Perri-O’s Doghouse and Cheesesteaks offering food on the go

In a time where fast-food restaurants and burger chains are popular spots for lunch breaks, one local man is bringing a flair from the east coast to Houma.

And how is he doing this?

With a mobile hot-dog stand along Hwy. 311, near South Hollywood Road.

Michael Perri, owner of Perri-O’s Doghouse and CheeseSteaks, is living his dream of owning a business, and the Washington D.C. native is doing it with something he’s lived most of his life around. “I was born and raised on the east coast,” says Perri. “In New York and Washington and those areas, they have hot-dog stands all over the place.

“It has been a long-time dream to have my own business. I wanted to run my own business, but I wanted to do something that was manageable for me.”

Perri previously worked in television news, starting as a cameraman for CNN. He eventually moved up to director, where he directed some 5,000 newscasts, including presidential inaugurations, Senate hearings, the O.J. Simpson case and the first Gulf War.

So for Perri, the hot dogs stand provides the perfect balance between a manageable business and bringing a quality product to the area.

“I talked to my distributor, and he told me I’m the only guy doing this in south Louisiana,” says Perri. “I serve a natural casing, all beef hot dog. It’s a skin on it, and most hot dogs you buy in the store are skinless. These have a skin, almost like a sausage.

“And they snap when you bite them. We call them snap dogs.”

Perri said the hot dogs that he gets are made especially for him, adding that he wanted to get hot dogs that he knew were a good quality, that he liked and that he wanted to serve. Bringing that quality to Houma is a big reason for Perri’s decision to open Perri-O’s Dog House. “They sell good, high quality hot dogs (in the east),” says Perri. “I’ve been living in this area for about eight years, and I can’t find any good hot dogs or Philly cheese steaks.”

The Philly cheese steak sandwich is the other major item on the menu.

“The Philly cheese steaks are an idea I came up with within the last three months before I opened,” says Perri. “I started thinking about doing that because my motto evolved into ‘A Feast From the East.’ It’s about things that you get on the east coast and people enjoy.”

The sandwiches are made from ribeye steaks that Perri purchases locally. The bread comes from an Italian bakery in Philadelphia. “The way that they’re made is authentic,” says Perri. “It is real steak meat. It’s not flaked, formed and processed. I cook them in the morning, and then I marinate them all day. You can get them anyway you want with mushrooms and peppers and onions.”

Despite hot dogs being the initial idea, Perri says that the Philly cheese steaks are quickly becoming the most popular item. “People really seem to enjoy the flavor,” he says. “They’re overtaking the hot dogs.”

While the business is barely a month old, Perri says it has done well so far, even saying if things continue to go well there may be future growth. “I’m open to it,” he says. “I’ve had several requests to put one in Thibodaux, next to the college. I’m just trying to get on by feet. I’ve only been open one month.

“But yes, if I’m successful, I’ll be opening more and I’ll be the hot-dog king of south Louisiana.”

Owner: Michael Perri

Hours: M-F 11-2 and 4-6

Items: Hot dogs and Philly cheese steak

Toppings: Mustard, Ketchup, Onions, Relish, Sauerkraut, Chili, Cheese, Cole Slaw, Jalapenos

Perri-O’s Doghouse and Cheesesteaks offering food on the go