CLEVELAND — Rachel Ventura's motto is "hot dogs for everyone," and judging by the line that typically forms at her tricked-out hot dog cart FrankieLynn, there is truth behind the proclamation.
Ventura launched her gourmet hot dog business a couple years back after discovering the appeal and flexibility of a portable food cart. She landed on hot dogs because, well, everybody loves a great hot dog.
"I love the mobility of the hot dog cart," she said. "I love to be able to take it wherever I want, go to events, and just be out as much or as little as I wanted to."
While hot dogs might be simple, familiar, and appealing, Ventura opted to go in a non-traditional route. Unlike those found at most sidewalk carts, these dogs don't languish in tepid water; they are grilled to order over an open flame. Better still, they're all-beef hot dogs made by Cleveland-based butcher shop J & J Czuchraj Meats.
In fact, pretty much everything that comes off the FrankieLynn hot dog cart is proudly made in Cleveland.
"When I got the hot dog cart, I knew that I didn't want to just have regular old hot dogs," Ventura explained. "Everything on the whole menu is made in Cleveland."
In addition to the dogs, the buns are baked by Nolan Tidwell, pastry chef at Creekside Restaurant in Brecksville. Kraut lovers will find products from Cleveland Kitchen, the whole-seed mustard hails from Old Brooklyn's POP Mustards, the ketchup from Cleveland Ketchup, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Customers can build their own creation or order from a menu of pre-designed "favorites." The popular Old Brooklyn Dog starts with a grilled quarter-pound dog. It gets topped with fresh-made carrot slaw, POP Mustard, Home Pantry hot pepper jam, and Fuego Fermentations hot sauce.
As any hot dog aficionado will tell you, the snap of a natural casing wiener makes all the difference.
"People always love that snap," Ventura concurred.
You can find Ventura and her hot dog cart at farmers markets, breweries, and neighborhood events. Check her website here for information.