As hot dog cart operators, we MUST differentiate ourselves from the one dollar nasty green roller grill hot dogs from the gas station down the block. Here’s another great way to do just that.
Unique and tasty condiments will set you apart and allow you to charge more for your food. The toppings that we hot doggers have available today are mind boggling. I’ve seen everything from cream cheese to mac and cheese used as a topping for hot dogs, but today I’m going to share with you one of my favorites…
There’s more to relish than just pickles. Everyone has seen pickle relish, right? But have you ever tried CORN relish? It’s wundah-ful!
Corn relish has the sweet flavor of yellow corn in a sugar/vinegar base, punctuated by bits of green and/or red pepper, cucumber, and onion. It goes great with the savory taste of most meats – including all beef hot dogs!
Here is a Corn Relish recipe from AllRecipes.com if you want to experiment with making your own: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/21668/corn-relish-ii/. Or, there are a bunch to choose from on Amazon. Click here.
My favorite brand of corn relish was Aunt Nellies. Unfortunateley it is no longer available but Nance’s makes a corn relish that is very similar, and you can find it in many Walmart stores. Go buy a jar and try it out.
So there you go slingers, another way for you to stand out from the crowd.
Let me know what kinds of unique condiments you are using at your cart in the comments section below!
-Steve
top photo credit: picture of the Ohioana Dog from Dirty Franks in Columbus OH taken by swampkitty on flickr
Hi Steve, I have a small hotdog cart that I run during the summer months. It is a creative mobile systems model 325 cart. I sell a Nathan’s all beef dog and a Glazier hotdog, it’s a red snapper dog. I have the basic hotdog with relish and onions on it. I have a cheese dog ,a kraut dog and a hot dog with onions and Michigan sauce on it.I sell bag chips and water and soda in the can. I do alright but I am looking for something else to add to my cart that I could offer that I could spruce my cart up with. I don’t want to add a grill to my cart. I like to just stay plain and simple. I am retired and do this 3 days a week. Let me know if you have any ideas. Thanks, John Rose
It sounds like your food offerings are fine. Instead of going to all the work of adding more foods, you should consider adding what I call “signature” hot dogs to your menu. For example instead of just selling “a hot dog with onions and Michigan sauce”, you should name it something creative like “The Detroit Bomber” and put it on your menu board along with a picture. This is one way to take what you are already selling and make it extra special through the magic of marketing.
Aye matey !! Keepin it simple.
Been sayin that fer years !
Arrrr har har har !!
1St Mate Jim.
What ya hungry for when you don`t know what your hungry for?Something on a dog!!
Right on Dennis!
I have 2 carts on a large medical college in Ga. I also sell pulled pork BBQ sandwiches A big seller for the last year is a Big Pig! A quarter lb. beef hot dog with pulled pork on top BBQ sauce and Coke slaw they love them .
Big Pig! Awesome!
Hi Steve,
When I had Frank’s Franks at Portland Head Light in Maine I had four signature hotdogs that sold well at $4.00. All my hotdogs were Hebew National all beef on whole grain buns. People NOTICED the difference and we’re happy to eat at my stand. One of those specialty dogs was The Windjammer: The toppings were a 50/50 mix of the Nance’s corn relish and Newman’s Own Peach Salsa and then topped with the French’s onion ring crispies. It was a huepge seller. So was my Mac N Cheese dog. Remember when we used to cut up hotdogs in the Mac and cheese? I used the Mac and cheese as a topping. Theses were great hotdogs and made people smile. I will not share the others I made because I may build another cart and start slinging again down here in Arizona…
The Windjammer – I love it! Way to go Frank! Let me know if you go to AZ. I get down that way now and again…
My claim to fame,so to speak, is my chili and barbecue onions! Simmer the onions of your choice in the barbecue sauce of your choice. Yummy over chili or on a chili cheese!
Sounds good!
For those who do pulled pork, try thie one out for size….the Boss Hawg dog! It’s a brat topped with grilled ham, bacon, and pulled pork! It has all the pork you could ever want on a bun and it is scrumdeli-ishous! You have the choice to add slaw, onions or Bbq sauce but it’s pretty good just the way it is.
Right on Stevie! Sounds great!
franks Frank’s…Where are you in Arizona? I’m looking at retiring in Lake Havasu and planning to do a cart for retirement fun.
Fer me to offer corn relish it would have to be fresh in season corn.
Thar be a local farm that has great stuff matey.
Nothin like fresh & local !!
Sound tasty, me mouth be waterin !!
1St Mate Jim.
Taint nuthin’ like fresh, whether it be corn yer galley or a breeze in yer mains’l. Arrr!