FOOD & DRINK
Let’s Be Frank
Whethe r yo u l i ke yo u r h o t d o g s s a u cy o r sn a p py, Rh od e Isla n d h a s th em a ll By Megan Schmit
S
ome foods just scream summer. You know what I mean: ice cream, BBQ, lobster rolls, and basically anything on the grill – which means hello, hot dogs! There’s something nostalgic about this portable bite; maybe it conjures memories of the ballpark, or backyard barbecues, or childhood dinner staples. Some like them slathered in chili and cheese, others prefer a drizzle of classic ketchup, and in Rhody, we even have our own special ways of jazzing up our dogs with a snappy skin or smothered in meat sauce. Read on for a list of where to get your favorites. BEN’S CHILI DOGS Nestled on Broadway, neon signs lure passersby
inside with promises of cheese and chili dogs – or, order online from an extensive menu of kraut, chili, bean, and chourico and pepper sausages. Newport, Instagram: @bens_chili_dogs E.P. WEINERS Nothing says Rhode Island quite like E.P.’s wiener specials: Two or three hot wieners served with French fries and coffee milk. East Providence, Facebook: EP Weiners FIREHOUSE HOTDOGS You can’t miss this fire engine-red trailer on Putnam Pike, a fan favorite since 1989 for lunch and late-night fast food like classic hot dogs, wieners, chili dogs, and even a
double dog ser ved on an 8-inch torpedo roll! Johnston, FirehouseHotdogs.com LEN’S HOT DOG HAVEN Find an entire menu dedicated to dogs: plain, cheesy, topped with sauerkraut or chili, and even New York style (cooked onion in red sauce) or Puerto Rican (chili, cheese, kraut, and potato sticks). Pawtucket, LensHotDogHaven.com SPIKE’S JUNKYARD DOGS Starring jumbo beef dogs, Spike’s has appeared in the likes of Phantom Gourmet and Yankee Magazine. Try their signature Junkyard Dog garnished with tomato, pickle, scallions, banana peppers, and mustard. Warwick, SpikesJunkyardDogs.com
BRING BRANDS HOME Feeling like a backyard barbecue? Stock up on your favorite style sausage from local makers for chillin’ and grillin’ at home. Little Rhody Brand Frankfurts German-style snappers, jumbos, and skinless franks, plus other specialties like NYS wieners. Johnston, LittleRhodyHotDogs.com
Gastros Small-batch artisanal salami and sausages, including hot dogs and kielbasa, handmade from Berkshire Pork and Wagyu Beef. Woonsocket, GastrosCraftMeats.com Chez Pascal & The Wurst Kitchen Restaurant marketplace offering varieties to-go, like pork and paprika, cheddarwurst, and, of course, hot dogs. Providence, ChezPron.com
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Whimsical weiners from Weenie Wizard Hey Rhody SUMMER JUNE 2021 |
HeyRhody.com
Photo by Judy Garlix (@judygarlix)
Saugy, Inc. Signature snappy sausages, AKA “Rhode Island’s First Hot Dog”, beloved since 1869. Cranston, Saug ys.com