I've played paintball for over 8 years and of all the tournaments i've been to, not too many have food on site. Now that i'm in school and whatnot, that's my idea.. to bring food to the players/spectators/employees running the show. Something simple like hotdogs/hamburgers and chopped beef.
I guess my question is, what kind of utilities will I need to be portable, and simple? Will a grill/smoker pass for a kitchen inspection?

By Mbw (Mbw) on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 01:21 am: Edit

Get your red hots!

Sounds like you need a darn hot dog cart.

By Snuffaluff (Snuffaluff) on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 08:21 am: Edit

gee, thanks for posting after 2months have gone by. The opertunity has already come and gone. It's hard to find help when ya need it eh?
and I know that I needed a cart, and was looking at them, but I was ... oh nevermind... it's over now anyways.

By Chefspike (Chefspike) on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 08:31 am: Edit

it's not over til the fat lady sings........
(oops, i mean the fat challanged lady)

By Peachcreek (Peachcreek) on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 04:18 pm: Edit

Hey, I'm sorry I missed the thread 2 months ago. My experience with this is I call it vending, not really catering. And I don't like vending. There is no guarantee of anything. When I cater I know the food is paid for and can work out my expenses from there. I have vended for a number of different events and think that even though I have done OK some times I have worked my butt off for practically nothing on others. I know some people do great at it all of the time. Another thing is that usually if a pro isn't already filling the niche, there may be a good reason.

A story. A few years ago we stayed open to vend out of our restaurant for a local street fair that was going on right out in from of our place. Since we own the sidewalk, the fair officials said that we could vend without having to pay the vendor fee. Cool. Along with the few bars and other restaurants around us, there were at least a dozen food vendors who paid for spaces. So the fair association has a couple of booths down the street, and guess what! They are giving away food! Free baked potatoes and soda pop. The vendors just got killed. They gave away thousands of free potatoes. I felt really bad for the folks that had to pay to be there. I might have broke even or a little better but still, what a pain...

By Chefspike (Chefspike) on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 11:40 pm: Edit

1. buy stationwagon with fold down tailgate.
2. buy propane grills.
3. buy pots, cooler, ice, pop.
4. buy hotdogs, buns, fix'ens, ect.
5. make chili as hot as a lolita from france.
6. park and feed the meter every 2 hours.
7. feed the cops for free, everyday. everyweek.
8. whistle at all the pretty girls from the
office buildings.
9. don't forget to take the dog, cause he likes
to bark too.

By Snuffaluff (Snuffaluff) on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 - 08:48 am: Edit

spike... you crack me up man.
I know it's "vending" and not catering, but I'd still like it to sound better...lol I checked out carts that pull behind the truck; with built in grill. Very nice stuff, but fairly expensive too. The idea was to run on one particular field(home base if you will) and then cater out to the events around the metroplex here. There are tons of small events(50+\-) and probably a dozen or so large events(200+). I'd try to use the small events and the "home base" to keep afloat and the large events to make the extra income. These are ofcourse just ideas so far. I've contacted the health dept and they say I need to have a cert. food manager on-site. So, I'd have to go take some 1-2day class and get a cert. blah blah blah... maybe next year??

By Chefmanny (Chefmanny) on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 - 10:07 am: Edit

There's big $$$$$ in vending if you do it right!!!!!
It's a captive audience and they appreciate almost anything you throw at them! If it's quality.....they'll love you

By Snuffaluff (Snuffaluff) on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 - 12:24 pm: Edit

that's kinda what I was thinking manny. There's hardly ever food at these events, so I'm thinking that they will eat whatever I throw at em! lol

By Corey (Corey) on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 - 05:10 pm: Edit

check out: http://www.allamericanhotdog.com/home.htm
I see you can get a nice trailer unit there for less than 3000.00. I was checking this out too.
have dogs, will travel.

By Chefspike (Chefspike) on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 - 11:02 pm: Edit

have dogs, will travel?...HaHaHaHaHaHaHa!
thats good.
a guy named frank here in simi valley, ca. is selling his wagon/cart and biz, and inventory, for 26,000. he took a cart/wagon and put it in a roach coach housing. it's a great set-up. me and the frigg'in dog eat there twice a week. hot dogs. he's an old new yorker, real nice guy. pulls the whole thing behind his truck. has a fold away awning for it and carries a couple of chairs and a table. the frigg'in dog loves sitt'in at that damn plastic table, eating hot dogs till he throws up in the back seat on the way home.
I had a date did that once.

By Corey (Corey) on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 - 11:57 pm: Edit

talk about a dog eat dog world...
course, my cat likes a good dog once in a while.