Hot Dog Stories

Karen's On a Roll

2008-08-10T19:10:00.001-07:00

While driving down good old Route 1 in Wells (or was it Ogunquit), Maine I spied this sign and simply HAD TO STOP. I like to check out fellow hot dog truck operators when I get the chance.

Technically, this is a Lobster and Crab Roll Truck, but they do serve hot dogs and curiosity got the best of me.

I surveyed the spacious, open and airy dining room while waiting my turn and snapping these pictures.

I ordered up one dog "all around" and chatted with Dr. Winn ("like 'winner' without the 'ER' because he likes to keep his patients out of the ER") from Biddeford who was taking a Sunday drive and sampling the lobster roll at Karen's On a Roll.

He said his meal was good and he wanted to be sure I took a picture of it so he could prove he was NOT eating a hot dog (the good Doctor apparently teaches a nutrition class). Looks pretty good to me too, but I was off to my aunt and uncle's house for a big lasagna and eggplant parmesan meal, so one hot dog was all that was in the cards for me.

I chatted with Karen who has been all over the TV and newspapers for the quality of her delicacies. She serves Shield's hot dogs, which are made locally in Kennebunk.

My hot dog was served "all under" on a grilled roll and was very tasty. The dog itself had a juicy, spicy taste and the mustard had a bit of a bite. This was a very good hot dog! Next year, I am going to have the lobster roll too.

Good luck with your business, Karen. We'll see you next year!

Doogie's

2008-02-28T10:51:00.000-08:00

So one day, I said to my husband, "You never take me anywhere nice to eat anymore."

He said, "What are you talking about? We just went to Olive Garden."

I said, "I'm only going to say this one more time ..."

Anyway, I shouldn't have looked the gift horse in the mouth.

He took me to Doogie's, Home of the World's Longest Hot Dog.

I ate about a quarter of it, went back to it once and tried again, but then I lost interest in it after that and the other twelve inches went to waste, because bigger is not necessarily better. However, I can now cross the longest hot dog in the world off my life-list.

I think my husband thinks this is going to get him off the hook, datewise, but I still would like to dress up and go eat where the decor does not include any signs that say, "Red Sox Fans Welcomed. Yankees Fans Tolerated."

Submitted by golfwidow

Trailer in Vancouver

2008-02-28T10:40:00.000-08:00

I made a business trip to Vancouver Island in British Columbia back in June, 2004. The island is mountainous and heavily forested. I had a treacherous drive through the mountains on questionable roadways full of big trucks and giant old-growth trees right up to the edge of the road. My return trip started at Port Alberni airport in the interior of the island. My destination was the ferry at Nanaimo to go back to Vancouver. Since there were no rest stops along the mountain road, I was plenty hungry and found this "Hot Dog Truck" at the ferry waiting area. Pretty slick.

My customer and his "toy" at Port Alberni.

Map of Area

Mountain road driving to get to the Hot Dog Truck

Hot Dog Truck (actually, it's a trailer) and the proprietor

Sign at the trailer-who can argue with that?

Submitted by Mike S.

Montreal Steamies

2008-02-28T10:10:00.000-08:00

In Montreal, in all of Quebec actually our hot dogs are known as 'steamies.' And the best of those can be found in Montreal's red light area on the main (St.Lawrence Street or Rue St. Laurent in French)..they make the best dang dogs bar none.

The joints that sell them are quickly becoming scarce as the powers that be want to spruce up that area of the downtown core. Still die hard steamie fans can be found there at any time of the day or night to get their fix. The price is right 50 cents to a buck will get you a steamed dog in top loading (New England style) hot dog bun, throw in a little more coin and get yourself some real fires. Toppings are mustard, relish, coleslaw and onion.

That's what Montreal steamies are...mmmm..mmmm..good!

Submitted by Mary B.

Lucky Dog Redux

2008-02-28T09:30:00.000-08:00

As I said in an earlier post, we discovered a great Hot Dog Joint called the Lucky Dog while vacationing in Venice, Florida. The first day we ate there, it was just me and the girls-I couldn't drag my son away from the fishing pier even with the promise of lots of food. Since we enjoyed our meal so much, we went back a few days later with EVERYONE and met up with Marty Surak-Dawn's husband-shown here with Kim(?) the server who had to deal with me and my ravenous children.

My veggyhead daughter ordered up a plain Tofu Dog which she actually liked! After eating it she was lobbying for me to carry them at the Hot Dog Truck.

The cheeseburger princess struck again with another (equally delicious I am told) bacon cheeseburger.

Another daughter had a very happy cheeseburger.

I just had one relish dog and the baby had another plain dog. My son went for the Jumbo Cheese dog- a foot long drenched with gobs of cheese.

The Lucky Dog is a real slice of Americana with good hot dogs and cheeseburgers. The owners are real nice folks too. If you're ever in Venice, FLA make sure you stop at the Lucky Dog. You won't be sorry!

Submitted by Hotdogman

Craving or Cure?

2008-02-28T09:13:00.000-08:00

When I was on chemo I craved hot dogs every day for lunch hot dog,bun,mustard not one but most of the time 6 yep lots of weight gain all better, you know it had to be the hot dogs...

