-
i have the captive buyers that way!!
“sell em’ all”
Sell ’em all Jerry!
I heat my meat in the “dirty water” and after my customer orders I ask if they would like me to grill it. It takes usually less than a minute to give it a good searing.
It always sizzles putting the wet dog on the grill and boy does it smell good!
My polish can go either way as they have the N/C. The Louisiana hot links always get grilled though because they turn a bright red when then get grilled and when they pop a big puff of smoke comes out of the grill making everyones mouth water.
Don’t forget the carmalized onions, crispy bacon, toasted buns and
split and grilled dogs.
The Weber Q1000 is the best because it has a cast iron grate and is a real fuel miser.
It now comes with a split grate so that you can have a griddle top as well.
Grills ROCK!
You can see Dale in action is our latest training video series, “A Day at the Hot Dog Cart” included with your Premium Membership. Dale, YOU rock!!!