Hey Everybody,
There’s a lot to be said for hard work. Keeping your nose to the grindstone. Knuckling down. Git ‘er done.
But there’s even more to be said for harnessing existing momentum. If you can get in front of a moving, swelling, powerful force it will take you where you want to go faster and easier than was previously possible. In the surfing world they call it “catching a wave”.
In our world, they’re calling it “Street Food”.
It’s now official. We’re trendy. We’re cool. We’re in demand..
We have arrived.
Check out this article sent to me by HDCN reader Ron DeRoest (thanks Ron!). Pretty inspirational stuff!
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January 8, 2010
Ross Resnick
Founder, Roaming Hunger
Posted: December 28, 2009 06:13 PM
Street Food Is the New Fast Food
Here come the top 10 lists.
The hot lists of 2009 will invariably reference a few major themes of our year past — from Michael Jackson to unemployment, with Lady Gaga’s masked masquerades riding high on the pop trend wave. One trend is of particular interest to summing up 2009 because it zeitgeists not only something that happened, but baselines a movement which we can expect to see prevalent in 2010 and beyond.
Street Food.
In case you have not followed the street food movement, the bacon wrapped hot dog cart outside your local dive bar does not solely represent curbside cuisine any longer. In most of the major cities, we have seen a surge of gourmet, specialty, brand-bearing food trucks and carts parked near the trendiest metropolitan hotspots serving up items from fine french food to veggie burgers. Foodies and regular lunch time Janes are especially fond of the trend as new options for a quick, affordable and tasty lunch have emerged in a once vast sea of sameness embodied by franchised quick service outlets like Baja Fresh or Quizno’s.
So where did all these trucks come from? Well, a good starting point is the recession. With incredibly low overhead (compared to a brick and mortar restaurant) and the ability to launch with little or no experience, a savvy food entrepreneur who can make a dish or two can hit the streets and try his luck serving lunch to eager and adventurous office people who heard about street food from the cool guy in human resources.
Given the low cost of doing business with the high potential for success and expansion, I make the argument that street food is the new fast food.
Here’s why:
1. It’s Fast?Given the nature of the ordering system, street food can be ordered, paid for and eaten in a relatively similar amount of time as fast food. The food trucks and carts require most chefs to prepare parts of the menu before you order, leaving less time for you to wait. The variable here is the line, but if you time it right by knowing your offerings and location before hand (shameless plug for Roaming Hunger here) you can be in and out faster than In and Out.
2. It’s Specialized?Fast food, although increasingly less so in the last decade, have specialized menus based on the chain. The big boys do one thing particularly well and are usually brand synonymous with that item, think McDonalds and Big Mac. Due to the nature of food trucks and carts with incredibly limited preparation space, most vendors are limited to serving one thing and serving it well. The Kogi Truck reached new heights of popularity by limiting itself to be known for one thing, Korean BBQ tacos. Essentially, the smorgasbord of street food has to be achieved through multiple vendors: which is why in Venice, CA, the First Fridays event looks like an Oakland Raiders tailgate party with sometimes over ten vendors parked up and down the street.
3. It’s Cheap?Street food is inexpensive relative to the quality of food served. Compared to fast food it may not be as cost effective per calorie, but if you compare total quality of food and preparation time to market, street food edges fast food out as the inexpensive option. With many people shying away from fast food after learning more and more about the sourcing of food (see Omnivore’s Dilemma, Chapter 7) many street food vendors are using sustainably, locally and responsibly sourced ingredients to service a conscious clientele.
4. It’s Fun?Fast food was fun too. I’ll never forget the delight of opening a Happy Meal at McDonald’s and then blasting down the plastic slide into the multi-colored ball pit when I was a kid. Street food carries a unique thrill of it’s own. First off, the preconceived notion of street food in the United States and who eats off ‘taco trucks’ is an exciting one to break. Eating off a truck or cart for the first time carries an air of adventure and risk. This excitement and fun is what propelled the Gaga-esque super spike into the 2009 trend list for street food. Unlike fast food however, I don’t foresee the joy of street eating to be as fleeting as growing up only to realize the toy and the slide is causing massive childhood obesity.
All in all, street food has positioned itself to be a viable eating option and not just a trend. With a quality product served at affordable prices, don’t be surprised if Taco Bell tried to get in on the action themselves. Oh wait, they already did.
Follow Ross Resnick on Twitter: www.twitter.com/roaminghunger
original article at Huffington Post
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Is this just a trend? Is it here to stay? Are any of you getting the urge to become high end gourmet doggers, or will you just keep it simple?
What do you think? Lets hear you in the comments…
-Steve
bob
// Jan 18, 2010 at 12:32 am
Wow,
What is that crab salad on a hot dog bun.? or is there a weiner under there..talk about a combination dog..yikes
Derrill Dersch
// Jan 18, 2010 at 2:45 am
Wow!! This guy Ross has put into words what i have been thinking for a long time. i mean the idea of great food at an affordable price. i think that America is tired of the same old-same old fast food. here we have an chance to start the next wave in food–great food at a great price, what a concept. people want quality and value. why can’t they have gourmet food off a cart? we can be as creative as we want. as long as we can serve it fast and why not? hey the basic dog is great and it is the foundation of our business , but why stop there. i think we can all make a difference and still make money.