Submitted by Lucky Lady

Lucky Dog

2008-02-28T09:12:00.000-08:00

Well I'm back from Florida and I am happy to say I missed a major snowstorm! 6 days of 80 degree weather and hanging out on the beach was tough to take, especially knowing I was missing out on all that shoveling!

One thing I like to do when on vacation is partake in local hot dog joints. This trip featured the discovery of Lucky Dog, a small, lime green diner en route to our favorite beach spot in Venice, FLA. We went at about 1:30 PM and there was good foot traffic outside.

We elected to sit at the counter and chat up owners Dawn Surak (below)

and her brother Alan Laskowski (below).
This is them when they were kids.

The Lucky Dog Diner has been around since 1952 and the brother and sister team bought it last year. They spent 4-5 months fixing the place up and painting it the signature lime green. Brother Alan did most of the work under the supervision of Dawn, who, by mutual admission, is the "real boss" of the Lucky Dog. The place is a real, honest to God, Hot Dog Joint with a sense of Americana you just don't get in the modern fast food establishments that litter the landscape of Florida (and everywhere else for that matter).

I told them about the Hot Dog Truck and asked if I could snap some photos and put them up here on theHotDogTruck.com. They were delighted and happy to share their story. Our server, Heish (sorry if I misspelled it) was not too keen on having her photo taken, but she took care of my gang so well, I can't help but embarrassing her!

While I perused the Hot Dog menu,

the kids ordered up milk shakes, cheeseburgers, grilled cheese and hot dogs. I got to chatting with the guy next to me and he let me take a picture of HIS lunch, a Coney Dog and a Cheese Dog. YUMMY LOOKING STUFF, eh?

My 11 year old daughter, who would rather eat a cheeseburger than just about anything else (she had at least one per day on our trip), said her Lucky Dog Bacon Cheeseburger was the best one of the trip!

The three year old got a plain dog while I opted for the Relish Dog which was topped with a "secret recipe" house relish that had a bit of a bite to it (it was very good) and a good old Slaw Dog.

Both were excellent! I was pretty hungry so I got my own Coney Dog for dessert!

YUMMY!

to be continued.....

Submitted by Hotdogman

Mom's Place

2008-02-28T09:06:00.000-08:00

My mother owned a hotdog truck many years ago. She sold Sabrett hotdogs with that terrific Sabrett onion stuff. YUM.
it was a great place to hang out and meet and chat with new people.

Submitted by Denise

German Dogs

2008-02-28T09:05:00.000-08:00

When we lived in Germany many years ago I remember the guy on the corner with his cart. He had a bunch of really long, really sharp heated spikes. Onto those spikes he put these really long buns. They were almost like baguettes.

A seamless hot dog roll jammed onto a heated spike. When he served you a hot dog he asked if you wanted mayonnaise or mustard (I don't think they had ketchup) and he squirted your choice of condiment down the hole of the bun. Then, he loaded in the really long hot dog. I swear they had to have been almost a foot long. But, it was really cool because you didn't get anything on your fingers. The only opening to the bun was at the end that had been jammed onto the spike. I've never seen such a thing in the US, but I'm sure it would be a terrific hit.

Submitted by Lady Sky Fyre

Spikes and Yorr Dog Mill

2008-02-28T09:01:00.000-08:00

Well this is a tough one!! I'm from New Bedford, MA and spent many a day as a kid watching Yaz round the bases chomping on a Fenway Frank - but since growing to the old age of 34 I have changed my mind about a true hot dog! I lived in Rhode Island up until 2 years ago and more than life itself it seems I miss my Spikes Junkyard Dogs.

OMG - THE best hot dogs anywhere (not including yours of course). Even though I am a woman, my personal favorite is "The Lonely Guy Dog" - mustard, scallions, chopped onions, and sauteed onions. My husband used to get so mad when I ate there! They have everything from the "Sinatra Dog" (have it your way is their saying", the R.I. Grinder Dog, The junkyard dog (it even has pepperocini's!), and finally my 2nd favorite the Patriot Dog - mustard, bacon, and cheddar. You have to check it out if you haven't already - they do have one in Sommerville.

You absolutely MUST check out the menu - talk about delicious!!

I also remember a place in New Bedford called YORR DOG MILL-they were open at all hours of the night and their specialty was a cheese dog with the gooiest processed cheese. I lived right down the street and used to walk over during the summer and get a hot dog for lunch with my sister. Wow, that brings back memories! We spent many a days hanging out in front on Kempton Avenue just eating our dogs.

Submitted by EC

Swanky Frank's

2008-02-28T08:56:00.000-08:00

We kept our boat moored at a marina in Norwalk, Connecticut. Seems like every weekend of summer growing up we were on that boat. We'd come back wonderfully sun-burned, tired from swimming, and hungry through and through. Sometimes mom and dad would stop at Swanky Franks in Norwalk. I can't remember if it was a bus or a shack or what, but it was old and it was all about dogs on buns and no pretense. I avoid that road in Norwalk because I don't want to find out it isn't there anymore.

Submitted by Sandy

Don't avoid the road, Sandy, Swanky Frank's is still there