Florida State Fair Advise

After spending 35 years on the road as an over the road trucker it's time for a new job.  I just ordered a new 8' x 20' food concession trailer and my menu items will be Gourmet Natural Casing Deep Fried Hot Dogs, New York, Chicago, and Mexican Style.  I will also have fresh curly fries, shaved ice and soda.  I'm jumping into this with both feet as our first fair will be the Florida State Fair in Feb, attendance of 500,000 people.  I have an application in for the South Florida Fair in West Palm Beach in Jan, but haven't got a contract yet.
 
I'm in Arizona, but don't let that fool you, my first 25 years of life where spent in CT with a steady diet of Rawley's, Dutches, and Jimmys hot dogs.  I'm used to good old Hummels, but I need to find a hot dog that I can get easily in many locations.  Does anyone have any suggestions?  Sysco has a natural casing in their Block & Barrel line.  I'd consider Boars Head but their distribution network is weak.  I will be needing daily deliveries to our site. 
  
Also does anyone have any advise on fresh curly fries, the best potatoes, proper prep, ect.
 
 
Any suggestions anyone has to offer will be listened to.
 
Thanks for the help.

Curly fries are a little more complicated vs. the standard french fry process.
 
First the equipment. A commercial quality spiral cutter. There are both manual an electric models available. Here are some examples...
 
 http://www.nemcofoodequip.com/Products/FoodPrepEquip/Default.aspx
 
Curly fries are battered/seasoned so a two-step process to blanch the potatoes in oil batter back into oil for finish. I do not have a recipe on-hand right now. It will require some homework. You have to decide on what type of seasoning (cajun for hot Old Bay etc.) and what batter to use. It will take some experimenting. They are popular but more to the process.
 
 

I don't have any advise for you but I would like to buy a dog from you at the Fl state fair. What's your place going to be called?

If this is the fair in Tampa I'll buy one or two also---if it is not cancel my order.

Tampa, I got three dogs waiting for you guys.

Harley, if you score the gig in WPB, let me know.. The fairgrounds are only like 10 or 15 minutes away from me... (I'm in Downtown WPB).  Best of luck there!

Harley, been doing fries for 10 years or so. Get your potatoes from a food distributor, Idahos. Do not buy from a grocery store, espesciley Wal-Mart. Use the grocery store only in case of emergency. Use Idaho #1, I use 90 counts, 2 to an order, $5.00.
CC mentioned a 2 step process using batter. Never seen them. I cut and fry, don`t have time to batter them. I have a condiment table out front, I let customer put whatever seasoning they want on them. Katsup available. I have ribbon fry cutter, curly fry cutter, and tater on a stick cutter. By far the best product out of the 3 is the ribbon fry. Its my bread and butter.
You in Az.? I`m in New Mexico, come by and pick me up, I`ll go to Florida with you!

Wish you the best of luck.

Batter adds a bit~o~spice that your customer can add himself if he wants it, like mixed with yogurt or directly from a shaker. Personally, it turns me off.

FriedTater
I have ribbon tater on a stick cutter

What is a tater on a stick cutter. Can we see a picture of the product and the cutter?
Thanks
Jack

Thumanns & Kayem both have Distribution in
Tampa area.
Boars Head also has good distribution here.

Mike

Dr of BBQ I'm surprised you haven't seen these at fairs recently...they're becoming pretty popular...this isn't a commercial version but it will give you an idea. They cut a whole potato into a long ribbon strip which is then skewered and fried making a large potato chip:
http://www.webstaurantsto...utter/59155050ANR.html


Here's how they look at the fairs:
http://www.dhruvplanet.co...tato-tornado-fries.jpg


I guess they call them Tornado Fries or the Tornado Potato:
http://www.seriouseats.co...wood-boardwalk-nj.html

EatingTheRoad


Dr of BBQ I'm surprised you haven't seen these at fairs recently..

Here's how they look at the fairs:

Heck when I'm doing an event I'm working, so I don't get out to look at what other vendors are doing pretty cool though.
Thanks
Jack

After a little bit of digging, here is a YouTube video of the whole commercial process at a Tornado Fries booth:
http://www.youtube.com/wa...sm9Fro&feature=fvw

That spiral oversexed potato chip on a stick is pretty neat! Never seen one myself...

Harley - I will definitely be at the South Florida Fair in WPB in Jan. I am REALLY hoping you come to that fair too because my 3 yr old son loves hot dogs and we all would love to meet you. Let me know if you get accepted to that one too!

