Huntington Area Hot Dog Joint: The Big Loafer--Huntington Mall

Regular shoppers of the Huntington Mall have seen tons of stores come and go over the years. I'm always boring my wife with by pointing out where the Pied Piper, Walden Books, and the Hickory Farms used to be. Some stores, however, have remained staples of West Virginia's largest shopping complex. Among restaurants, one that comes to mind is The Big Loafer. Folks in the Mountain State know The Loaf as a melding of Appalachian cuisine and fast food. Their signature item is called, um, the Big Loafer and is the best meatloaf sandwich on the planet. That is all well and good, but we at WVHotDogs.com are a few years and several licensing deals away from starting a meat loaf sam'mich blog. Fortunately for us, they also sell hot dogs.

I ordered mine with everything, which was sauce, slaw, mustard, and onions. The service was more than friendly and the turnaround was quick, which, combined with the +100 Big Loafers I've eaten in my life had my hopes set for a killer WV hot dog.

Boy, was I in for a letdown.

The first problem was with the bun. The bread was totally stale and they microwaved (?!?!) it in order to freshen it up. Such behavior in a hot dog joint is totally inexcusable anywhere west of Milton. If they are old, call Heiner's and get some more. Don't insult me with nuked, rock-hard buns.

Another problem was to be found with the weenies, which were laying in a pool of their own filth (ie a water bath). While I am more lenient on such dogs than anyone else here at WVHotDogs.com, I still don't want to see the warming pan. Do it in the back and not at the front counter, por favor. I was willing to forgive this spectacle if they tasted ok. They didn't. Cafeteria grade, all the way.

The sauce was ok. Not great, not bad, just ok. It was incredibly meaty with strong notes of chili powder, but the noticeable lack of any other spices and only the faintest hint of salt left it on the bland side of things.

The slaw was, much like the sauce, fair-to-middlin.' It was sweet, too sweet for my taste, but probably just right for a Charlestonian, and finely chopped. The downfall was the fact that it was bone-dry. I imagine that mayo or salad dressing was involved in the concoction at some point, but had drained to the bottom of the storage unit.

Overall, we are looking at a very, very average hot dog from a great fast food place. The finished product was just like how what I imagine the finest hot dog ever served at Barboursville Middle School tasted. 2.5 weenies.

Wheeling HDJ Review - Louie's - Special Guest Reviewer

Note: Paul DeGeorge travels the country with his Wizard Rock Band "Harry and the Potters". Along the way he reviews hot dogs wherever his rigorous tour schedule takes him. Last July the band came to Charleston and I was fortunate enough to take Paul and the other members of his band to Romeo's and Skeenie's for a taste of a real WVHD. In October I got a call out of the blue from Paul as he traveled through the Northern Panhandle. He was looking for a decent hot dog. Since I had long ago given up on finding a decent dog up there, I gave him the only advice I could; The only advice I had ever been given about Wheeling hot dog joints: Go to Louie's.
This review is re-printed from Paul's blog "I am an American and I Eat Hot Dogs."

Bound for St. Louis, we found ourselves headed through the pan-handle of West Virginia right as our stomachs began to grumble. Not having any idea where to stop, we called up the expert: Stanton of the West Virginia Hot Dog Blog. He had brought us out for some great dogs in Charleston over the summer and luckily I still have his phone number hanging around for just such an emergency. He directed us to Louie’s, though he warned that pan-handle dogs are a little different from the WV dogs that he whet our appetite with back in July. His vast knowledge didn’t fail either, for instead of being met by the glory of the chili-slaw dog, we were instead subjected to the lazy-man’s chili dog. I’m sort of inventing terms here, but what I mean to describe is a chili dog that simply fails to deliver on all the excitement of a chili dog. Specific failings at Louie’s include:

1) That crappy, watery chili that’s really just ground beed with a little bit of seasoning.
2) No cheese – sire, I understand that we’re privy to local custom and maybe cheese isn’t the thing here in Wheeling, but if you’re going to top your dog with a subpar chili, you could at least supplement with some cheese.
3) Rollers! Bad form! I am just not-at-all into hot dog that are cooked on rollers. It’s a pet peeve, I guess.

