The taste test is ON!

All Gross of Vienna Beef sent me my first round of product - 8-1 natural casing, 6-1 skinless, Fire Dogs (5-1) and a half dozen jalapeno dogs.
First round was jalapeno dogs and natural casing dogs vs an all beef BallPark Frank. Here's the grilled natural casing dogs - funny that the locals didn't care as much for the natural casing dogs due to the casing making the dog "tough to bite through". I personally loved 'em - great snap, beefy, slightly spiced and firm. We'll do the Vienna skinless in the next round along with the Fire Dogs.

Everyone loved the sport peppers and Chicaco style relish. Yes, those are home grown plum tomatoes right from my garden.

Coincidently, the local Martin Preferred rep (who has been nothing short of outstanding) commented that in the Dallas area, they sell the skinless 9-1 to the natural casing dogs. The jalapeno dogs were okay, but probably too mild to be called spicey. 

waydeg


All Gross of Vienna Beef sent me my first round of product - 8-1 natural casing, 6-1 skinless, Fire Dogs (5-1) and a half dozen jalapeno dogs.
First round was jalapeno dogs and natural casing dogs vs an all beef BallPark Frank. Here's the grilled natural casing dogs - funny that the locals didn't care as much for the natural casing dogs due to the casing making the dog "tough to bite through". I personally loved 'em - great snap, beefy, slightly spiced and firm. We'll do the Vienna skinless in the next round along with the Fire Dogs.

Everyone loved the sport peppers and Chicaco style relish. Yes, those are home grown plum tomatoes right from my garden.

Coincidently, the local Martin Preferred rep (who has been nothing short of outstanding) commented that in the Dallas area, they sell the skinless 9-1 to the natural casing dogs. The jalapeno dogs were okay, but probably too mild to be called spicey. 

If you grill those Jalapeno dogs instead of steaming them, they get hotter.  Plus you could put a Jalapeno relish on it to add some quick spice.  I tasted them at the factory and grilling them made it twice as hot.

And I agree with the skinless.  They are much better tasting and will sell better here in Texas versus what they sell up north. 

I ended up tasting just about everything during the HDU tour and the skinless 5-1 Polish is the best.  We are going to sell those as Jumbo dogs on our cart because the taste is much better than the regular dogs.  But I will still carry the 8-1s for the kids.

Everyone loved? Sound promising. I was kind of worried about your cart and the requirements there but I guess you are up and running. Do you like your new cart a bunch? Or am I confusing you with another TX poster that ordered one of them "Cadillacs"? That's bound to happen. Well anyways, welcome to the secret society. Somebody will be by shortly to explain the secret hand shake and to give you the funny hats we only wear on special secret occasions.

Oh, nobody told you about that part?

The dogs look great, nice contrast with the bright green relish and red tomatoes. The buns look hearty, I kow in a Chicago dog the dog is a bit smaller so the bun is able to carry the toppings. I would see if the dog meets your needs for the size of the bun. The bun looks real good, I always try to make sure I'm selling a dog with toppings and not toppings with a dog under them.
   Why do you want to use Vienna dog??? it just kills me when I see the price. I looked it up in my order guide Vienna 7" 5-1 $43 and nathans 7" 5-1 $22 ..... that would be like comparing Hamburger to Prime Rib are the Vienna that good????????????????  take care.....Bill....P.S what really makes me mad is that you have tomatoes and I don't. I planted 20 plants and can't wait for them to start producing. I have a few BBQ's this weekend for about 500 people and a Taco feed and everything takes tomatoes. I am now paying $34 a  dbl layer flat of 5x5 man they are killing me. I have to charge more because of the price of tomatoes. Great job on the Dogs ....Bill
 
                                                        Chicago-style food

BillyB


The dogs look great, nice contrast with the bright green relish and red tomatoes. The buns look hearty, I kow in a Chicago dog the dog is a bit smaller so the bun is able to carry the toppings. I would see if the dog meets your needs for the size of the bun. The bun looks real good, I always try to make sure I'm selling a dog with toppings and not toppings with a dog under them.
   Why do you want to use Vienna dog??? it just kills me when I see the price. I looked it up in my order guide Vienna 7" 5-1 $43 and nathans 7" 5-1 $22 ..... that would be like comparing Hamburger to Prime Rib are the Vienna that good????????????????  take care.....Bill....P.S what really makes me mad is that you have tomatoes and I don't. I planted 20 plants and can't wait for them to start producing. I have a few BBQ's this weekend for about 500 people and a Taco feed and everything takes tomatoes. I am now paying $34 a  dbl layer flat of 5x5 man they are killing me. I have to charge more because of the price of tomatoes. Great job on the Dogs ....Bill
 
                                                        Chicago-style food

I checked prices in my area and the Nathan's are a little cheaper....but I don't always think that cheaper is better.  Not sure why there is a huge prices difference in your area.  You should call Vienna and speak to one of their sales reps about that.

