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Nightshift
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Total Posts:
222
- Joined: 6/1/2006
- Location: Old Hickory, TN
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Signature Dish for a Hot Dog Cart
Wed, 07/23/08 5:51 PM
( permalink)
For all u mobile vendors what is your signature dish? What makes them coming back for more. I am not asking anyone to give out the recipe, but you can email me a recipe to. I am in Nashville, so if your in Colorado, I don't think I am in direct competition? If not just say what made u infamous?
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spud
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Total Posts:
273
- Joined: 2/8/2004
- Location: sebring, FL
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RE: Signature Dish for a Hot Dog Cart
Wed, 07/23/08 6:42 PM
( permalink)
A good quality dog, a hot soft bun and fresh toppings is most important.
I think a lot of it also has to do with attitude and appearance. Too many times I see sellers sprawled in some lawn chair looking so bored, in their flip flops, cut offs, or just sloppy shorts and some ragged shirt. Gotta look like you care, gotta be interested and dressed like you didnt just get sprung from jail or worse. Greet everyone like youve known them forever, give them too much info like showing off your fresh onions you cut yourself, make them laugh somehow.
If you dont want to be there they wont want to either, and youll be wondering why youve got no business.
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Coz Dogs
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Total Posts:
42
- Joined: 7/22/2008
- Location: COS, CO
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RE: Signature Dish for a Hot Dog Cart
Wed, 07/23/08 9:51 PM
( permalink)
Spud is very close, steamed buns ghreat chili, now how to build your dishes,
smile be friendly and ask what interests them . I have a mild chili and a 4 alarm
chili with Habanarro peppers be ready it will make you sweat, But man its good!!!!
Here in COS its cheese and salsa its big here.
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Nightshift
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Total Posts:
222
- Joined: 6/1/2006
- Location: Old Hickory, TN
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RE: Signature Dish for a Hot Dog Cart
Thu, 07/24/08 1:27 AM
( permalink)
quote:Originally posted by spud
A good quality dog, a hot soft bun and fresh toppings is most important.
I think a lot of it also has to do with attitude and appearance. Too many times I see sellers sprawled in some lawn chair looking so bored, in their flip flops, cut offs, or just sloppy shorts and some ragged shirt. Gotta look like you care, gotta be interested and dressed like you didnt just get sprung from jail or worse. Greet everyone like youve known them forever, give them too much info like showing off your fresh onions you cut yourself, make them laugh somehow.
Well then just ask my family, I am 43 and I ain't no we're dead yet and when I am in a room on Friday night believe me everyone knows I am there. I have to recreate this on a Fri afternoon without yelling yeeeeee haaaaaa, and believe me I'm the best!!!!!!!!!! LMAO
If you dont want to be there they wont want to either, and youll be wondering why youve got no business.
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Chiliman
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Total Posts:
197
- Joined: 3/10/2007
- Location: Charlotte, NC
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RE: Signature Dish for a Hot Dog Cart
Thu, 07/24/08 9:58 AM
( permalink)
Started with the chili. Grew to: 4 types of spicy mustards, spicy ketchup, hot sauce, pepper mayo, 5 varieties of BBQ sauce, basil and roasted garlic chicken salad (when allowed!)
And not to belabor the point, but I think spud nailed it on theservice end. I ahve been written up in the local paper and independant papers a bunch, all because of the service aspect. I NEVER sit down. I greet everyone like I've known them a lifetime and I tell stories the entire time I am working. I always wear large hawaiian shirts so that the sweat runs down to my shorts rather than everyone having to look at my stainage.
I also grill my buns! Helps the chili from soaking into the bread!
FUN!
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WarToad
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Total Posts:
1575
- Joined: 3/23/2008
- Location: Minot, ND
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RE: Signature Dish for a Hot Dog Cart
Thu, 07/24/08 10:19 AM
( permalink)
When I worked in Seattle, there was a hot dog vendor I went to time and time again because he had warm toasted buns, onions grilling right in front of me, a great mustard selection, and a hotdog with a 'snap!' that he'd finish off on the grill. Man, he made a great hotdog. Plus, he was a joy to talk to. Very conversational about everything and nothing, always in a good mood. I've always enjoyed getting a dog from a cart, but he completely transformed the experience for me.
Chiliman's right. Personality and attitude can hook a customer just as much as your product.
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ArnieTX
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Total Posts:
345
- Joined: 11/6/2007
- Location: South TX
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RE: Signature Dish for a Hot Dog Cart
Thu, 07/24/08 10:22 AM
( permalink)
CHiliman
My plan is to wear the same style shirts also, but mainly for conceal carry purposes.