Never seen battered fries. Arby's has them. They are not uncommon.
 
 http://fastfoodcritic.com/fast-food-reviews/curly-fries-from-arbys/
 
Now I can go have a cocktail for using Arby's as a point about anything related to food. 
 

You needed an excuse?
 
Interesting.

If ever there was a reason to have a good excuse to break into the spirits at  an early hour....blaming Arby's is a good one.

FriedTater


I have ribbon fry cutter, curly fry cutter, and tater on a stick cutter. By far the best product out of the 3 is the ribbon fry. Its my bread and butter.

Is the tater on a stick, or tornado potato basically the same thing as Ribbon Fries? As far as I can see  the only difference is Ribbon Fries are served in a pile on a plate. And they would be much easier to do, faster and you don't have to buy sticks? Am I right here? Trying to learn because I'm going to do something like this for my events next summer. And like any good vendor I want low cost, good product, and great sales. LOL

FT are you what are you using equipment wise (cutter) ?
http://www.webstaurantstore.com/nemco-55050an-r-ribbon-french-fry-cutter/59155050ANR.html
 
Or the Gold Medal motorized 300 RPM spiral fry cutter.
 
http://www.concessionstan.../s.nl/it.A/id.10954/.f

Or  The Nemco Table Mount Powerkut Ribbon Fry
http://www.zesco.com/prod...mp;PGroupID=ZP99150002


Or this  Ribbon Cutter using a cordless drill

http://cgi.ebay.com/RIBBO..._0?hash=item3a55c49f66

CCinNJ


Never seen battered fries. Arby's has them. They are not uncommon.
 
 http://fastfoodcritic.com/fast-food-reviews/curly-fries-from-arbys/
 
Now I can go have a cocktail for using Arby's as a point about anything related to food. 
 

Who said that? I never mentioned battered fries. Besides I'm the Dr of BBQ not the Dr of Potatoes.
LMAO

We don't serve no stinking potatoes!

Oops edit that we serve "The Fat Jack Potato" I forgot.

WOW.. you have your work cut out for yourself, those events are right around the corner, and your like a week away....AND you have just ordered your trailer?  How does that work if you come from another state. Getting legal here takes about 2-3 months, do you not have to be inspected here, or are you under the fairs umbrella ? 
We like Sams all beef dogs, I love them, I can eat one a day.

Tater never saw them battered.
 
I never saw a tornado potato before now.
 
 
 
 

Boars Head definately had good stuff. Although they did'nt seem to want to deal with a little guy like us.. I called the distributor a few times, no call back.
I also heard though the grape vine..mind you all hear say....that they give the proprietor an interview before you can sell their product....too much for me personally..if that is true...
We found a great little meat company out of Alabama...we serve hormel..very very delicious products .I LOVE MY FOOD.. I hate it when we have to leave the kitchen at events, I am hungry..LOL

You better be on your game at the Florida State Fair. I go every year because its going on while I'm at the IISA trade Show It draws all the big dawgs with the $150,000 trailers. They have been doing it for years and have the best spots. It will all depend on your spot there. Who did you order your trailer from.  Post pictures of your trailer when you get them so I'll know who to buy my lunch from, Good Luck  

Dr. the tater on  a stick and tornado tater basically the same thing. Check out
http://www.twistedchips.com
My machine came from them, at the time couldn`t find one in the states. These come from the Netherlands. Fed-Ex 4 days from there to New Mexico. Go figure. Can`t get anything from Santa Fe that fast!
I purchased 1/4" x 14" wooden sticks from some outfit out of Florida. I have found that by having the sticks in the potatoes before going to an event is a labor saver.
And yes, the ribbon fries cook faster as they are much thinner than the tornada fries. Its the uniqueness that appeals to people, just as the Mexican Funnel Cake. (google that for a sight to see!) Something next I`m working on.

I like the plantain spin on the concept.

Do you suppose Wiggle Chips are the same food item with a different name?


http://images.google.com/...3Den%26sa%3DX%26um%3D1

Dr of BBQ, yeah they're pretty much the same except they don't skewer them. It's the potato ribbon cut and deep-fried...apparently their thing is "we slice 'em, you spice 'em."

http://www.latenitels.com...93c02a79&mode=view        

I  wonder what the hell is in that backpack.
 
Strapped up like he is hauling gold bricks at the Fair.
 
Lotus chips would be attractive and would  not require a stick.