hot dogs in DC

A few weeks ago I mentioned that I've not been impressed with Ben's Chill bowl. The half smoke was good but I thought kind of pricy.

On a suggestion, I went to Weenie Beenie. Excellent and cheap. The place is in shirlington and the straight dog was very good. But the best dog I've found so far is on a cart.

On 7th and I st. a dog cart sets up everyday in front of the Riggs bank. The hot dog had great flavor and a nice snap. But the half smoke was out of this world. Despite being boiled (which I believe to be a travesty) the half spoke had a great flavor and was nice and spicy. You could see the specks of red pepper. For a $1.50 and unbelievable dog. I'm going to go and get another one before the day is up.

I think I responded to your other post about Ben's (I agreed with you). I'll take one of the street cart half-smokes any day. In my humble opinion, they are the best, and you can get three for about the price of one at Ben's.

jmshumakersr, I agree.

The best dog i've found is the cart I refer to on this posting. I had it for lunch today. Half smoke (with chili and mustard), can of coke and bag of chips for $2.25. Really good half smoke. Like I said, the only fault I find is that it is boiled and not grilled.

I have to figure out where they get their half smokes.

hj, Have you figured out where thouse 1/2 smokes com from?

I lived in NY and became very fond of Dog vendors, Moved to MD and there were still some here and there. I am now in Florida and found A LOT of the towns and cities prohibit Cart vendors. EXCEPT!!! at events and you have to pay big bucks to the chamber to be there, If they like you. If thats not rackiteering what is!!
I wanted to get a cart but I am not so sure it will sucseed.

Here in J'ville, Fl, there are some carts around but not like you see in the Phila/NYC areas, self containeds are more prevelant, I've seen everything from small p/u's to stepvan conversions. Getting into the established venues was discussed in another thread but it's not usually available for a startup vendor. As for local licenseing costs if your a vet check with your local Veterans Administration, even if there's no local discount they can often help cut through the red tape

Thanks Dreamz,
I found a cart dealer that will help with all the paper work. Most of his business is selling to vendors. I am being as carefull as I can and reading all I can but you only get so much information from reading. I have only seen vendors at LOWES but thats about it.

Jojo,

I was there this week and had two but in my feeding frenzy, I forgot to ask. I'll be back at that cart next Wednesday and will get the info.

quote:

Originally posted by hjbyun

Jojo,

I was there this week and had two but in my feeding frenzy, I forgot to ask. I'll be back at that cart next Wednesday and will get the info.

Thanks, I will be going through there in about 3-4 weeks.

hjbyun and jojobean, if you figure out who makes the half smokes or where they can be found PLEASE PLEASE post that info on the site. I used to live in DC (23 yrs) and loved half smokes. Can't find them anywhere down here in Florida.

QFan
Bonita Springs, FL

Had the half smokes today. She indicated that they were sabrett (I'm sure they are not sabrett) or Empire Nationals.

quote:

Originally posted by hjbyun

jmshumakersr, I agree.

The best dog i've found is the cart I refer to on this posting. I had it for lunch today. Half smoke (with chili and mustard), can of coke and bag of chips for $2.25. Really good half smoke. Like I said, the only fault I find is that it is boiled and not grilled.

I have to figure out where they get their half smokes.

hj & jm, I'm with you re: Ben's. Took the family down to D.C. for Feb. school vacation, and had to try Ben's after hearing about it for so long. Had the chili half-smoke, and I was underwhelmed. My brother, Ed the Fed, who lives down there, said he frequents the very cart to which you refer, considering it the best lunch deal in town (did I mention that Ed is, oh what's the word?...cheap?). He has to brush and floss thoroughly before heading home in the evening, lest my vegetarian sister-in-law discover his dirty little secret.

HJ, I'm pretty sure that they are Sabrett's. Before September 11th, I used to get half-smokes from a Middle Easterner in SE D.C., right outside the Democratic National Committee HQ. I asked the guy about them one time and he actually pulled out a sealed package of Sabrett's hot sausages. He said if I wanted some (I almost fainted), I could pay him the day before and he would have them the next day. At the time, I couldn't do that but I asked him if I could pay him then and come back in a few days. Unfortunately, he was insistent that I paid the day before. He is no longer there - I don't know if he left town or was run out.

There is at least one place on the Internet that you can get them, www.pyrillis.com. I believe they only advertise the hot dogs but they will substitute with sausages if you ask. I have suggested to every grocery store I've seen that sells Sabrett hot dogs that they should get the sausages too but so far they haven't done it. If I could just make them understand that they would sell a zillion of them...

I now live in West Virginia and I don't get to D.C. very often, but my birthday is in a few weeks and I am planning a trip to D.C. just to have half-smokes and to bring some home too.

JM,
Happy Bday and I hope you enjoy the h-smokes. Have to respect a person for driving all that way for a dog.

Clambo,
liked the story. I wouldn't say your brother was cheap but lets say frugal. A man after my own heart.

HJ

JM... Welcome to the fourms... HAPPY B-DAY!

Everyone Else! Keep the info flowing on them Half Smokes... Not even in the culinary dictionary in these parts of the woods... Keep going!!! TNX!

My youngest brother lives northeast of Baltimore. There is a B.J.'s Wholesale Club (same thing as Sam's and Costco) near him in Bel Air.
Last week he discovered that they were selling Sabrett's hot sausages (HALLELUJAH!!!), otherwise known as half-smokes in the Washington, D.C. area. He bought several packs and will be bringing them to my house tomorrow (HALLELUJAH AGAIN!!!). I don't know if all B.J.'s sell them but for those of you that have one near you
(http://www.bjs.com/locations/), you can get a one day pass from their web site (http://www.bjs.com/general/checkusout) to go in and look around. If they don't have them, tell them that the Bel Air, MD store has them and you would like for them to get them too.

JM

Thanks for the heads up. I leave 3 miles from a BJs. I just need to get a friend you goes to get me in.

Hello all;

I'm in the process of getting into hot dog vending in Baltimore.I have been trying very hard to find the type of stand-in hot dog stands used by Dc vendors.I have only been able to find the small new-york and Chicago style carts.I plan to do this full time ,so I would really like to have the stand-in cart for the winters months. I would appreciate it if anyone can help.

quote:

Originally posted by GLEW76

Hello all;

I'm in the process of getting into hot dog vending in Baltimore.I have been trying very hard to find the type of stand-in hot dog stands used by Dc vendors.I have only been able to find the small new-york and Chicago style carts.I plan to do this full time ,so I would really like to have the stand-in cart for the winters months. I would appreciate it if anyone can help.

http://www.customsalesandservice.com/products/street-carts/model-650/features.php

The above carts do not come cheap! But if ya go to Ebay, type in "hot dog cart" or "concession" in the search box, you'll see one pop up every month or so...