+ they are so dang comfortable. I'm also trying to make a concious effort to take better care of my hands/fingernails. There is a million suttle things that can turn people off.
My signiture dish will be a Chicago Style dog. Nobody around South Texas knows what's about to hit their tastebuds.
Arnie
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Baah Ben
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Total Posts:
3026
- Joined: 11/30/2001
- Location: Ormond Beach, FL
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RE: Signature Dish for a Hot Dog Cart
Thu, 07/24/08 10:26 AM
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Make a hot pepper mash..there is a place in Jacksonvile, FL called the Blue Boy Shoppes and they have this wondeful pepper mash that people put on everthing!
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Coz Dogs
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Total Posts:
42
- Joined: 7/22/2008
- Location: COS, CO
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RE: Signature Dish for a Hot Dog Cart
Thu, 07/24/08 3:12 PM
( permalink)
I totally agree service makes the difference great service makes more money,
word of mouth is so powerful, I love what I do and I like meeting people.
Now I work when I want and travel aLL over colorado springs looking forward to the fall
I like the chili mash idea and grilling the buns is always good !!
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Russ Jackson
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Total Posts:
2079
- Joined: 11/28/2007
- Location: Upper Arlington, OH
- Roadfood Insider
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RE: Signature Dish for a Hot Dog Cart
Thu, 07/24/08 3:23 PM
( permalink)
Make sure your ketchup and mustard bottles are always clean. Seperate your relish,onions and kraut from each other as to not cross contaminate. If you have a special dog or product get a good picture of it. A clean cart and operator almost always do well. I also like a shirt with a logo on it. You want them to think you are a pro and not a drive by...Russ
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Rusty246
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Total Posts:
2379
- Joined: 7/15/2003
- Location: Newberry, FL
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RE: Signature Dish for a Hot Dog Cart
Thu, 07/24/08 3:34 PM
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quote:Originally posted by ArnieTX
CHiliman
My plan is to wear the same style shirts also, but mainly for conceal carry purposes.
+ they are so dang comfortable. I'm also trying to make a concious effort to take better care of my hands/fingernails. There is a million suttle things that can turn people off.
My signiture dish will be a Chicago Style dog. Nobody around South Texas knows what's about to hit their tastebuds.
Arnie
I appreciate that YOU care enough to take care of your hands/fingernails. I know Bobby Flay is a pro but his fingernails gross me out, he's a nail biter. I still watch his shows but try to avoid his nails.
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Twinwillow
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RE: Signature Dish for a Hot Dog Cart
Thu, 07/24/08 3:38 PM
( permalink)
quote:Originally posted by spud
A good quality dog, a hot soft bun and fresh toppings is most important.
I think a lot of it also has to do with attitude and appearance. Too many times I see sellers sprawled in some lawn chair looking so bored, in their flip flops, cut offs, or just sloppy shorts and some ragged shirt. Gotta look like you care, gotta be interested and dressed like you didnt just get sprung from jail or worse. Greet everyone like youve known them forever, give them too much info like showing off your fresh onions you cut yourself, make them laugh somehow.
If you dont want to be there they wont want to either, and youll be wondering why youve got no business.
Excellent advice. For any business !
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Chiliman
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Total Posts:
197
- Joined: 3/10/2007
- Location: Charlotte, NC
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RE: Signature Dish for a Hot Dog Cart
Thu, 07/24/08 3:39 PM
( permalink)
I thought about logo shirts at first, but solid color shirts show way to much stainage (both from sweat and from splashing condiments). I decided on the camp shirts/hawaiians partly because of the fact that I no longer worked in an environment where I was being told what to wear. I hated being under other folks strict guidelines. I do have logo hats though and they are real nice, as well as logo beer cozies! I agree with Russ on the clean condiment bottles as well. A good guideline for any cart-er (and stolen from the world of sales) is ABC: always be cleaning! I remember starting and I kept the cart immaculate at every moment, and it paid off in aces when folks would come by and tell me they were eating eith me because my cart was so much cleaner than everyone elses!
