Adrienne Benedetto, owner of Hotdog Hideout, wants to bring dirty water dogs to Maryland, but her food truck menu offers much more than this well-known and popular treat.

December 13, 2021 | Author: Judy Mottl — Editor, RetailCustomerExperience.com

Food Truck Name: Hot Dog Hideout

How many trucks do you operate under this brand? 1

Do you also operate border locations under this brand? No

What prompted you to start a food truck?

We moved to Maryland about nine years ago, and the one thing you won’t find on any street corner is a good hot dog truck. Coming from New Jersey, you will miss dirty water dogs and many other Jersey items.

When we finally decided to buy a trailer and started the process, just when we started to be hit by COVID, by March, my husband was unemployed because he was not an essential worker. We have no choice but to go all out to make this business grow rapidly. We put everything into the business and started to promote our trailers to the community, book parties, instead of people having to come out and stand in the crowd, we came to them.

What's on your dining car menu? Why did you choose this dish?

We were only planning to make a hot dog truck at first, but summer came and the swimming pool couldn't open their snack bar. I think this is another opportunity for our trucks to be exposed, and we have created a menu suitable for children at a favorable price. I started to touch the swimming pool and from there we broke out and have been very busy ever since. Our menu is very comprehensive, we have chicken tenders, buffalo wings, mozzarella sticks, french fries, macaroni and cheese wedges, etc. If you know something about college food trucks and the sandwiches they sell, they are also available on our trucks. It is called The Belly Buster Sandwich. On this sandwich, you have chicken tenderloin, French fries, and mozzarella sticks on a hoagie roll choked with marinara sauce. This is a classic sandwich from Jersey.

Do you make all the food on the truck or use the home kitchen or commissary space?

Everything is made on the truck when you order. The only item made in our commissary kitchen is our homemade chili. Your last bite is a little bit spicy.

What is the best part of becoming a food truck operator?

The best part of being a food truck operator is to meet all the great people who come to the truck or hire us for their events. Becoming a female food truck owner is not easy, but it is fun.

What is the worst part of operating a food truck?

For me, the worst part of operating a food truck is working long hours. I am in charge of all aspects of the business, and my husband is in charge of the truck. I have 10 hours or more per day to follow up on phone calls, emails, and booking dates.

I am also trying to make everyone understand that I am a business owner and I am trying to make a name for myself and make this business pass to my children long after I leave.

Since the introduction of the truck, what lessons have you learned?

I learned that driving a truck is not easy. This is very time consuming and many factors need to be considered when pricing the project. I am still learning a lot about being a food truck owner. But it is a great way to meet people and do things we have never done before. We are now helping communities, schools, churches and fundraising events more than ever before.

Did you do anything different in the beginning?

Haha, what would I do? There are a few things, but if I do things differently, I might not do it here.

Any tips/recommendations for others considering launching food trucks?

Research, research, research! ! ! It all starts with finding the right place to build your truck. This is not an easy job, whether you are behind the scenes or on the truck, it is hard work. We are not a restaurant. We have limited working space and limited time to prepare things. You cannot control everything that happens outside the truck at work, so don't take it to heart. You can only control what you are doing.

Do you have any anecdotes about operating a food truck-any unique interactions or special events you have booked?

We have the honor to participate in many wonderful children's parties, fundraising events and Big Bounce events! We have had an amazing year, full of fun and love from our followers. We hope that 2022 will be bigger and better. There is no event that we can't accommodate

Judy Mottl is the editor of retail customer experience and food truck operators. She has decades of experience as a reporter, writer and editor, covering technology and business for top media including AOL, InformationWeek and InternetNews.

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