Archive for November 2009

Many businesses take great pains in complying with health regulations in the food cart business. In the health seminar provided by many local offices on the proper food handling techniques, there are certain rules that are set forth to make the food preparation process compliant with the legal requirements.

Do: Always use gloves when handling food. This is to avoid bare skin contact with the food. Unlike in restaurants where it is a climate-controlled environment, the food cart is out in the open. Thus, there is greater susceptibility for germs to attach to the skin and hands and be transferred to the food.

Don’t: When using gloves, avoid using one set of gloves when handling different kinds of ingredients. In doing this, you stand the chance of cross contaminating the food ingredients with germs or bacteria from other ingredients. For example, chemicals from lettuce or other greens would contaminate cheese or mayonnaise causing it to mold and spoil. So you need to use a different set of gloves for each ingredient when putting together the food.

Do: Wash your hands whenever you leave the food preparation area. This can be as simple as handing over cash at the register or receiving deliveries to your food cart. This is important as errant bacteria may come and contaminate the food particles. So it is important that the food cart employee understands the importance of washing up when not handling food or stops in the food preparation.

Don’t: Avoid shaking hands of others or touching body parts be it your own or others when on the clock. You will never know what the other person has touched before shaking your hand. They may carry some superbugs and even vigorous washing cannot remove them from your hands. Also, scratching, picking your nose or other body touching activities are definite no-nos for a food server. There may be some errant germs that may be transferred to the food and cause illness to your clients.

These simple do’s and don’ts are the basis taught in health seminars all throughout the country. In essence, they provide the proper use of gloves and the sanitary requirements in food handling. When you comply with these simple guidelines, you are sure to keep your food clean and keep your customers safe.

Operating a food cart business presents a whole new set of processes. Unlike a normal restaurant business, the food cart business is what is now termed as fast food to go. In order to operate this kind of business, it takes a special kind of person to be on top of things during the course of the day. Here are the qualities that a food cart employee should have when at the cart serving customers.

Can think on their feet. Since the business day operates with the employee on their feet, they must be able to get the orders, prepare the food, observe the portions, keep clean and serve the order properly consistently while on their feet. If they tire easily standing up for most of the day, then their performance would dip and this can hurt your bottom line.

Must be good with numbers. Getting the orders right is only half the fun when your employee is on the job. The food cart employee should also be able to calculate the cost of the order and give the exact change easily. Though a calculator can be used, handling equipment will only increase the waiting time of the customer, as one needs to take off gloves and then wear it again. So being able to calculate costs in their head and give the exact change quickly and accurately is one of the musts for a good food cart employee.

Great public relations. Being familiar with client’s regular orders and their names are but some of the skills needed to be a good public relations person. With good public relations with the customers and with great service will surely make them come back for more.

Must be clean and smart looking. Being clean with the food is imperative to be allowed to operate the food cart. The hygiene of the food handler also comes to fore as they may be carriers of bacteria and other germs. If the food cart employee is sick or has poor hygiene, they are certain to spoil the food as well as the appetite of the clients.

As you can see, the food cart employee needs to don many hats while operating your business. They need to think fast on their feet so that they can handle the food preparation process as well as serve the food to your waiting clientele. They also need to be good with numbers so they can compute the bill for the orders. The food cart employee also needs to be part salesman and part public relations officer, as they need to cozy up to clients to retain them as loyal customers. Finally, they need to look smart and observe impeccable hygiene to show the professionalism as well as the quality of food being served.

Cleanliness they say is next to godliness. This means being clean and keeping clean is one of the most admired and lauded virtues an individual can retain. This cleanliness is raised to an exponential level when it comes to the food cart business. Here are the reasons why cleanliness and cleaning is important in the food cart business.

Removing food particles. Each food preparation has its own set of ingredients making its unique flavor and presentation. When food particles from one preparation gets mixed with another’s, then the flavors become muted or mixed, making for bad taste and even bad effects in the stomach.

