A Critique of My Course/Book; "hot dogs saved my life"

After someone purchases the course; "hot dogs saved my life from www.BensCarts.com, they are sent a letter days later about sharing their thoughts on the course.  I do this not to feed my unquenchable ego, but to improve on my teaching skills.

I often receive a kind note, praising the content but I have also received feedback that is less than ego boosting.  However, this letter I received today was a must share and I hope you enjoy.  I am a little embarrassed by it's much too honest analysis.

Hello Ben,

You asked me for a review of your book, it is with great pleasure to oblige.

"hot dogs saved my life" is an epic adventure that will take every reader on an emotional roller-coaster ride. The adventure is reminiscent of Melville's "Moby Dick" and the mystery reminds the reader of the works of Christie. Immediately the reader knows the author has lived through the experience and has survived to tell about it not unlike Hemingway; the comedic undertones will recall fond memories of the works of Seuss. After thoroughly reading and enjoying "hot dogs saved my life" I have placed it on the shelf of my personal library right next to my signed original works of Shakespeare.

Okay, so it's a little over the top - but I loved it. I have to say the most memorable part was your definition of the ingredients of "Cheez-Whiz".

I have previously been involved with hot dog vending. I was on a business trip in Maui when I came across a man with a smoker sitting alongside the road selling hot dogs and Kabobs. I had to have a hot dog so I stopped. As I was enjoying my dog I watched many satisfied customers stop and buy dogs. I was so intrigued by this business I spent the next 3 days with him helping sell and learning the business.  

I was in a rewarding job that included a ton of stress and a ton of hours but my friend was sitting alongside a road in Hawaii "slingin' hot dogs", drinking beer, working 4-5 hours per day and making about 90K - this was business I could really get into. When I came home from Maui I researched the hot dog business, made big plans, ordered my smoker and submitted my resignation.

My first foray into the business was a large 4th of July festival - I made every mistake in the book but I had the time of my life and still somehow managed to make good money.

Why didn't I stick with it? After resigning my job and before I did that first event I was offered an incredible job. The salary was large and again so was the stress and hours worked.

Well, the world has turned - I am back to excessive hours and excessive stress and back to hot dogs being the answer.

I have gotten older and a little wiser - I am starting the business the right way this time and the wisest thing I have done is to get completely immersed into your video's and book. Had this information been available the first time I jumped into hot dogs I would have saved thousands of dollars. Not only would I have saved, I would have started the business differently and very likely would have been making money "slinging hot dogs" for the past 10 years.

You will be hearing from me again very soon - there is no one on the planet I would rather purchase my cart from.

Thank you for all you've done for this business and helping everyone. 

I believe the purpose of life is to serve others and all the rewards you receive, whether financial or spiritual are directly related to the number of people you serve - I hope you are enjoying the success you deserve.

I will talk with you soon,

Chris Larson

Well I must say that first paragraph couldn't have been more accurate.  Nail on the head!  I love an honest, straightforward, no hype critique.  If only the NY Times would pick it up now.  

If you are still wondering what all the hype is about: Here ya go!

Mind your QR - Quick Response Code

Sounds weird, why is this on a blog about hot dog vending?   QR has become more and more popular.  Ever since some smarty pants over at a subsidiary of Toyota invented the code - the more popular it has become.

What is it?  It's this!  Looks like a puzzle huh?  Well it's actually code that any QR reader can convert to the intended message.  Inside this code can be a URL (website address), email address, a phone number, a special message or about anything else you can imagine.

I bet you have seen them before, right?  Well now you know its a hidden message.  Anyone one with a camera equipped phone and free QR software can read them.

Originally designed for Toyota to be able to inventory parts easier this code can contain much more info than the standard bar codes we all are familiar with.

You can pick up the reader software for free and most smart phones can download the app for free.  Just Google QR app or QR reader.

You can also Google QR Generator and create your own special codes for flyers, business cards, on cart logos and more.  The possibilities are endless.

So get started today, post a comment and tell me where you used yours or even post your QR code on my Facebook Page for everyone to see.  Enjoy!

L-5 by Eccotemp and Chip Clips, lowest prices anywhere.

The drawback to pressurized water systems is that they push water so fast through the hot water line that you run out of hot water very quickly.  (in detail) With the addition of the L-5 hot water heater, you will only run out of hot water when you run out of water.

