Food Trucks Paying it Forward

My hot doggin compatriot, Mark Gallant of "The Dogfather" just picked up his second Hot Dog Truck. Aint it a beauty? I am happy for him, he works hard at the hot dog business and I am glad he's finding success. Mark says "treat every customer like he's your friend," and you will be successful. It doesn't hurt having extreme hot dogs either! I can't wait to go check out his new rig.

Another reason Mark is successful is he is a "pay it forward" guy. He's always doing things to help his community, like the annual chili dog eating contest he sponsors to benefit a local church. He plans on doing much more charity type stuff and has even started a Facebook group called  Food Trucks Paying it Forward. 

Mark describes his mission:

"The food truck craze is sweeping the country. Let's face it...nobody NEEDS a visit to a food truck...but eating off a really good food truck makes you feel good! There's lots of people who can't get out to a truck. Why not take the truck to them? Homeless or veterans shelters, the elderly, family shelters, etc. If you're an owner of a food truck, an administrator of a shelter or home, or someone who just wants to volunteer to help on the truck, please post your thoughts and comments here. Maybe through social media we can make a small difference in someone's life, and they in turn can do the same for someone else."

If you own a food truck (or cart or trailer), I urge you to check out his group and join. Think about how you could make a difference- even a small difference- by bringing a little mobile food magic into someone's life.

I have taken Mark's message to heart and will be doing something in my community next week, but THAT's another story for another day.

National Hot Dog Month Tour 2012 Day 5

July 5, 2012 was day 5 of my National Hot Dog Month Tour. I found myself in Worcester, MA at The Dogfather: Worcester's ONLY Extreme Hot Dog Truck.

The last time I visited The Dogfather, owner Mark Gallant was putting on his annual Chili Dog Eating Contest. While it was a fun event to cover, I don't go for eating contests. 

Another famous contest got a LOT of press the past few days: Nathan's Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. The winner, Joey Chestnut, ate 68 hot dogs in ten minutes. That's more than twice as many hot dogs as I will eat all month!

The National Hot Dog Month Tour isn't about eating to compete, it's about celebrating each vendor and each unique spin on the American staple they create. Some places are more traditional in their approach while other places push the encased meat's culinary extremes.

The Dogfather is a place that creates hot dog concoctions that are out of the ordinary. I heard Mark had come up with a new creation, so I headed on out to see what it was.

Catch The Dogfather on Hot Dog Stories

A Hot Dog a Day Number 28: The Dogfather in Worcester, MA

Day 28 of my quest to eat a hot dog a day at a different venue in honor of National Hot Dog Month brought me back to Worcester to The Dogfather on Holden Street in Worcester. I visited this place back in May when owner Mark Gallant was staging a chili dog eating contest to raise money for charity. You can see that write up and video on Hot Dog Stories.

The Dogfather is self billed as Worcester's only Extreme hot Dog Truck.

The menu would bear that out.

You get a free bumper sticker with every purchase.

This guy was looking for some scraps.

I ordered a "Fredo." That's a Kayem hot dog served on a grilled, split top roll with Mark's home made chili and cheese. The puppy would get a bit of my spillage.

Of course I 

CHOWED DOWN!

Happy National Hot Dog Month!

Stop by The Dogfather for a chili dog and tell Mark "the Hotdogman sent me."

Get the full story on Hot Dog Stories.

A Hot Dog a Day Number 25: George's Coney Island in Worcester

July 25th, the 25th day of my quest to eat a hot dog a day in honor of National Hot Dog Month, brought me to one of the region's hot dog icons: George's Coney Island on Southbridge Street in Worcester. The circa 1937 art deco exterior and neon sign are like a beacon for hot dog lovers everywhere.

Third generation business owner Kathryn Tsandikos greeted me warmly and was eager to share the story of her family's ascent to the top of the heap in local hot dog lore. She has a deep appreciation and respect for the position George's has in the heart of the community. George's Coney Island is in rare company, it's one of very few hot dog joints that have been in business for over 90 years. Kathryn's grandparents bought a small hot dog stand from a friend in 1920 and remodeled in 1937 to make it into the George's it is to this day. The neon sign was designed to emulate George, Kathryn's grandfather, grasping a hot dog in his hand.

The interior looks essentially the same as it did in 1937, with the exception of the digital juke box.

The menu has remained largely unchanged too. There are burgers, grilled cheeses, and egg sandwiches but it's the hot dogs with "the works" that are the real stars of the show. 

The place was slammed with customers well before noon.

Customers line up at the counter for their hot dogs, then seat themselves at one of the many graffiti covered tables. For over 70 years, patrons of George's Coney Island have carved their names into the wooden booths. It's a practice that is not condoned, but tolerated as long as it doesn't get destructive.

This chair that is reminiscent of old fashioned classroom desks is one of three remaining from the pre 1937 furnishings. It's on display in the front window.

The bar in the adjacent room looks as if it was still vintage 1937- with the exception of the LCD TV.

While the history, decor, and ambiance is a big part of the experience, as I said before, it's the hot  dogs that are the star of the show. The Coney Island sauce is the premier component of a dog with the works at George's; just put it on top of one of the over 1,000 grilled Kayem hot dogs served here daily, add some onions and mustard and you have a little piece of heaven. Kathryn makes the sauce and closely guards the secret recipe.

The sauce simmers on the stove top awaiting hot dogs to top.

The finished products ooze deliciousness.

I ordered one with the works and

CHOWED DOWN!

The Coney Sauce has a nice bite, without being overpowering and dominating the other flavors. Balanced with the hot dog, onions, and mustard, the Coney sauce adds the right balance to make this one of the finest dogs you'll find. 90 years worth of patrons wouldn't keep coming back if the food wasn't good!

There are just too many thumbs up to count. George's Coney Island is a full on hot dog and Americana experience. As one patron said to me today, "it's the only hot dog worth driving for."

You simply MUST try George's Coney Island if you are to be considered a true hot dog aficionado. The place deserves mecca like status in the hot dog religion.

GO TO GEORGE'S CONEY ISLAND! Give Kathryn the "Coney Island Handshake" and tell her "the Hotdogman sent me." You will not be sorry.

HAPPY NATIONAL HOT DOG MONTH!

View a  video of my visit to George's Coney Island on Hot Dog Stories.

All Hail the Chili Dog Eating CHAMP

Saturday afternoon, I went out to Worcester to The Dogfather, a year old hot dog business run out of a Grumman hot dog truck for their first annual Chili Dog Eating Contest.

The contest was to benefit the Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester who happens to be the Dogfather's landlord. Owner Mark Gallant-the Dogfather himself- wanted to have a contest and he figured he'd help out the church who has been so kind to him and supplied him with a top notch location for his hot dog truck. There were 15 contestants and a couple hundred spectators at the event and judging from the smiles on everyone's faces (and the chili on quite a few shirts), a good time was had by all.

Area resident Kurt Champagne- pictured below with Dogfather owner, Mark Gallant, took home "The Weiner Award." He won the contest by eating 13 chili dogs in 15 minutes. The next closest competitor downed 12 chili dogs. 

I shot a Hot Dog Story while at the event- the video is live today at www.HotDogStories.com.