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Russ Jackson
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Total Posts:
2079
- Joined: 11/28/2007
- Location: Upper Arlington, OH
- Roadfood Insider
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RE: Signature Dish for a Hot Dog Cart
Thu, 07/24/08 4:02 PM
( permalink)
You can take a Hawaiian shirt to an embroiderer and have it done. Personally I think if you look the same everyday the customers will get comfortable. Get some extra shirts and hats made and give them to your regulars. And always donate time to local charity events. What you give back to your community will come back 10 fold. Remember the customer signs your paycheck. If you have a customer that spends 7 dollars a week with you thats 28 dollars a month or 336 dollars a year. A hat is only 6 bucks...Russ
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Michael Hoffman
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Total Posts:
14551
- Joined: 7/1/2000
- Location: Gahanna, OH
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RE: Signature Dish for a Hot Dog Cart
Thu, 07/24/08 5:53 PM
( permalink)
OK, I'll admit that I'm not a big fan of cart hot dogs, but be that as it may, if you have a hot dog cart isn't the hot dog, by definition, the "signature dish?"
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Nightshift
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Total Posts:
222
- Joined: 6/1/2006
- Location: Old Hickory, TN
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RE: Signature Dish for a Hot Dog Cart
Thu, 07/24/08 5:58 PM
( permalink)
Yes and stand corrected on missing the point. I guess I am looking for something else along with the dog. quote:Originally posted by Michael Hoffman
OK, I'll admit that I'm not a big fan of cart hot dogs, but be that as it may, if you have a hot dog cart isn't the hot dog, by definition, the "signature dish?"
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Coz Dogs
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Total Posts:
42
- Joined: 7/22/2008
- Location: COS, CO
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RE: Signature Dish for a Hot Dog Cart
Thu, 07/24/08 7:26 PM
( permalink)
Yes The hot Dog is the main dish, but who said I couldn't kick it up a notch, with better meats and brats boiled in beer and three onion dogs red white and yellow. my salsa dogs have peppers and nacho cheese, and it just gets better.....
In colorado we have a mexican flavor and many other tastes as well, lots of hikers and people
in the outdoors, I use smell a vision onions & peppers on the grill brings them running
I sell lots of health drinks as well gatorade is big and arizona teas sell real well...
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Michael Hoffman
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Total Posts:
14551
- Joined: 7/1/2000
- Location: Gahanna, OH
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RE: Signature Dish for a Hot Dog Cart
Thu, 07/24/08 7:27 PM
( permalink)
I missed the point? The signature dish from a hot dog cart is not a hot dog?What is it, veal saltimboca?
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Nightshift
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Total Posts:
222
- Joined: 6/1/2006
- Location: Old Hickory, TN
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RE: Signature Dish for a Hot Dog Cart
Fri, 07/25/08 12:32 PM
( permalink)
LOL. Like Coz said got to do something more to kickstart In fact the more I talk to hot dog cart owers it wasn't the hot dog that sold the most. Usually it was some sort of sausage. quote:Originally posted by Michael Hoffman
I missed the point? The signature dish from a hot dog cart is not a hot dog?What is it, veal saltimboca?
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Nightshift
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Total Posts:
222
- Joined: 6/1/2006
- Location: Old Hickory, TN
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RE: Signature Dish for a Hot Dog Cart
Fri, 07/25/08 7:39 PM
( permalink)
I wasn't saying u missed the point, I meant I stood corrected.
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chicagostyledog
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Total Posts:
2940
- Joined: 9/10/2003
- Location: Hot Dog University Chicago, IL
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RE: Signature Dish for a Hot Dog Cart
Fri, 07/25/08 11:33 PM
( permalink)
 "Big Wally" is our signature dog. One-half pound of all pure beef pleasure, featured at the 105th Anniversary of Harley Davidson in Milwaukee, August 28-31. Only the serious need apply. Designated driver recommended, prior to consumption. CSD PhD Professor of Hot Dogs
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Nightshift
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Total Posts:
222
- Joined: 6/1/2006
- Location: Old Hickory, TN
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RE: Signature Dish for a Hot Dog Cart
Sat, 07/26/08 1:05 AM
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That sucker is HUGE, I want to visit your cart and we will be in Chicago in August as my husband was born and raised there,(Western & Irving) we also lived there together on Kedvale. Where do you park your cart. I may enroll in a class.
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Coz Dogs
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Total Posts:
42
- Joined: 7/22/2008
- Location: COS, CO
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RE: Signature Dish for a Hot Dog Cart
Sat, 07/26/08 1:12 AM
( permalink)
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ArnieTX
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Total Posts:
345
- Joined: 11/6/2007
- Location: South TX
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RE: Signature Dish for a Hot Dog Cart
Sat, 07/26/08 2:02 AM
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Hey CSD - I had a few funny comments but my wife threw an elbow to my ribs so I must refrain.
Is that the "Commander"? Awesome!!!
