National Hot Dog Day was last Saturday (July 23rd) and I felt that the only real way to celebrate a holiday of this caliber is with a tasty dog. Instead of going to the grocery store to purchase some ball park franks to cook up yourself, a better alternative would be to pay a visit to either Dog Et All or Voodoo Dog - Tallahassee's finest hot dog destinations.
My roommate introduced me to Dog Et Al a few years back and I must admit I was skeptical. He promised me the best hot dog I'd ever have. I wasn't expecting much since I've had my fair share of hotdogs going to sporting events and various participating Home Depots. When we arrived at Dog Et Al, it had the friendly look of a neighborhood diner; complete with some classic rock on the radio and a happy bunch of customers. The red table tops looked clean and they matched the red napkin dispensers. We ordered two super dogs - mine covered with chili, onions and cheese- and sat down at an open table.
After taking my first bite, I knew this place was a good find. The chili was thick enough to stay put and not make a mess. The meaty chili coupled with crunch of the fresh onions played in perfect harmony with the cheese. Before I could express my happiness with the decision to get lunch here I looked over at the napkin dispensers and my mind was blown. The dispensers all had quirky statements on them but the one at my table read, "I wish I were what I was when I wanted to be what I am now."
The moment I finished my meal I posted my feelings on Facebook and Twitter. Then I texted my friends and called my dad to tell him about "this awesome hot dog place" I had found. I even tried to tell him what the napkin holder told me but I jumbled the words terribly.
Then there's Voodoo Dog. They've only been open since June of 2010 but they're already a Tallahassee institution in my mind. If they had a Voodoo Dog Rewards Plus card I'd already have the leather jacket with their logo embroidered on the back with the matching driving hat. I can't realistically say that Voodoo Dog is better than Dog Et Al but I can comfortably say this: Dog Et Al perfected the hot dog, but Voodoo Dog improved upon it.
One thing that really sets Voodoo Dog's hot dogs apart is the sheer variety of toppings that they offer. You realistically have the same thing twice there. Their menu offers the choice of crafting your own dog or you can choose some awesomely "out there" suggestions. My favorite is the Tijuana Dog which has sour cream and guacamole on top of their signature Voodoo Dog. It's a hot dog wrapped in a strip of bacon. I never go a week without one of those nestled comfortably in my belly. Some other choices include the a classic corn dog, a Fat Katz Dog (hot sauerkraut, brown mustard and melted Swiss cheese) and the infamous Wake-n-Bake dog (bacon dog with cheddar cheese and a fried egg on top).
Every time I eat at Voodoo Dog I order my Tijuana dog and check out the numerous pictures on the wall. The decor ranges from sci-fi posters to 90's alt rock pictures to other delectably odd art pieces. The music choices compliment the décor with genre choices that range from the heavy sounds of Metallica to the indie rock style of Pinback.
These two hot dog artisans do some amazing things with an American classic. So National Hot Dog day, or really any day, I would recommend leaving the cooking to the professionals. You won't be disappointed.
Tags: Cheese, Chili, Diner, Dog Et All, Fat Katz Dog, Food, Hot Dog, Local, Tallahassee, Tijuana Dog, Voodoo Dog, Wake-n-Bake dog
Pedro SemperteguiPedro Sempértegui is a recent graduate of Florida State University's English department. After growing up in the quiet suburb of Coral Springs, Fl, he moved to the capital to pursue writing. Since Tallahassee's nightlife has introduced him to new music, awesome food, and delicious microbrews, it's only right that tries to pass on that knowledge.