Keeping away germs. Since the food cart is outdoors and subject to the elements, the risk of bacteria and germs getting into the food goes higher. Thus cleaning the food surfaces and other implements needs to be regularly done to remove the build up of these undesirable elements. Often, using a washcloth to wipe the surfaces with water and antiseptic can do the trick so long as you keep the washcloth cleaned and rinsed.

Looking at spoilage. Keeping clean not only is about the surfaces but also the food itself. You need to see the expiry dates for the bread and other perishable items. You also need to be fully aware of temperatures for frozen foods and other heat susceptible items such as mayonnaise and other garnishes. Keeping clean is not just about antiseptics and anti bacterials; it is also about being a good manager of your supplies.

Weekly top to bottom clean up. The everyday clean up of surfaces is not enough when it comes to really cleaning your food cart. Each week, you need to do a top to bottom clean up of your food cart to remove the residue and build up of the past week’s business. You also can see the condition of your cart with this full dress down clean up. Not only it removes the dirt and oil from the nooks and crannies of your food cart, it also keeps your food cart in great pristine condition.

The adage remains true especially for the food cart business. A good clean cart is an effective marketing tool as well as makes your service nice and tasty. The basic cleaning technique of wiping surfaces of food particles is the first step in keeping your food and food cart clean. You also need to keep away germs and bacteria from your food by looking out for spoilage and residue build up. Finally, you need to do a weekly top to bottom clean up to ensure your food as well as your service is free and clean of bacteria. It is in keeping clean that one can become a success in the food cart business.

Here’s the clip from the Classic New Yorker’s Appearance
on the “Price is Right”

Selling is the oldest business in human history. In the annals of human evolution, the individual is able to sell what they have either for barter or money. Selling food is one of the best businesses that have sprung forth from human interaction. The following are the reasons why selling food is good business.

Food is in constant demand. It is one of the basic needs of an individual. Not everyone though has the time or the skill to be able to cook food. To address this demand, many enterprising individuals started to use their skills and skillets to cook food. From here on end, people have chosen to go to these skilled cooks for their repast. Now, one of the most constant and consistent businesses that have earned money are those in the food service. These can be as simple as hot dog stands to fine dining cuisine in a Michelin starred restaurant.

Food is both an art and a science. Dining is always an experience for the senses. In order to make it a truly pleasurable experience, skilled chefs learn the art and science of food. They undertake long hours of study and preparation, together with beads of sweat and effort to give you the best culinary experience. Even in simple food concessions, a lot of science is put into the cooking process to ensure that the food is properly prepared. There is also an art involved as presentation is the key in enticing patrons and clients to purchase their food. In this way, the art and science of selling food makes it a good business.

Food never goes out of style. No matter how ancient or original the recipe is, so long as it tastes good and is fulfilling, food never goes out of style. Often, specialty food preparations get long reservation lines from loyal patrons. The price of the food also has no cap as one can charge $1000 a meal or just $2.99 for a snack. With this in mind, the only Achilles heel of food is the season. Sometimes the ingredients are not always available or are hard to find. This is the only limitation to the depth and breadth of the food preparation. Ultimately, it is the food that is good and hearty that would make the business take off.

As can be seen, selling food is definitely good business. The demand for food is constant and with the increase in population, food demand is definitely on the increase. The art and science of the food preparation is the centerpiece of the business. Making good food makes for good business. Finally, food never goes out of style. No matter what the season is and no matter the time of day, food is still wanted and needed. With all these in tow, how else can you lose in the business of selling food?

The operating times and placement of a cart are two important variables to review thoroughly before beginning a hot dog cart establishment. Contacting your local business license officials is crucial. All paperwork should be properly filled and filed if your goal is to avoid penalties and stay in business.

You have to submit schematics to your local health department to prove that the cart selected meets the department’s requirements. There will be health department standards that tell you the various structural details you’ll be required to comply with, such as the number of usable sinks.

