Dogs for Dads

On June 17th, we celebrate dads, grandads, step-dads, uncles and even mothers who do it all.  Here at EC, we want to celebrate Father’s Day 2018 by highlighting unique hot dogs from restaurants and food trucks from East to West Coast. Grilled burgers and hot dogs are a summertime staple, especially here in the Midwest. While we love a good Chicago-style hot dog decked out with the classic mustard, relish, sport peppers and celery salt, we want to explore our topping options. So we turned to social media to get some sausage inspiration. Check out these unique dogs and garnishes, and treat your dad to a special Father’s Day outing or try recreating one of these elaborate dishes yourself.

First up? West Coast chain Dog Haus Dogs. Though their origins are thoroughly Californian—Pasadena-born—they’ve recently expanded to another national foodie hub, our hometown of Chicago, IL! We love this meaty hotspot for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the Dog Haus prides itself on its initiative to serve only “clean meat.” What do they mean by that? Their hot dogs are and hormone- and antibiotic-free; their sausages are pure pork and free from nitrates; their burgers are certified humanely-raised; their chicken is vegetarian-fed. We can’t get enough of this kind of company transparency. Secondly, the innovative menu keeps us hungry for more. Unafraid to stray from the beaten path, these chefs incorporate unexpected hot dog toppings such as wild arugula, smoky pastrami and fresh house slaw.

We had to give them a follow on instagram to keep up with their incredible edible creations. Some early frontrunners for office favorites include the Old Town Dog (left), which is wrapped in smoked bacon and topped with caramelized onions, pickled jalapeño, cotija cheese and a chipotle aioli drizzle. Next, we have the “Free Bird” (middle), which is a turkey dog topped with sliced avocado, tomato and bacon, and topped with a spicy basil sauce. As if that isn’t enough reason to pay them a visit, veggie sausages are available upon request, too. We know any hungry dad would love to explore the entire Dog Haus Dogs’ menu. If your Father’s Day plans don’t include leaving your own patio, take stock of the adventurous offerings you yourself could offer, and grill up a homemade Haus-style dog on your own. Our own EC chefs can’t wait to start creating fresh new menu items inspired by this company.

Our next shoutout comes to us via our own General Manager, Julie Fitzgerald. She suggested we hop onto Instagram and follow Swizzler Food Truck in Washington, DC. for more Father’s Day food inspo. Voted best food truck in 2017 by the Washingtonian magazine, Swizzler Food puts a fun twist on every hot dog they serve. That’s right, their unique hot dog take is all about the shape. Spiral-cutting sausages creates greater grill-side surface area, allowing the meat to caramelize on both the outside and the inside. Plus, the divots make perfect little pockets to catch chopped toppings and condiments.

Like our favorite newly-local favorite above, East-Coast-based Swizzler is all about serving natural, grass-fed beef and offering a extensive selection of traditional toppings with a modern twist. Their most popular dog, for example, is the “Leonardo Dog Vinci,” which is an open-flame-grilled dog topped with fresh mozzarella and house pesto and drizzled with a balsamic glaze, all served on a locally-made pretzel bun. Creatively ignited by Swizzler’s modern Americana menu? Build your own brat on a brioche bun with their unique garnish options, including house-fermented sauerkraut, candied jalapeños and cucumber-herb relish. Locate the Swizzler Food Truck via their Facebook or Instagram pages, or view their schedule on the website. Stop by Father’s Day weekend to treat dad to D.C.’s best, or gather some skewers and sausages and try to make your own at home.

Finally, we have an authentic Mexican-American fusion in San Diego’s own Doggos Gus, a stand serving Sonoran hot dogs, gourmet street tacos and fresh seafood cocktails. The term “Sonoran hot dog” originated in Hermosillo, the capital of the Mexican state Sonora, and refers to a grilled sausage wrapped in bacon and topped with any number of ingredients. The Doggos Gus menu pays homage to tradition with a selection of south-of-the-border toppings such as chipotle crema, avocado, jalapeño salsa, pinto beans. If the addition of bacon isn’t enough to satisfy your meat craving, the stand also loves garnishing their dogs with chorizo, chicharron and braised pork. Wow this Father’s Day with a dad-sized dog overflowing with extra meat and veggies. We here at EC couldn’t be more excited to take a page out of the handbook of the guys at Doggos Gus and add our own unique hot dog and topping menu to our repertoire.