Starting a Small Moblie Vending BBQ business

Search the site here for a poster named "prisonchef" and his wife "twogreyhounds" (or 2greyhounds). He did exactly what you're talking about in Fla. a few years back and his posts will get you moving in the right direction.

First question is, what does the local Health Dept require? That will tell you if you have to have a commissary or the trailer could potential even be an option.

I did a search for you, under Advanced Find, I put in "prisonchef" for the Pros forum. Unfortunately it's a lot of pages (he was VERY prolific in here):

Search on PrisonChef

Here's one link from the search:

Took the Plunge

thanks guys, i did and found alot.
also on a side not i did notice he had not posted in a while so i searched him out on internet, found him on eons.com, he has the trailer up for sell as he and his wife both have huge medical problems? I sent him a e-mail as he is trying to sell the trailer he talked about having trailer- tech build on this site. I am interested in it as it is already approved in Florida and that would let us start competing earlier in comps and selling a little on the side. I am stil interested in a FEC 5oo though, would look good on the lania. thanks so much for the help

quote:

Originally posted by THENAKEDCHEF2:
I am stil interested in a FEC 5oo though, would look good on the lania.

Any idea on quantity? The 300 would get a lot done, just a question of price range and quantity you need to cook.

For the small difference in price I would go with the 500. I had one on a trailer and loved it.

yes, looked at 300 and it would work great, but 500 is just a little more money and would work also.
what i do is unique, or so i think. I smoke on my T's now,Ribs and Butt, let them cool back to 140, then foodsaver them and freeze with dry ice in cooler. This allow the bark to stay tight, smoke to stay good and freezes them quickly for no worry.My customer base is on vacation, from Europe, no hassle, no work, they just have to put foodsaver bag of Pulled Pork or Ribs in a pot of boiling water, bring up to temp, cut open bag and walla, Juicy, tasty and still smells like smoke with no mess except plates. It has worked well for me and they are here for 1-2 weeks vacation at most then back to Europe and tell their friends about the southern cooking. All the competition is chains with sub par Q and then they have to go out to restuarant and pay $23.00 a slab for subpar ribs or $7.99 for a pork butt sandwich. I sell Ribs, St Lous style for $18.00 slab and Pulled pork for $18.00 for 3# bag. Has worked for me every winter so far. KISS has worked real well for me and I like to keep lots of inventory frozen , ready to go when they get home from Disney and call for Delivery. I am open to Ideas though, and will see as I am starting to compete in the Florida BBQ Ass cook offs this winter and want to branch out and sell at the events as well. Hence looking for a nice rig to take to cook-offs and have the ease of being a pellethead. I have done well with the Oregon stuff and have been pleased with the service and new the owner , but now they sold out and found out about CS and their service level and they are alot closer, want to step up to the next level and try something new and exciting, with the support i have seen here, i don't think i can go wrong. Lurked for a long time and have been really impressed with the support structure here and Donna and John respond quickly to any answer i have had. That alone makes me want to become a customer of a well run operation. With a Sales Manager background for 20+ years, service is what sets the elite apart. Price sells one time, Service sells everytime. I hope to be here a while and continue to learn from the Masters that spend time helping other learn the art of Great BBQ.

Prisonchef, (Jack, I think his name is) has posted his trailer for sale on several boards. There seems to be a fair number of interested buyers, but they are having a hard time contacting him. I'm not sure what the nature of the health problems are, but I wish him and his wife the best. Hopefully someone can find a way to contact them if they really need to sell the trailer.

Okie, your advice is well taken.
Grand ideas for the 500, but after a lot of thought, and reading more and more everyday, this retirement early deal, gives a lot of time to think, much less the economy, we won't got there, but just wanting to pursue my passion while I can. Anyway, ordered and will receive a FEC100 next week, start slow and build up to want i want to be. Can't wait though, for it to get here.