Hot Dogs & Italian Beef

Today, I was granted a license to vend Chicago style Italian beef sandwiches from my hot dog cart. This will be a first. I've never seen it done. My cart has the capacity and equipment to vend both dogs and beef. I'm on the hunt for the finest Chicago Italian beef, bread, and giardiniera. Taste and authenticity will be absolutely correct. I'm also licensed to sell hot corned beef and pastrasmi. If and when I ever sell corned beef/pastrami, it will be a Vienna Beef sandwich similar to Manny's or Jake's.

CSD
Born in Chicago
Raised in Chicago
Moved to Wisconsin
Selling Vienna Beef hot dogs & Polish
Selling Chicago style Italian beef at Prime Outlets Mall on I94 & HWY165 in Pleasant Prairie, WI as of 7/2

Congrats! I expect to be first in line the day you begin

More congrats. Sounds like my kind of hot dog cart. I never realized you had to be licensed by specific food types. Post some photos of the finished goods when you are ready to start serving them. I can't get to Chicago easily, but I can DOL (drool on line).

The Wisconsin health codes mandate meats be served from a cart be pre cooked and pre sliced. Italian beef, corned beef, and pastrami are available in the foodservice industry raw, pre cooked, and pre cooked and sliced. The meats are available fresh or frozen. I'll purchase Italian beef and gravy fresh directly from the manufacturer. I've always purchased my hot dogs and Polish, fresh directly from Vienna Beef. I'll be meeting with reps from Scala's Preferred Beef, Vienna Beef, and some other Chicago meat purveyors next month. I require a thin sliced or shaved beef that's not fatty, stringy, or grizzly. Texture must be soft and melt in your mouth.

CSD

Hi,
CSD I am glad to know there are operators out there that put the quality aspect of of they're food before anything else. I wish there were more like you. Oh, I checked into Vienna Beef here. On a Wholesale basis, I just can't afford to sell them. It is kind of a package deal here. You have to buy ALL of your products from Vienna to get a good rate on the hot dogs themselves. For the dogs alone I was quoted .51 per unit. Kind of high, would love to sell them though. Good luck on the new products.

Can you clone yourself and send one to Fontana so I too can have quality hot dods and Italian Beefs?

CSD

I know that Vienna makes an Italian Beef sandwich that is to die for. That is what I get half the time I go to the Factory store. You may want to call their customer service and see if they can give you the 411 on the product.

Thanks Weeniegirl. The wheels have already been set in motion with my Vienna rep. Their Italian Beef is an excellent product. Martino's Italian Beef in Milwaukee sells Vienna Italian Beef, hot dogs, and Polish. I was there yesterday at 11:15am for lunch and the place was just as busy as Gene & Judes or Portillo's.

CSD

Hey there. Born and raised in Chicago. Love vienna dogs and italian beef. My favorite hot dog stand (which is actually in a building) is Poochie's, in Skokie. As for the bread for your italian beef, I think Gonnella hearth-baked french roll is the way to go. It has the chewy crust that can stand up to a "wet beef." Bless you for what you are doing. There's nothing like these two Chicago favorites. We are "regulars" at Poochie's, even tho we live in Minneapolis. They know us there, because we are daily visitors when we are in town. Good luck in Wisconsin!

Small world! My favorite dog is a Poochie's Char cheddar Poilsh with well done grilled onions. Their cheddar fries are fabulous. Thanks for the bread tip. We have an account with Gonnella Baking Company and they'll deliver product fresh to us in Wisconsin from Chicago on the day of sale. BTW, we have first cousins living in Edina.

CSD

hey cakesyes do you remeber when harvey had gribness @ poochies?