The Art of the Cart at Hot Dog University

Written by Anne Ford Chicago Reader Newspaper
http://www.chicagoreader.com/features/stories/theseparts07/hotdogs

Kudos. A knowledgeable, well written article. I'm telling you, Letterman's gonna call one of these days. Enjoy the glow.
The Bear
P.S.--I like Swing music, too.

Very nice piece there Mr CSD. Congrats...nice pictures too. I can't wait to get some time away from Denver and get out east to see you. I want to do a "Gagger Stampede" with a number of friends on bikes. We will definetly be coming to line up for lessons from the master. Thanks for the advice (although I do almost everything wrong successfully) and I always look forward to reading what you've got to say.

CSD, the article is a very good compliment to your efforts. The next time I am in the Milwaukee area, I want to visit with you. I want to experience the best CSD ever.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Mark: That is a good piece and it captures you well.

Mazel tov.

CSD,

Congratulations. Great article!

Nice free publicity Mark, way to go!

MikeS.

Fantastic article!!!The specialty sausage you served sounded great, but give me a Vienna anyday...

What the heck is a "Gagger Stampede"?

That is when we get a group of people together and we travel for dogs. In this case we will all be on motorcycles. The dates haven't been firmed up, but we are heading for Chicago. This out-western boy needs some edjumacation in the ways of the Chicago dog. When we get the timing down better I'll put up a post and hopefully get some ideas on where to eat. Heading from Denver to Chicago.

CSD-
What a great article. You can't buy good publicity like that!

Congrats, CSD! I will see you next week! Looking forward to HDU.

Thanks to all of you. Wiener King, I'll see you tomorrow morning. I'm off to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel this morning for an interview and video taping. The story should be in Friday's news: www.jsonline.com This Saturday, six students from the June Hot Dog University class will be experiencing their "Behind-the Cart" training from 10:00am-3:00pm at:

Stein Garden & Gifts
6300 Green Bay Road
Kenosha, WI

If you're in the area, please stop by.

CSD

6 students. thats great. class is picking up.

Fun, fun, fun.... Yours is the way to work and enjoy life. I want to be like you when I grow up
Oh!!! I'm there already.
Seems like hot dogs and marketing are a big topic here lately. You are proof in my belief that it takes very little in effort and cost to promote yourself.

I don't think you need any suggestions, but I think of two ideas that cost nothing to promote yours or any business such as yours. I suspect that you do not use any bags to package your dogs, but I always feel that trash makes great advertising. If you use plain paper bags, buy a rubber stamp with your name on it. People will walk and see them laying around and think of you. There is a reason that all fast food places do this.

Your hat give-away is smart too. A similar idea would be to have some helium balloons with your name and maybe a motto on them. Take those long ones that are used for balloon figures, they look like hot-dogs. Never underestimate a child's influence on parents. These are ideas that I plan on using in the future for myself.
If you are working in a park on weekends and combine the two, I think it would produce good results.

mark

quote:

doggydaddy Posted - 06/07/2007 : 10:37:13
I don't think you need any suggestions, but I think of two ideas that cost nothing to promote yours or any business such as yours. I suspect that you do not use any bags to package your dogs, but I always feel that trash makes great advertising. If you use plain paper bags, buy a rubber stamp with your name on it. People will walk and see them laying around and think of you. There is a reason that all fast food places do this.

you got to be kidding ....... ?

quote:

doggydaddy Posted - 06/07/2007 : 10:37:13
People will walk and see them laying around and think of you

yep your right, I'm thinking of your idea right now........

Love the pictures.

Is the lid an Optimo? It's great!

Hep

I have been saying I want to have a hot dog cart for years! I guess I'm going to have to attend your HDU to find out if I want to take the plunge!! Can I email you w/any questions to help me decide?

What a great article! They gave you a terrific send-up. Congratulations! Things are really looking up!

Thanks Pwingsx. To show my appreciation to all of you who've been so supportive, this dog's for you.

"Top Dog In City" Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 6/20/07

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=621567

Excellent articles and I love the picture of you. You look like you are having FUN!

quote:

Originally posted by chicagostyledog

Thanks Pwingsx. To show my appreciation to all of you who've been so supportive, this dog's for you.

Please tell this Wisconsinite that that's melted Merkt's cheese covering that dog?


Just kidding, great article and yet another feather in your pork pie hat!

Are the partially baked S. Rosen's buns fairly standard in the hot dog business or is that an idea you came up with yourself?

Brad

Not a suggestion but an observation for all venturing into hot dog vending. Note how impeccably clean CSD's operation is! Not only the cart itself, but the condiment table and CSD! Not a single stain on his crisp white shirt. I even think I see a handwashing station in one of the pics. Clean operation means clean food to customers and is always a good selling point. I pick the clean cart over the one with greasy fingerprints and flies swarming the condiments every time.

CSD - That hot dog looks FANTASTIC!

Great insightful article. Way to go, CSD!

quote:

Originally posted by chicagostyledog

Thanks Pwingsx. To show my appreciation to all of you who've been so supportive, this dog's for you.

Since I have never had a Chicago style dog before, I was wondering, don't you need a really big mouth to chomp down on that? Looks like it would fall apart if you tried to nibble on it. I, for one, have a big mouth so it wouldn't be hard for me but I am sure theres lots of folks who don't.

Nice article csd!!! And YES you do look like you're having way too much fun! Congratulations!

Since seeing that image, I've been craving a Chicago dog all day. I stopped at the Frosty Boy in Watervliet, MI and just ate one. It took care of the craving, but I wouldn't rate it with CSD's beautiful product.

Thanks to all. Brad, the steamed poppy seed bun has been a Chicago tradition for years. MBFDFyre, I never eat a dog "dragged through the garden." MilwFoodlovers, you know my passion for Merkt's, but that's mustard. I'm a minimalist when it comes to condiments. Back in the 50's, I hated onions and only used mustard. The neon green relish hadn't been invented. Today, I enjoy dogs & Polish dressed with a little mustard and a little Merk's cheddar cheese. Over use of a condiment disguises the taste of the dog for me. As for the pickle, like Buddy Roadhouse, I take mine on the side. And speaking of MilwFoodLovers, he'll be my right hand man on Friday in The Historic Third Ward selling dogs in front of Metropawlis Dog Boutique & Bakery for "Bring Your Dog To Work Day" from 11-2. We'll be offering free Vienne Beef Pups to all our canine friends. Some interesting pictures will follow.

CSD