You can expect to spend as much as fifty dollars for a permit and two hundred and fifty dollars. Each county treats it differently.
Health departments for each municipality monitor disease control. A food handling course may also be a requirement. This is important even if not legally required of your business. A course to teach you how to handle food may be as short as four hours or as long as two or three full days of work. This will allow you to access all applicable local health requirements your hot dog business must follow. You are going to need to pay an extra amount to take this course. It might be obtained from the health department or from a company that is a legitimate food service.
You may need to submit specifications about your hot dog cart to the appropriate health authority. They’re trying to check if the hotdog cart meets all of their local health codes requirements. The Cart Selection section that shows the pictures of all the various hot dog carts also is the section one can download details, drawings and specifications.

A number of county health departments will require that your cart be NSF approved. NSF is (National Sanitation Foundation) Certain standard of design, operation and materials of construction, is a quality assurance agency that certifies that food equipment meets. A reputable hot dog vendor that is a leader in hot dog cart design and manufacture will find that this approval is not a problem. nsf accreditation is an added bolt on with an extra charge for the certificate for your choice of cart You must mention this when you place your order to ensure that the process, including paperwork and procedures are performed correctly on your hot-dog cart if you need NSF Certification.

In these dire financial times, maximizing the meager amounts available to you is a must. You need to both tighten your belt as well as stretch your hard earned dollars to make the most for your nutritional needs. It is in these hard and difficult times that the hotdog can become the centerpiece of most meals for you and your family. Here are the reasons why the hotdog can achieve these well-meaning ends.

Cheap food. Literally, the hotdog, per piece is a cheap food item. Since the hotdog is made up of processed meat products and nutrients, it is a cheap alternative to other more expensive food items like meat or beef. It contains protein, vitamins and other important nutrients that are packed into an individual dog for your consumption. It can be stretched by cutting it up into pieces to create the illusion of more food on your plate.

Variety in Serving. The hotdog can be served in a multitude of ways. It can be steamed or fried. It can be served as a sandwich or as the prime ingredient in many recipes. It can be part of a stew or a savory dish making it a versatile ingredient for many recipes. All you need to do is be creative and find the right recipe to highlight the hotdog on your dinner table.

Children will eat it. You won’t have to worry about children being picky about their food especially if you served up a rather expensive meal. Children love hotdogs and making them a meal for them can ensure your kids would be properly nourished during their daily activities.

As you can see, the hotdog provides a great reason to be one of your penny-pinching meal preparations at any meal. It is very cheap, as you can purchase it by the pound and still have some left for the next meal. The hotdog can be served in a variety of ways and is easy to cook. Lastly, children will sure to eat a meal with hotdogs, as this is one of the more familiar food items they are sure to eat. The above are but some of the reasons why the hotdog is one of the best penny pinching meals available for you and your family.

The business of hot dog concessions is broken into two major schools. The schools are differentiated by the kind of workplaces they provide for their workers and the eating areas the clients can patronize. The first school is a hotdog stand while the second one is a hotdog cart. There has been an ongoing debate on which one is a better business. This article serves to end that debate and illustrate why hotdog carts are better than hot dog stands.

Hot dog carts are more durable. Hot dog carts are often made out of durable stainless steel. Their design is adjustable to allow a differentiated design to answer all the needs and requirements of the locality’s health standards. It is easy to clean and very versatile. The hot dog stand on the other hand is often made of wood and is limited to the ability of the structure to handle the content load. This limits the options available to the offerings that a hot dog stand can provide unlike what a hot dog cart can provide.

Hot dog carts are mobile. Many hot dog carts are placed unto a trailer with wheels. This makes them transportable via towing them on a truck or car. It is this mobility that differentiates it from a hot dog stand. A hotdog stand once built cannot be moved to another location. This limits the client base of a hot dog stand. The mobility of hot dog carts is its biggest asset as it makes for more options for business. It can easily be packed and moved at a moment’s notice and be up and running in no time at all.

