Paycom Center outside Hot Dog vendor

[barrettd]

I walked past the referenced vendor on the corner after the Knicks game. The thing I can promise you, after many ears of working around this type of thing, is that that the vendor isn’t permitted. Among other things the setup itself doesn’t comply with multiple health department requirements. It was basically an open grill sitting on a TV tray.

That said, I still might’ve bought one if I hadn’t been in a hurry. They looked/smelled delicious, despite the third world setup. The best tamales I’ve ever eaten were sold out of a five gallon bucket fetched from the trunk of a seventies model Cadillac. Sometimes you have to have a sense of adventure or you’ll miss out on some of life’s best experiences.

OK this gave me a laugh this morning! Talking about all the issues with it, but you still would have absolutely grabbed one. Reminds me of going to a bar that wasn't in my usual neighborhood to see a friend play piano with a band. Out back they had a barrel grill and were cooking chicken legs. Serving right off the grill, I don't even remember paying for them. Best grilled chicken I've had, to this day.

I'm with you on taking a chance. I feel like I take a chance every time I eat a hot dog anyway.

[jedicurt]

OK this gave me a laugh this morning! Talking about all the issues with it, but you still would have absolutely grabbed one. Reminds me of going to a bar that wasn't in my usual neighborhood to see a friend play piano with a band. Out back they had a barrel grill and were cooking chicken legs. Serving right off the grill, I don't even remember paying for them. Best grilled chicken I've had, to this day.

I'm with you on taking a chance. I feel like I take a chance every time I eat a hot dog anyway.

there was a motorcycle repair shop in St. Louis that used to sell smoked ribs out the back door. it was kind of a hush hush sort of thing. no drinks, no sides, just beef ribs. total illegal, but man if i didn't get some every time i was in town for work. sadly, the bike shop closed during covid, so no more back alley ribs

[barrettd]

there was a motorcycle repair shop in St. Louis that used to sell smoked ribs out the back door. it was kind of a hush hush sort of thing. no drinks, no sides, just beef ribs. total illegal, but man if i didn't get some every time i was in town for work. sadly, the bike shop closed during covid, so no more back alley ribs

"back alley ribs"

[soonerguru]

Why are you trying to get them shut down? I think having food options after games is great

Right!

Please let us enjoy something without a permit.

For the love of all that is holy, please purchase an unlicensed hot dog or not and go on about your day.

[rayvaflav]

Tell me more about these hot dogs.

[dankrutka]

Tell me more about these hot dogs.

Bacon-wrapped and delicious.

[rayvaflav]

Bacon-wrapped and delicious.

I'm always on the hunt for a NYC-style pushcart dirty water hot dog. I'll check into this one at the next home game this upcoming Thursday, January 16th.

[kukblue1]

Are they really $10. I'll have to take cash with me next time I go. Is it better to get one right off the grill or already wrapped up for a softer bun?

[Rover]

I'm always on the hunt for a NYC-style pushcart dirty water hot dog. I'll check into this one at the next home game this upcoming Thursday, January 16th.

You are aware that all street vendors in NYC are regulated and must be licensed, right? They don’t just let anyone who wants to sell out of a bucket to do so.

I am curious if people will be upset at the “government” if people get sick from eating uninspected/unlicensed street food.

[BoulderSooner]

You are aware that all street vendors in NYC are regulated and must be licensed, right? They don’t just let anyone who wants to sell out of a bucket to do so.

I am curious if people will be upset at the “government” if people get sick from eating uninspected/unlicensed street food.

and tons of the street vendors in NYC are unlicensed and get tickets ... thousands of them a year

https://columbianewsservice.com/2024...r-livelihoods/

[Rover]

and tons of the street vendors in NYC are unlicensed and get tickets ... thousands of them a year

https://columbianewsservice.com/2024...r-livelihoods/

There are always rogues and people working the system.

[gjl]

Here is what I found: Yes, you need a permit to sell hot dogs in Oklahoma City, including:
Temporary food service license: Event organizers need to contact the Oklahoma City-County Health Department at least 10 business days before the event. The fee is $50 for the first day and $25 for each additional day.
Mobile food facility permit: This permit ensures that the space where you plan to prepare and serve food meets local food safety and worker safety standards.
Food business license: Licensing requirements vary by type of food business. For example, a full-service mobile food service establishment costs $150 per vehicle, while a pushcart vending license costs $60 per pushcart.
Seller's permit: All businesses that sell tangible goods subject to sales tax need a seller's permit.
Mobile retail license: This license costs $425 for the first year and $335 for renewal each year.
Peddler license: This license is required for anyone who travels from place to place selling food or beverages.
Outdoor seller's license: You can apply for this license through the City of OKC.
You can also sell homemade food in Oklahoma without a license if it's shelf-stable. However, if the food is time- or temperature-controlled, you must pass a food safety training course approved by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry

So it looks like all you need to do is take a food safety course?

Which ones of paying all these fees are guaranteeing you are buying a safe product to eat?

[ManAboutTown]

Which ones of paying all these fees are guaranteeing you are buying a safe product to eat?