Here is my problem with using Nathans.  I think they taste like crap unless you grill them.  I've tried it both ways and they just don't taste right when you just steam them.  I don't have a grill on my cart, so using the Vienna works better for me.  I called Nathan's about marketing materials and they were going to charge me for umbrellas and signs where Vienna gives you all of that stuff for free.....all you have to do is agree to carry their product.  Vienna's product support is much better than any of the other companies out there (in my opinion). 

Plus Vienna has Hot Dog University!

franksrocks,

Where do you get your Vienna's ??  I am in Houston.

Thanks,

curtis

Hey Franks,I grill the Nathans and they aren't bad. I want a all beef dog with brand awareness and Nathans will give me that. I am going to sell the 7" 6-1 and be able to use it for everything. Chicago Dog, Coney Island Chili dog, Slaw dog in honor of Curb and POPS, bacon chedder dog, I also have gas a cheese melter so it will work out well taking the dogs right off the grill and melt the cheese as needed ...............Thanks ...Bill

cwood3


franksrocks,

Where do you get your Vienna's ??  I am in Houston.

Thanks,

curtis

I am hopefully going to get them from Restaurant Depot.  My sales rep is talking with their distributors today to find me the best price.  I'll let you know what they find out.

PM'ed you the Houston contact
WG

franksrocks,

Cool..  I just got a call from a Vienna guy.  He said he was gonna hook me up with Al Gross today.  We have Sysco, RestarauntDepot, etc..here so hopefully I can get a deal going.

BillyB


Hey Franks,I grill the Nathans and they aren't bad. I want a all beef dog with brand awareness and Nathans will give me that. I am going to sell the 7" 6-1 and be able to use it for everything. Chicago Dog, Coney Island Chili dog, Slaw dog in honor of Curb and POPS, bacon chedder dog, I also have gas a cheese melter so it will work out well taking the dogs right off the grill and melt the cheese as needed ...............Thanks ...Bill

That's what I was saying...the Nathans are wonderful when grilled, but I don't think they taste very good boiled or steamed.   But I would still carry the Vienna because of their marketing support and their product consistency.   Is Nathans sending you anything for selling their product?  As I said before, Nathans wanted me to pay for their marketing items (i.e. Umbrella, stickers, shirts, etc) and Vienna is giving it to me for free.  Also, I would never make a Chicago dog with a Nathans...kind of like putting McD's secret sauce on a Whopper.  :)

Nathans doesn't really have a big name here in Texas.  Other than the hot dog contest, most people in my area don't know the brand or quality.  Nathans has a couple stands in South Texas, but Vienna is more well known around my general area.  I have people who have requested we carry the Vienna dogs even though we had already picked them to use.  A couple of the bigger cart owners in Austin are using Vienna and the other big one uses their own brand.  I'm not sure if any of them are using Nathans, but they aren't advertising them if they are.

All in all it depends on your area and personal preference.  If you carry a hot dog that tastes good and you sell it for a reasonable price, then you will make money and have repeat customers.

Hey Franks, I talked to Mikeinri he said he had a post on a hot dog sampling, check out his results on this site............In a blind taste test nathans won by a long shot...................anyway I contacted my supplier about wanting Nathans Signs I will let you know what I get somethng............Take care............Bill

weydeg/franksrocks,

I finally spoke with a sales rep that Al Gross turned me onto.  They are here in Houston, Martin Preferred Foods.  They seem to carry a full line of Vienna products.  If you guys get time, I'd like to either e-mail ya, PM, or phone.  I need to know about pricing and I don't want to get in trouble here.  I just want to make sure that what my guy quotes me is within reason.

Thanks all.

curtis

Just get yourself a tax id and go down to Martin Foods and sign up. That's all you need to do to get Vienna from them.

AL Gross is my hero. I have a picture of him on my dresser next to a candle that stays lit 24/7. :)

ArnieTX

ArnieTX


Just get yourself a tax id and go down to Martin Foods and sign up. That's all you need to do to get Vienna from them.

AL Gross is my hero. I have a picture of him on my dresser next to a candle that stays lit 24/7. :)

ArnieTX

That's funny!
My Martin Preferred guy is phenomenal. I've got pricing coming Friday and can share.
Cases of Viennas are 10lbs 2-1, 4-1 through 10-1 and Vienna Poppy buns come 120 to a case, come frozen and should hold up fine.
PM me and I'll return a Phone #

I'm speaking to George at Martin tomorrow.  I'll pm you guys the prices he quotes me so that we make sure it is the same and no one is getting jacked on the prices.

Martin is right across the street from my honey-pie's business, so I can call her and say "bring home 500 buns and 300# of dogs baby"....... 

jcwoodall@comcast.net
832-373-9119
curtis woodall
The Dawg Stop, LLC