Hot dog carts are better protected. The whole body of the hotdog cart is made of stainless steel. This makes them better protected against rodents and other vermin. The steel can discourage them from rending and burrowing into your food supplies. On the other hand, hot dog stands are made of wood and other light materials. This makes them easy to attack and invade. Once the outer wall has been breached, your supplies and other material are at the mercy of the germs and bacteria these nuisances bring.

As you can see, hot dog carts are better than hot dog stands. Hot dog carts, because of their stainless steel body are more durable to withstand the elements and the stress of the business demand. The mobility of hot dog carts allows them to reach out to a wider client base and thus be able to earn more for your income. Finally, the food stores and supplies are better protected against vermin and other dangerous bacteria carrying insects. The stainless steel allows it to repel these invaders and thus assure a cleaner and safer business. All these put together makes the hot dog cart the better business than a hot dog stand.

One of the cornerstones of the American Dream is striking it rich as an entrepreneur. But the road to riches is paved with a lot of hardship and stress. In order to avoid this, here are some tips to avoid the pitfalls of first time entrepreneurs and make your business not only profitable but hassle free.

Take time to research. Many first time entrepreneurs often plunge head first into the business without adequate knowledge of the risks they are undertaking. Before engaging in any kind of business, it is important that you are very well informed of the business, the product and the risks you are undertaking. By identifying problems before going into the nitty gritty, you can be well prepared for the task that lies ahead.

Canvass your costs. Since you would be spending a lot in the business you are undertaking, you need to be very conservative with the money you pay out. You do this by finding the lowest cost for items you would need for your business. In finding these discounted and bargain items, you will be able to stretch the money you have for your business.

Observe the competition. The best way to learn is to observe the mistakes of others in the same business and avoid doing them yourself. With this you need to take time out to visit other hot dog stands to find out what clicks and what doesn’t. By making a list of these positive factors, you can incorporate these ideas into your business processes and see how it affects your business.

These may seem to be concepts that are high up in the air. Research can be done even before purchasing any item for your business. The adage that knowledge is power rings so true when it comes to business. As a prudent businessperson, you need to find the lowest cost and highest quality item that would form part of your business. Having low quality and cheap ingredients may end up hurting your business. So you need to find the balance between quality and price. Finally, looking around and seeing the competition not only drives you to do better than what they make. You do this by observing their activities and making your business process an improvement of what they have. With all these, you can overcome the trials of a first time entrepreneur.

When you are in a public park or an outdoor event, you are sure to find a hotdog cart in the area. You can also see there are many people milling around the hot dog stand, looking in and often buying many hotdogs. There is a reason why this is such a regular sight to see and here are the reasons why the allure of hot dog stands attracts many patrons.

A full meal. A hotdog stand provides a customer a full meal at a cheap price. The hotdog provides much protein and nutrients to help you on your way during the event or park. It is cheap as it is often doesn’t cost much more than five dollars. The sandwich provides the fiber and the garnishing provides the flavor for the full meal available to you.

Food to go. Aside from waiting in line, you don’t spend much time waiting for the food to be prepared. Once you’ve paid for it, you can easily walk away and eat your meal right as you enjoy the sights. It may be a little messy to eat but it is often served on disposable wrapping or plates that can save you the hassle in eating it.

Fun Food. Hotdogs are often served in bright colored ways. It can be cut up and broiled and the aroma wafts throughout the immediate area making you hungry. The garnishing are brightly colored, making it not only appealing to the palate, it is a feast for the eyes. Also, it is one of the foods that children are sure to enjoy, be it on a stick or in a bun. Having a hotdog will surely make your meal enjoyable.

As you can see, the allure of the hotdog stand is in the food that is served. The hotdog sandwich is a full meal served on wheels. It is easy to prepare and easy to eat as it is one of the fast foods to go. Finally, it is fun food that is sure that children would enjoy as you enjoy the afternoon out in the sun.