Hot Dog Days of Summer

Greetings, Readers!

My, how fast a week does go by, and also this summer for that matter. Here we are, post-4th of July and we still have so many more sandwiches to go through before the end of summer.

A few weeks ago, I was able to visit the Let's Be Frank Hot Dog and Sausage truck here in Los Angeles. It's one I had frankly (get it?) not heard of before, but was very interested in trying since my mind is in summer sandwich mode.

One of the first things seen on the menu of Let's Be Frank is their statement of commitment to using meat from sustainable farms and that the meat they use contains no nitrates, nitrites, or hormones. So if you've ever been wary about what's going into the sausages and hot dogs you pick up at a ballpark or for your summer barbecue, consider these ones to be significantly safer for you.

All of the options at Let's Be Frank are delicious, but I decided to go with the "Hot" Dog this time. This option is made with spicy heritage pork italian-style sausage. I also decided to add on the spicy devil's sauce and grilled onions on a toasted bun. 


The hot dog itself has a little bit of pop to it, more like an actual sausage. The spices inside of it kicked up the heat a little bit, but the main source of heat came from the appropriately titled devil's sauce. It's something I didn't notice on my first bite, but by the time I had finished my sandwich, there was at least a two alarm fire going on in my mouth. 


Despite the heat, the spicy-ness had good flavor which is one of my requirements in adding heat to any dish: it has to have flavor. Heat for heat's sake is a waste, and an exercise in masochism. 


Let's enjoy our food, not treat it like a death sentence. 


The pork hot dog tasted excellent, and actually was one of the best pork sausages/hotdogs i have had in a very long time, and it's nothing like the store bought "pork" types. 


The onions were still crisp after being grilled and and the grilled bun added a bit of smoky flavor to the entire sandwich. Overall, this may be one of the best hot dogs I've had in a long time.


Sorry, Dodger Stadium. 


Well that's it for this week, readers. How was your 4th of July? Did you grill all day, or just enjoy the fruits of your friend's/family's labors?

Until next week...



Let's Be Frank
Trucks servicing both Los Angeles and San Francisco
http://www.letsbefrankdogs.com/products_dogs.php
Follow at: @letsbefrank

North Hollywood's Hot Dog Heaven

Greetings Dearest Readers!

I've lived in a little neighborhood here in the valley for about 6 months called the North Hollywood Arts District. For those that don't know what it's like, it's kind of this, well, artsy neighborhood lined with shops, boutiques, theaters and amazing restaurants.

This great little nice neighborhood has grown so much over the past few years that it's sometimes hard to keep track of all of the great new places that pop up.

Recently, while walking home from our new Laemmle Theater, I noticed a place called Otis Jackson's Soul Dog and the food pornography (aka menu) posted in the window quickly drew my attention.

While I wasn't ready for dinner that night, I swore that I would return.

And return I did.

Taking the time to choose between the numerous delicious sounding hot dogs, i settled on the Original Soul Dog. This "standard" hot dog is covered in collard green cucumber relish, sweet potato puree and handfuls of bacon crumbles.

The hot dog itself had a little bit of "pop" to it with every bite. Normally I am not a big fan of this characteristic of certain hot dogs/sausages, but it wasn't as prominent here and therefore didn't bother me as much.

The collard green cucumber relish was delicious. It was a bit sweet, very fresh and an incredible contrast from the rest of the heavier/meatier flavors. The sweet potato puree added a nice subtle flavor to the mix and worked better than any mustard or ketchup could hope to contribute.

And come on. Bacon crumbles on top of a hot dog? Do I even have to explain why this is a good idea?

Overall, Otis Jackson's Soul Dog is an excellent addition to this growing neighborhood and hopefully will be there for a long time to come. If you're in the neighborhood for a show or a night cap, definitely stop by and check out their creative creations as soon as possible.

Until next week, Readers!


The Original Soul Dog
**** Stars
Otis Jackson's Soul Dog

5166 Lankershim Blvd.

North Hollywood, CA 91601

http://www.eatsouldog.com/