What do you get $$ for one of those and will it fit on the standard Vienna bun? That could become my Lone Star Dog since everything is bigger in Texas.
Thanks
Arnie
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chicagostyledog
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Total Posts:
2940
- Joined: 9/10/2003
- Location: Hot Dog University Chicago, IL
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RE: Signature Dish for a Hot Dog Cart
Sat, 07/26/08 8:03 AM
( permalink)
Arnie & Nightshift,
We sell "Big Wally" aka the "Commander" for $6. I have a class the weekend of August 29/30. We'll be vending Thursday, August 28th & Saturday, August 30th on north Broadway Street in the Milwaukee Historic Third Ward. I grew up in Chicago on Roosevelt & Keeler. At age 8, we moved to the 6800 block of North Kedvale in Lincolnwood. Gotta go! I'm off to the Third Ward to meet my students for their "behind-the-cart" day."
Today's menu includes:
Jumbo Chicago Dog
Soda & Water....It's pop if you're from Chicago
Fresh Squeezed Lemonade aka Lemonade Shake-Ups....It will be in the high 80's today
CSD PhD Professor of Hot Dogs
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Nightshift
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Total Posts:
222
- Joined: 6/1/2006
- Location: Old Hickory, TN
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RE: Signature Dish for a Hot Dog Cart
Sat, 07/26/08 3:39 PM
( permalink)
quote:Originally posted by chicagostyledog
Arnie & Nightshift,
We sell "Big Wally" aka the "Commander" for $6. I have a class the weekend of August 29/30. We'll be vending Thursday, August 28th & Saturday, August 30th on north Broadway Street in the Milwaukee Historic Third Ward. I grew up in Chicago on Roosevelt & Keeler. At age 8, we moved to the 6800 block of North Kedvale in Lincolnwood. Gotta go! I'm off to the Third Ward to meet my students for their "behind-the-cart" day."
Today's menu includes:
Jumbo Chicago Dog
Soda & Water....It's pop if you're from Chicago
Fresh Squeezed Lemonade aka Lemonade Shake-Ups....It will be in the high 80's today
CSD PhD Professor of Hot Dogs
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Nightshift
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Total Posts:
222
- Joined: 6/1/2006
- Location: Old Hickory, TN
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RE: Signature Dish for a Hot Dog Cart
Sat, 07/26/08 3:41 PM
( permalink)
Surprise u live up that way. Heard they are big rivals with Chicagoins. My husband laughs. How about them Cubs? quote:Originally posted by chicagostyledog
Arnie & Nightshift,
We sell "Big Wally" aka the "Commander" for $6. I have a class the weekend of August 29/30. We'll be vending Thursday, August 28th & Saturday, August 30th on north Broadway Street in the Milwaukee Historic Third Ward. I grew up in Chicago on Roosevelt & Keeler. At age 8, we moved to the 6800 block of North Kedvale in Lincolnwood. Gotta go! I'm off to the Third Ward to meet my students for their "behind-the-cart" day."
Today's menu includes:
Jumbo Chicago Dog
Soda & Water....It's pop if you're from Chicago
Fresh Squeezed Lemonade aka Lemonade Shake-Ups....It will be in the high 80's today
CSD PhD Professor of Hot Dogs
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chicagostyledog
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Total Posts:
2940
- Joined: 9/10/2003
- Location: Hot Dog University Chicago, IL
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RE: Signature Dish for a Hot Dog Cart
Sun, 07/27/08 10:13 AM
( permalink)
 Students sold hot dogs and fresh squeezed lemonade in the 3rd Ward yesterday from 12-3pm. The weather was perfect. It was a good day. They sold 100 jumbo dogs, 40 fresh squeezed lemonades, 48 cans of pop, and 32 bottles of water in 3 hours. CSD PhD Professor of Hot Dogs
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ArnieTX
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Total Posts:
345
- Joined: 11/6/2007
- Location: South TX
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RE: Signature Dish for a Hot Dog Cart
Sun, 07/27/08 2:19 PM
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Super!
100 Big Wally's??? Is that your "Jumbo"?
Wow.
Arnie
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chicagostyledog
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Total Posts:
2940
- Joined: 9/10/2003
- Location: Hot Dog University Chicago, IL
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RE: Signature Dish for a Hot Dog Cart
Sun, 07/27/08 4:36 PM
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Arnie,
We sell "Big Wally's" at events. The dogs sold yesterday were 6/1 skinless, which is considered a jumbo. In Chicago, 4,5,& 6/1's are considered a jumbo.
CSD PhD Professor of Hot Dogs
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