These units can be added to your cart fairly easy and will make your day even better.  They work off propane gas and have 2 D batteries.  When the unit senses water flow (you turn on the hot water) it ignites burners that heat the water as you use it.  Instant Hot Water - Continuously!  Finally!

We have been offering these heaters for over a year - but only sold them with a cart purchase and they included installation.

Since then we have started purchasing in bulk and can offer you the lowest prices on the web for these heaters.  We will also include instructions for hooking up to your LP Gas system and installation.   Click here to order

Chip clips are handy, they can display your chips, sunglasses and I even use them for ball caps.  They are hooked on the end so that you can hang from your umbrella slats.  Best of all, these clip strips are long, 31" and have 24 clips.  Right now we are offering these at a special price and can be shipped right to your door.   Sold in sets of 2, you get 48 clips in all.  You want find them at a better price anywhere.

Order Here

Hot Dog Cart - Buyer Beware!

Today I received a phone call from a gentleman that purchased a cart from a manufacturer online.  He states that he read carefully through their website and even gotten it pre-approved.

After receiving the cart he had the health inspector come inspect.  IT FAILED!!!

WHY?  The website states ( and I have reviewed) that the components meet or exceed related NSF standards and specifications.  They even display the NSF logo on the photos.   This lead the inspector, during the pre-approval review to suspect in fact the cart did meet NSF/ANSI standards.

Well it doesn't and here is the short list of violations:

1. Rivets around the prep and cooking area.
2. Improper edge gaps
3. All plumbing was not certified compliant by NSF/UL, only the pump.
4. Storage tank non-compliant.

This is the short list.

Note:  Not all but some manufacturers use diamond plate steel for the carts, this allows them to use inferior grade metals and allows them to use thinner metal.  It does look good on some carts, but when you find diamond plate used in areas where you cook or clean, RUN!  Diamond plate has ridges and is harder to clean and so most states do not allow it in the prep, storage and cooking areas.  

This cart may pass inspection in some states, but it didn't for him.  He has spent his money to only find that this Florida manufacturer offered misleading information and it even misled the inspector.

Ways to avoid this problem:

• Do your research online, search the manufacturer name, check with BBB, do a search at Ripoffreport.com, get on facebook and look for them, talk to other vendors and also check out Roadfood.com
• Take multiple pictures to the health inspector for pre-approval.  With pictures, the health inspector would have noticed the problems before he purchased.  He had only taken the schematics.  Also take the full description.   
• If the manufacturer is new and there isn't anything online about them, ask for references.  

There are several great manufacturers out there.  Don't get to rushed and do your homework.  

I interview a legend.

2 years ago I interviewed Mustards Last Stand owner.  Well ok, it wasn't his last stand, he has 3 or 4 now.  It has some good info and may inspire you.  

If you have any questions, please let me know.  http://www.benscarts.com/contact

Understanding Steam Pans, Sizes and Setup

CHAPTER 17

Pan set up


Excerpt from Ben's Course Book:  "hot dogs saved my life"

Are you confused?

When I first started in the business, I was very confused on the pans, the types, the sizes, etc. It really sounded overwhelming. I am going to give you the hillbilly class on pans, and it will all make perfect sense once I’m done with this chapter.

Hot dog carts use steam pans. This is just a term, and it doesn’t necessarily mean that you are going to be steaming anything. Nonetheless, all steam pans, also known as kitchen pans, share a simple sizing set up.

Above you have a full size pan(far left) then you have 1/2 size(top middle), below that you have two 1/4th size, then 1/3rd size(top right), just below two 1/6th size and then three 1/9th size pans.  You could put nine 1/9th size pans in the big pan and three 1/3rd size etc...

A steam table opening is 12” deep, 20” long. Pan depth can be 2 inches, 4 inches or 6 inches. 

You will find many hot dog cart manufacturers that sell carts that only hold 4” deep pans. This may limit you, so please do your homework.

A standard (full size pan) is 12” X 20” and whatever  depth you chose. 

If you are steaming dogs, you can put a full size spillage pan in the cart opening. A spillage pan is what you would use if you were going to steam items; it holds water and is about 6” deep. You would place two inches of water in the bottom, and then place the other pans in this one.

For example: if you were going to only steam, you could put a full size perforated pan inside the spillage pan. Now, the water below in the spillage pan will boil providing steam above in the perforated pan. This process will cook your hot dogs and steam your buns.

