By Michael Sudhalter | The Leader News
When Good Dog Hot Dogs owners Daniel Caballero and Amelia Pferd opened their food truck in March 2011, they always envisioned having a brick and mortar restaurant someday.
Later this month, that dream will become a reality when the Heights couple opens their restaurant location at 903 Studewood, at the former site of Big Mamou.
Pferd, 30, and Cabellero, 29, met when they both waited tables at Chatter’s Cafe & Bistro in the Heights.
They began dating and came up with the idea of a food truck that would sell gourmet hot dogs on artisan buns, with a logo of their own Dachshund, whose name is Olive Oil.
They purchased a $15,000 van on Craigslist and were among the first entrepreneurs in Houston’s “Food Truck Revolution.”
Now, they take the truck to cater special events, but they’ve set most of their focus on the restaurant. They’ll continue to cater events with the truck, upon request.
Some of their recent events were an art opening at Rice University, the First Christian Church food festival and the Houston Astros Hispanic Heritage Festival.
Pferd, a graduate of La Notre Culinary School in Houston, handles the food aspect, and Caballero runs the business side.
The couple got engaged last December, but their wedding plans are on hold until they get the restaurant started.
The restaurant’s menu will go beyond hot dogs, and include soups, salads and desserts such as floats and shakes.
“We will expand our menu (eventually),” Pferd said. “We have big plans for Good Dog, but we’ve got to open up this puppy (the restaurant first).”
Pferd and Caballero enjoy living in the Heights and considered it a good place to start a business.
“It’s kind of a small town feel and you have everything you need,” Pferd said. “We like the bungalows and all of the history. I think the (neighborhood) is evolving in the right ways.”
Pferd said Good Dog’s recipes are heavily influenced by her grandmother who lived in New York City. Some of the hot dogs include whole grain mustard, roasted garlic aioli, chili and jalapeno relish.
The couple is proud of the “Food Truck Revolution,” which has produced several trucks that have eventually become brick and mortar restaurants.
“(The Food Truck Revolution) brings a sense of community to Houston,” Pferd said. “Events become that much cooler because you have a food truck.”
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