Pat
// Jan 18, 2010 at 4:36 am
I am looking into starting a hot dog cart later this year (I already have 1 event-vendor business, but lament all the money the foodies seem to bring in). Having lived for 20 years in Chicago makes me lean towards specializing in some of the Chi-town fare–start with Vienna dogs and polishes and, who knows, someday Scala’s italian beef and sausage (combos!) and Kronos gyros. . . ?
Jim Jasper
// Jan 18, 2010 at 4:42 am
I have been looking into the cart idea and it sounds rather exciting. I have a major concern and hope someone might be able to help. I live in North Central Iowa, a rather small town of about 20,000 does anyone think a person could make anymoney in an area like this? I’ve lost my job and nothing around here. I can take early retirement and want something to help out. Give me your thoughts. Think I can scrape up the money for the cart plans etc. Thanks.
Rick Forness
// Jan 18, 2010 at 6:03 am
I keep it simple serving a 1/4 lb Nathans dog with fresh toppings. This has went over really well.
steve
// Jan 18, 2010 at 8:06 am
Pat,
If there were a Kronos Gyros joint near here I would weigh a hell of a lot more than my current 250 lbs of rock hard muscle! (OK, so it’s not all muscle, LOL!)
I LOVE GYROS!!!
-Steve
steve
// Jan 18, 2010 at 8:13 am
Jim,
I did just fine in a town with a population of 7000.
Serve an awesome product with a fun, personal touch and you should do well.
Sorry to hear about your situation, but it’s in times like these that we need to be self sufficient.
I think we’ve all come to the realization in the last 15 months that working for someone else gives you a false sense of security at best.
Do your own thing.
-Steve
Pocono Hot Dog
// Jan 18, 2010 at 8:16 am
All trends have a shelf-life. The great thing about our thing is that trends always happen in the Cuisine end of the food business. Now with the Street Food Trend we are getting that elusive Double Pipeline wave that has a never-ending Tube to ride to the Bank.
I have experimented with different food (mostly at Themed Festivals) where the Public is expecting a certain Item. It is fun and creative to serve an unique product from a cart. But, for now, always keep a Hot Dog in your steam pan because, when a loyal Hot Dog Customer sees you in the midst of non-framiliar items he will head to the oaisis you provided in this trendy desert.
The best way to find what sells for you is to do different Festivals.( See my Festival Menus on my website). Do a little Culinary research as to the Theme of the Festival and figuire out what would be unique and easy to serve from your cart. I am still trying to perfect my “Soup on a Stick”
steve
// Jan 18, 2010 at 8:26 am
Pocono,
Good advice. I love trying new foods, the more unique the better.
But my wife sticks to the basics. No experimenting for her. She would definitely see you as the “oasis” and make a beeline straight for your stand.
By the way, soup on a stick works really well below 32 degrees…soupsickle anyone?
-Steve
Mark
// Jan 18, 2010 at 9:12 am
Crab salad on a hot dog bun?
Looks good – but I wonder what the health department would say – especially with mayo in the mix?
A.R.A. HOT DOGS
// Jan 18, 2010 at 9:14 am
Great Information…
We just got all our paper work done..
We hope to be out there real soon…
Check us out in
Windsor Ontario Canada.
David & Ava
steve
// Jan 18, 2010 at 9:18 am
Mark,
It all depends on your local codes.
In some places, if you have a properly equipped commissary and prepare the food there, your cart is considered an extension of your “restaurant” and you can serve whatever you like.
You may need to file an operating report that details exactly how the food will be handled, how you will keep it at the proper temperatures during transport both to and from the vending site, what you will do with unsold food, etc.
It’s the same way that catering companies operate.
-Steve
Curtis Ormond
// Jan 18, 2010 at 9:28 am
I live in a very small commnity, 650 total, we have a fossil museum here that attracts about 25,000 visitors each year. I go out on Saturdays and Sundays and sell hot dogs with drinks and in the warmer months do snow cones. We are retired and this has been a great addition to our retirement income. We also do some area events and have done real well. Research what events may be in your hometown, little league, soccer anything that may bring a crowd, check and make sure you can legally setup and serve a good product and you can make money. Good luck.
Renee and Susan
// Jan 18, 2010 at 10:09 am
I think the picture is of a Lobster Roll – found often in the New England area. Great article!
We too are considering adding something “more gourmet” to our cart – but so true, nothing can replace our famous Chicago dog…Thanks!