You would have a 6” deep spillage pan and a 4” deep perforated pan.  

Don’t panic! Perforated pans come in two common sizes: ½ size and full size. If you were going to use a spillage pan and wanted half for steaming, and then use the other 1/2 for something else you can. You could choose to use the other half with two 1/4th size pans instead of one 1/2 size pan. 1/4th size pans are great for holding kraut and chili or even cheese sauce. They still sit in the hot water, but they keep the food from burning or scorching; they don’t have holes. You can also use one ½ size perforated pan and one ½ size solid pan.

Remember what a full size pan is, right? OK. All of the other pan sizes are a division of the full size pan. This picture represents two ½-size pans.  Removing the spillage pan and using solid pans make it a direct heat set up; I use this method for boiling hot dogs. I purchase a 1/3 size pan that is 6” deep, and I put water inside to boil the dogs.

Here’s an example of using three 1/3 size pans: one for boiling, one for cooking onions and one for steaming. Yup, I said steaming. The trick is to find a 1/3 size pan that is perforated, and a 1/3 size spillage pan. It’s almost impossible. So, they have invented these handy plates to go in the bottom of the pans, called false bottoms. They are slotted, and they allow you to put water in the bottom of the pan; steam comes through the false bottom, thereby turning an individual pan into a steam pan.

You can check out all the options and order different pans from many places. Here’s one of my favorite companies: http://www.Katom.com

If you steam buns, I recommend a dome lid. These allow you to stack food higher and utilize more of the available space. You can imagine a standard 4” deep pan will not hold many buns if you want to put the lid on the pan, but if you get something like this, you will be able to cover an entire full size pan with a dome lid. Pan configuration underneath this doesn’t matter, but this roll top allows you more vertical area to stack buns or dogs.

Pans used for food in the U.S. must be certified ‘compliant’ to food safety laws, and a hinged lid violates the codes of food safety, because bacteria can grow inside the small areas of the hinge. So, as of my writing, there aren’t any Standard 59 compliant hinged lids.

If you have searched for a cart and found hinged pans, they will not meet state standards. The pan and lid may have an NSF or UL stamp, but once the cart manufacturer joins the two by welding a hinge, the compliancy is void. So be careful. I know a man that ordered a cart from a company, paid extra for the cart to be NSF, paid extra for the hinged lids, and when he was inspected in North Carolina, he immediately failed. All he had to do is go buy some new pans and lids, but what a waste of money.

Woooo Hoooo! You have it now! You know what a perforated pan is, a spillage pan and a one 1/3 size pan: you know how deep and all the other good stuff on pans. Right?

Okay. Please be careful when buying pans if the pans say ‘stackable,’ they are typically indented to allow for stacking. These types of pans, though, hinder you when insetting a pan into a spillage pan. You probably won’t have any issues if you will always make sure the spillage pan is not listed as ‘stackable.’

Clear as mud!

Just the Beginning of a SUCCESS STORY!

Hi there Ben. Happy 4th of July to you and your family. Thanks for the letter.

 

In the 30 days since receiving my cart, I have still not sold a hotdog yet. That does not mean I have been sitting on my hands, as there is much to do.

 

There are some time consuming lessons I have learned about the greater Las Vegas area HDV business:

 

1.    Health Permit-3 weeks after making your appointment for approval of the cart equipment. Of course you need a letter of authorization from the owner of the location where you will sell.

 

2,    The Business licenses (County and City) application processes take over 30 days to complete, after submission. I am in this waiting period now.

 

I will tell you that the BS people are subjected to, gives me the feeling they really don't want new businesses around here. I have complied, and am more determined than ever. The startup costs have now reached close to $9,000.

 

The other day, I needed some inspiration. So,  I picked up your book and started reading it again. I have decided that waiting, and being patient are not my strong suits. Despite all that, I have committed myself to developing marketing skills, and getting in front of people that can help me. Finding good sites (that are legal) to work is one of the primary keys to success. Your book has helped me to look in new places to find those sites.

 

Lastly, I have found that if someone tells me NO, what they mean is I have not said the right things, or they just need more schooling. Either way, I will get what I need to be successful. I am committed to staying motivated, and focused, even if it is 115 degrees outside. This too, shall pass.

 

Dennis Brumley

Las Vegas

 

ps. You have my permission to use my letter, or parts thereof to encourage others. Best wishes