Today we’d like to introduce you to Carissa Gould.
Hi Carissa, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Mama’s Dogs was founded in May of 2012. As a single mama to very young children, I needed to create something to support my children that also allowed the flexibility I needed to properly care for them. My mobile boutique food cart was born from motherhood and necessity. I created a business that allowed me to care for my children while building a career on my own terms. What started as a small hot dog cart has grown into a fully immersive experiential catering brand using high quality ingredients including Vienna Beef hot dogs and polish dogs (a premium product from Chicago), scratch made green chili shredded pork tacos and loaded nachos using fresh fried shells and chips served with house made salsa and sauces, freshly baked homemade cookies, fresh squeezed lemonade (from scratch syrup), and gourmet hot cocoa made from real cream, milk, and vanilla. Everything is served in style with a vintage inspired aesthetics and themed event experiences. Every detail from homemade recipes to custom decor and styled aprons is designed to create joy, connection, and unforgettable moments. Clients are not just paying for food, they are paying for a fully curated, interactive, event experience. My children were and still are my inspiration. Mama’s Dogs was built from real life, real work, and a real passion for creating joy through food and experiences. My business combines gourmet scratch made food with immersive vintage styling and high energy hospitality. Mama’s Dogs is not your standard food truck or drop off caterer. I provide a full experiential catering service including themed decor, fun loving energy, guest interactions, and scratch made food. Every event is designed to be visually engaging, interactive, and memorable. Most clients book me because they want something fully immersive and memorable that’s not just another food truck, If you want a full experience that guests remember, that’s exactly what I specialize in.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I don’t think anything in life is a smooth road, and I’m so very grateful for that. How do we measure the true meaning of success if we have never known failure or struggle? Every challenge and obstacle has been a blessing. We might not see it when we’re going through it, but the wisdom we gain is immeasurable when we get through our worst times and make it to the other side. Some of life’s most important lessons are learned through our darkest moments. There were so many struggles along the way while raising my 4 sons and running a business, It’s not easy to start a business and raise a family as a single/solo parent. Somehow, you get through it! There was a whole lotta coffee, chaos, and cussin during those early years! In all seriousness though, I’m so thankful that we’ve made it to this point, Everything has always been 100% my investment, time, and energy. The first several years were very challenging. I did not have a lot of support and I took my children to work with me a lot. I’m so grateful for all of my customers and clients during that time that didn’t mind when I had no choice but to bring them to work with me. It’s hard to explain to someone that has never walked in your shoes the enormous amount of pressure and stress that comes with doing everything on your own…raising a family, paying all the bills, running a business, keeping you and your children fit healthy and sane, and making yourself and mental heath a priority when you’re responsible for so much. My boys are older now so things have gotten a bit easier. My oldest son is a sophomore in college, my twins are high school sophomores, and my youngest son whom I solo parent is a 6th grader. I’m incredibly blessed with smart, funny, kind, athletic children. The are consistently recognized for their academic and athletic accomplishments. I will say that this has been an adventurous, fun, challenging journey. The hardest part is the slow season and knowing that some people won’t value what you have to offer. It’s about the right client finding you or vice versa. Mama’s Dogs is so much more than just a hot dog cart. I offer fully styled themed setups (holiday, wedding, birthday, corporate, etc), costumed vintage inspired service presentation, interactive guest engagement, custom apron styling to match the event theme, full visual decor installation, along with quality scratch made items and premium Vienna Beef products. It is so much fun, and the food is incredible. Mama’s Dogs is home of the plump n juicy Vienna Beef wieners and sloppy tacos!! If you know, then you know!! A big lesson learned along the way is knowing my own value and the value of my business. Mama’s Dogs is a fully immersive experiential catering service not just another food truck. You’ll walk away from my stand with full bellies and full hearts. After all of these years, I’m finally so much better at saying NO than I was at the beginning of this journey. By no longer being a people pleaser or the yes woman, I have entered a new level of peace and happiness. You have to learn to be selective and never downgrade yourself, product, or service for anyone or anything. I’m not talking just about business, this is essential in life too when dealing with family, friends, and relationships. I am so undeniably grateful for my clients and customers that have supported me throughout this journey as well as my work crew and volunteers who are highly efficient and reliable when working large events. I’m also always so thankful for my wonderful boys who have been along for the ride since day 1 and were so helpful and sweet when they were younger! They were learning life skills and work ethic which is so essential in today’s society. I love you boys!