NONE, because life doesn't come with guarantees.

But, American society is premised on safety and security and having a government that works to ensure those things to its citizens. Just as we need building inspectors, fire inspectors, health inspectors, etc., we need food safety inspectors. Those services come at a cost and that cost is passed on to the vendor. Pretty simple.

[CaptDave]

NONE, because life doesn't come with guarantees.

But, American society is premised on safety and security and having a government that works to ensure those things to its citizens. Just as we need building inspectors, fire inspectors, health inspectors, etc., we need food safety inspectors. Those services come at a cost and that cost is passed on to the vendor. Pretty simple.

True, but there's always the people that whine about "gubmint overreach" because 'Murica and #freedom. You know, the usual performative nonsense that is far too common now.

[ManAboutTown]

[gjl]

The point is you can have food safety without excessive licensing and fees.

[Rover]

The point is you can have food safety without excessive licensing and fees.

What fees are excessive? And how do you propose to pay for people hired to do inspections, etc., to make sure what you are getting is safe to eat and not going to give your kid food poisoning? T

[Rover]

Which ones of paying all these fees are guaranteeing you are buying a safe product to eat?

I expect all those that require you food safety training and inspections to make sure you are doing the right things? And, nothing GUARANTEES someone will go off the range, but reduces risk very measurably. Life isn't absolutes, but about reducing risk to a tolerable level. Everyone seems to just think people will do the right things, but history doesn't teach us that. Training, regulations, inspections are all part of why life in the US is at a very high standard compared to almost all the rest of the world.

We have a bunch of people in the US who have no clue what life would actually be like without societal protections. They need to travel to places where there aren't the same and see what happens.

[gjl]

Why should i say which ones i think are excessive just to hear you say you dont agree? You obviously think everyone of those are necessary tosell a hot dog off a cart

[BoulderSooner]

I expect all those that require you food safety training and inspections to make sure you are doing the right things? And, nothing GUARANTEES someone will go off the range, but reduces risk very measurably. Life isn't absolutes, but about reducing risk to a tolerable level. Everyone seems to just think people will do the right things, but history doesn't teach us that. Training, regulations, inspections are all part of why life in the US is at a very high standard compared to almost all the rest of the world.

We have a bunch of people in the US who have no clue what life would actually be like without societal protections. They need to travel to places where there aren't the same and see what happens.

as someone that has eaten from food stalls / carts on 5 continents .. in a variety of 1st 2nd and 3rd world countries .. I think I have a pretty good handle what "people do"

they want to make money they want return customers .. making people sick does not accomplish either of these things

[ManAboutTown]

as someone that has eaten from food stalls / carts on 5 continents .. in a variety of 1st 2nd and 3rd world countries .. I think I have a pretty good handle what "people do"

they want to make money they want return customers .. making people sick does not accomplish either of these things

Of course it doesn't, but where is the accountability if it DOES happen? Without licensing and inspections, I could literally spread E. coli to every customer I have and then <poof>, disappear from whence I came with no consequences.

And YES, I've lived outside of the country and have eaten from Third World food carts, but that's the chance that I took THERE, not here.

[Rover]

as someone that has eaten from food stalls / carts on 5 continents .. in a variety of 1st 2nd and 3rd world countries .. I think I have a pretty good handle what "people do"

they want to make money they want return customers .. making people sick does not accomplish either of these things

Me too. And most people on this board have no clue how nasty and dangerous many of those places are . Meat from markets where raw meat sits in 90 degree temps all day with flies and other bugs on top. Fish from water with raw sewage running into it. People need to quit the Rick Steves fantasy and be real. The false equivalency is silly.

[baralheia]

I expect all those that require you food safety training and inspections to make sure you are doing the right things? And, nothing GUARANTEES someone will go off the range, but reduces risk very measurably. Life isn't absolutes, but about reducing risk to a tolerable level. Everyone seems to just think people will do the right things, but history doesn't teach us that. Training, regulations, inspections are all part of why life in the US is at a very high standard compared to almost all the rest of the world.

We have a bunch of people in the US who have no clue what life would actually be like without societal protections. They need to travel to places where there aren't the same and see what happens.

100% this. I've previously worked in foodservice and was ServSafe certified too. If y'all want to buy ready-to-eat food from a vendor that can't ensure proper sanitation (both handwashing and hard surface sanitizing) then knock yourself out - just know you're absolutely playing chicken with foodbourne illness. For me personally, that's gonna be a hard pass - I'd rather patronize a vendor who actually plays by the rules because then I know that food is far less likely to make me sick.

[Mballard85]

Good lord this place sometimes. If you don't want to patronize said vendor, don't. If you do, do so knowing what you already know, you may get sick or may have a hell of a hot dog and enjoy ever second of it. The constant back and forth is pretty bad.

[rayvaflav]

You are aware that all street vendors in NYC are regulated and must be licensed, right? They don’t just let anyone who wants to sell out of a bucket to do so.

I am curious if people will be upset at the “government” if people get sick from eating uninspected/unlicensed street food.

There's the information that I didn't solicit.