Susan and Renee
Hot Dog City
// Jan 18, 2010 at 10:28 am
People love to have lunch at the cart. We operate in a small town. The biggest plus of the hot dog cart is that it being portable. You can move from one location to another in 10 minutes. Find your hot spots and stick with them. Sell only top brand foods, even the mustard must be the best. We do use mayo in the packs and in coleslaw with no problem from the health dept. We are the only place in town to get a good polish brat with fresh steamed onions, sauerkraut, and peppers. “Wear aprons and hats with your logo and color imprinted on them. Keep your cart clean between servings. Be nice, have fun, and you will be successful.
Pat
// Jan 18, 2010 at 12:58 pm
@Steve: One more–a Maxwell Street Dog! Messier than a combo, almost as good as church on a frosty Chicago Sunday morning!
steve
// Jan 18, 2010 at 2:04 pm
The original Maxwell Street Polish is a grilled polish sausage on a split roll with grilled onions and mustard. The famous Maxwell Street market where this treat was born, is no more but the tastes live on.
You can see Maxwell Street (before it’s demise) in the Blues Brothers movie in the scene where blues legend John Lee Hooker is singing in the street.
Pat, did you attend the Triple Rock Church with Reverend James Brown?
-Steve
Pat
// Jan 18, 2010 at 5:17 pm
Seemed like it sometimes
. We had a choir, a rock and roll band, a punk band, and an Irish band. Made Sundays interesting. . . !
Lucky Dawg
// Jan 18, 2010 at 5:33 pm
I really believe that this is the perfect time to have a food cart business. I still have a full time employer but I am hoping that this will give me the opportunity to only work for myself. Many co-workers worry about losing their job but with a hot dog cart I know that I will always be able to make a living. No one ever lost money selling hot dogs.
Larry
// Jan 18, 2010 at 5:34 pm
How about a Turkey Hot Dog with Cream Cheese and Strawberry Jam.
Larry
chris
// Jan 18, 2010 at 5:55 pm
i am opening up a commissary in south jersey camden county any one need a full legal kitchen to clean cart get ice and whatever drop me a email thanks
rick
// Jan 18, 2010 at 6:57 pm
comment for chris inregards to commissary looking for one very soon i live in east camden
drop me info on your location…thank u
rick
// Jan 18, 2010 at 6:58 pm
comment for chris inregards to commissary looking for one very soon i live in east camden
drop me info on your location…thank u rick2u@aol.com
The Doghouse
// Jan 18, 2010 at 11:24 pm
I am a remodeling company gone south due to living in the country and the lack of work.We have approx. 4,000 people in my town and have hardly any fast food restauraunts.The only one in the central area of town is Mc’Donalds.They are packed there everyday no matter how sick of the food the people are (including myself).I have leased the lot right next door to it and across from Wal-mart.I have bought a 16′ foot flatbed car hauler trailer and I am building a full kitchen to meet codes with just about everything purchased on ebay for about $5,000.I sat for 1 hour with the kids and came up with over 20 gourmet dog recipes and have tried and served them to locals for testing.What a hit!!Even in a small town as this I am going to make a killing.But as I read,I will serve a naked dog for the unadventurous.I think one of the best things about the full kitchen is the extras I can serve.We will have freshcut fries that cost about 10 cents and sell for $1.50 a fry!!My advise is if you are skilled and can build afford to build a kitchen the possibilities are endless!!
Art
// Jan 18, 2010 at 11:28 pm
what do you think about buying into an existing food concession such as at a Home Depot?
rick
// Jan 19, 2010 at 2:11 pm
does any body know what the standard home
depot deal is to set up in front of store thanks
Jeff d.
// Jan 19, 2010 at 4:07 pm
“The Dog House”
Could you send Steve some pics of your kitchen and ask him to post them? Thanks
steve
// Jan 19, 2010 at 4:33 pm
Rick,
Many times (not always) you will have to go through a company called Street Eats. They are a concession management company that many Lowes and Home Depot stores use to place hot dog carts in front of their stores.
Talk to the store manager first to see if they outsource that function to Street Eats. If they don’t then you can deal directly with the manager.
If they do, you will have to apply to Street Eats and be approved. If you are approved, you will pay rent to Street Eats.
The rent can be a bit steep, but you will have an enormous amount of foot traffic.
-Steve
tenacity
// Jan 20, 2010 at 9:00 pm
So many ideas, so little space!!!Thanks guys, you have my wheels turning. The little Red Wagon…..
Esteban Guzman
// Jan 21, 2010 at 10:11 pm
I had talked to someone at Home Depot here in my area and he said that they don’t allow that, but he wasn’t the manager. I think I might need to go back to Home Depot and ask for the manager. I would love to be able to set up my cart in front of Home Depot, especially now that I’m going to have me some Vienna promotional products to display, including an umbrella!
The Doghouse
// Jan 21, 2010 at 10:17 pm
Jeff d,I will be starting the actual build in the beginning of march and will be taking pictures of every step,if its alright with Steve I will I will send him the pics to post if he wants.
Jeff D.
// Jan 23, 2010 at 10:44 pm
Cool, Thanks. Keep an eye out Steve. This should be interesting.