We’ve been impressed with Mama’s Dogs, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Mama’s Dogs is a retro inspired experiential catering brand specializing in scratch made gourmet street food and a fully themed mobile event experience. Every event blends fun loving high energy, hospitality, vintage styling, and interactive guest engagement to create a memorable immersive experience. Mama’s Dogs is where retro style meets scratch made street food and premium Vienna Beef hot dogs and polish dogs. You’ll be met with vintage vibes, gourmet tubesteaks, delicious scratch made food, drinks, and full personality! It’s experiential catering wrapped in retro style. If you’re thinking just hot dogs, welp…Mama’s Dogs will make it so much more….I’ll make it an experience! Here we serve food and fun with full retro energy. We provide a fully themed mobile food experience, interactive guest service and hosting, custom decor matched to your event theme, and vintage inspired aesthetic presentation. Current signature menu items include, Vienna Beef hot dogs, Vienna Beef classic polish, and Vienna Beef spicy polish, scratch made tacos and nachos topped with house made salsa and sauces, fresh fried taco shells and chips, fresh squeezed lemonade made from a scratch syrup base, fresh baked homemade cookies, gourmet cocoa with real cream, milk, and vanilla, kettle cooked chips, vintage bottled sodas, bottled water, and soda cans. You will not find anything like Mama’s Dogs. It’s unique, customizable, and one of a kind. I also make all of my pinup style aprons and recently started taking custom orders. Not only am I a food business, but I’m an unofficial seamstress too. If you would like to custom order a beautiful pinup apron, send me a message. As long as I can find the fabric, I can make you an apron! Oh, and don’t forget to add a petticoat! I want you to rock one of my colorful lace trimmed pinup aprons in the sexiest sassiest way! Everyone should feel extra special and loved about themselves. Sometimes slipping on something that makes us feel good is all we need! I guarantee one of my custom made aprons will make your next meal taste unforgettable! I’ll even send my secret ingredient with your apron. Do you want to know what it is!? It’s LOVE! The secret ingredient is always love! If you don’t already know, this business has been a labor of love, Mama’s Dogs started out as a hot dog cart, but has definitely grown into an unforgettable fully immersive, super fun, retro rockin mobile food cart. Life is too short to be boring! Liven it up with some Mama’s Dogs in your life! Now you can look like me too with your very own apron! One of my favorite aspects about my business is curating a unique design for your event whether it’s a disco party, Christmas party, holiday event, St. Patty’s, Super Bowl party, charity golf tournament, corporate event, family or class reunion, wedding, baby shower, etc. I will create a visually stunning presentation for your special day. At Mama’s Dogs my kitchen is made for dancing, making memories, singing, serving sarcasm daily, giggling uncontrollably at times, and making sure every weenie is steamed with love. We even add edible glitter to your dog if you want. I like to call it a glittery glizzy or disco dogs if it’s a disco party. There are so many little extra touches that I add to make your experience a notch above the rest. I will attribute it to my many years in the service industry and traveling the world as a commercial and corporate flight attendant before having my children. I loved finding the best local spots or a mom and pop shop off the beaten path. You pick up things along the way through your travels and living life and create new ideas from the experiences you’ve had and things you like. I’m so grateful for all of my adventures in life good and bad which have led me to where I am today. I’m blessed to be a mama to 4 amazing sons, own and operate a business that I love that happens to be super fun and pure entertainment not just for me but my customers too, provide an unforgettable service experience to the best customers and clients around, and have family and friends who got my back, always cheer me on, and have been my source of encouragement, love, and good times. In case you didn’t know, I love y’all!
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Mama’s Dogs is available for any size event. There is no party too small or large for me to handle. Last minute bookings are fulfilled based on availability. My clients value experience based catering, If you want a fully themed, interactive, aesthetic food experience with performance level service then I’m your girl! Mama’s Dogs is event entertainment and catering. Some of you have seen us rockin my weenie stand at Barrett Jackson wearing my custom made pinup style aprons. If you have seen me there, then you know that no crowd is too large for me to handle, and you also know that I am the experience. My personality, energy, and presence are all part of the product. It ain’t just about the weenie, it’s the whole package!!
Pricing:
- $10-$30/person
- $1500 catering minimum
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.mamasdogs.com/
- Instagram: mamasdogs
- Facebook: Mama’s Dogs LLC
- Other: TikTok @mamasdogs
