Hot Dog! Rochester Couple’s Food Truck Serves Up Mean Weenies

Tracy Antenucci and Chris Matthews of Rochester are adding a “Mean” twist to the classic hot dog.

The couple is starting the Mean Weenie, a gourmet food truck serving a more sophisticated treatment of the summer classic, with toppings including apple cider-braised leeks with bourbon mustard (“the Keen Weenie”), a hoisin-glazed hot dog with a wasabi coleslaw (“the Wasabi-ach”) and other offerings geared toward more complex palates. For kids with simpler tastes, family-friendly options—such as a macaroni and cheese-topped dog—also are available.

Antenucci and Matthews recently left their positions in marketing and at the Rochester Chop House, respectively, to start their new curbside-dining venture.

“We wanted to do something other (food) trucks weren’t doing,” Antenucci said. “Everybody loves a hot dog. Nobody is going to leave a hot dog stand with a frown on their face.”

Antennucci said she and Matthews, both 44, are big foodies and wanted to make hot dogs they would enjoy eating.

“We’re taking an all-American favorite and flipping it on its head,” she said.

The Mean Weenie is a family affair, with Antennucci, Matthews and their four kids having a hand in helping the food truck get some mileage. 

Antenucci says she hopes to become a fixture around the Rochester area and throughout Metro Detroit as food truck rallies start to gain acceptance and popularity in the region. 

While food trucks have made their mark in big cities and on reality TV shows such as the Food Network’s The Great Food Truck Race, the idea has only caught on in Metro Detroit more recently. In Rochester, several Detroit-area food trucks populated this year’s Deck Art event downtown, a first for the area.

“There’s a new culinary movement with food trucks,” Antenucci said. “Great food doesn’t need to come from a brick and mortar.  It’s about ingenuity and creativity and people who have a passion for food.”

The truck employs Michigan-made ingredients—“Because we’re advocates of the Michigan area,” Antenucci said—including Dearborn-brand hot dogs, buns from Brown Bakery in Detroit, Better Made potato chips and Faygo beverages.

For meat-free diners, Antenucci said, the truck also offers soy-based hot dogs with vegetarian-friendly toppings.

The Mean Weenie had a trial run in recent weeks as it served several corporate catering events and the campers at the Avon Sharks Lacrosse Camp at Avondale Park. By this Saturday, Antenucci said she plans to have the truck out in the Rochester and Rochester Hills area. For locations and events, check the Mean Weenie’s website, www.themeanweenie.com, or follow the Mean Weenie on Facebook and Twitter.

The company also is available for events and parties.

“We’ll spread some hot dogs and have a hoot doing it,” Antenucci said.