So I can’t really give much of an endorsement to Louie’s other than the fact that it’s probably one of only a half dozen places to eat in Wheeling if you’re hungry.

Charleston HDJ Review - Gram's Specialties

Gram's Specialties is a little bake shop in Kanawha City that has high-end baked goods for sale in a snazzy storefront on McCorkle Avenue. They have a beautiful selection of pies and other goodies in their display case and offer others that can be made to order with advance notice. The attention to quality is evident in the aesthetics of the finished product, and Gram's makes no apologies for their attitude that quality is worth the money: Pies routinely go for $25 and up.

I've not been a customer of Gram's before, primarily because I'm a cheapskate and I knew their prices were higher than I wanted to pay for things that would only make me fat, but I am always intrigued when I drive by and see the delectable delights beckoning from the window. Imagine my surprise when I saw a sign in the window one December evening that said "No Hot Dog Lunches Until 2008." Hot dogs? I thought maybe they meant this kind of hot dogs, but the "lunch" threw me. I decided I needed to wait until 2008 and investigate more thoroughly.

So here it is, 2008 already and I finally made it to Gram's. I was immediately encouraged when I walked into the place and was greeted with a sign that proudly proclaimed the presence of hot dogs, and only hot dogs, for lunch. You really have to admire a place that so proudly embraces the One True Food that way. No hamburgers. No BBQs. No Salads. Hot dogs and sides. That's it. I love these people.

So since I already loved these new people so much I was secretly rooting for a great hot dog, but my professional Weenie Wonk work ethic prevented me from being prejudicial.

When I was told that "everything" included ketchup my enthusiasm became cautious, and when saw that my hot dog was served in a coffin it lowered my expectations a bit more. But as soon as I opened the coffin lid I was completely wowed by the size and weight of this beauty: It filled the bottom of the coffin completely with its girth. The bun was soft, obviously steamed, and it was piled high with toppings. Only after the second bite did I recognize that a major part of the voluminousness of the hot dog was the weenie itself: It was the kind of oversized version like you might expect to find at upscale HDJs and it was quite tasty. Of course, some would say that the the weenie can be too big and eliminate the space needed for a proper bunful of toppings. While I respect this opinion, Gram's doesn't fall into the trap because they overload it anyway. The amount of chili and slaw that is contained in this hot dog could make two or three hot dogs at some HDJs.

The chili is heavy on the chili powder and about as meaty as it can possibly be. Throw in some kidney beans and you'd have some nice chili to eat from a bowl on a cold January day. The slaw is way too coarse for my tastes, and a little sloppy (which is apparently by design since they call their hot dogs "Slawppy Dogs") but tastes very good (sweet) and goes well with the chili. The onions were hardly noticeable, apparently one of the sweet species like Oso or Vidalia.

This is a really good, bordering on great, hot dog. It is big and filling and unlike other things in Gram's, is priced very reasonably for its size at $1.95. I'm going to give it a 4.5 Weenie rating.

I think I'll go back soon and get another Slawppy Dog with a side order of Berry Clouds or a $30 pie. Now THAT'S a combo meal!

Clarksburg HDJ Review - Parkette Family Restaurant

Well over fifty years ago, the Parkette sat at the end of what is now known as Old Bridgeport Hill, just on the border of the limits of Bridgeport and Clarksburg overlooking the current intersection of U.S. Route 50 and I-79. The original building, a throwback to the days of the drive-in family diner, eventually outlived its usefulness and a new building was created on just a stone's throw away heading back into Clarksburg.

All along, the Parkette was always recognized as 'the' place to go for the best subs and hoagies. Of course, burgers, shakes, chicken, and hot dogs and the like were also on the menu, and each and every item was in its own right a delight in and of itself. Just ask anyone who was around in the day. The Parkette has always been a place where people from all walks of life in the area could agree on.

Nowadays, the third incarnation of the Parkette has a more spacious dining area to seat several families and groups, and a terrific menu of some of the best eats in town. Unfortunately, something has been lost in terms of the hot dogs.

Before I get into my review of the hot dogs, let me emphasize that I'm talking about the hot dogs themselves, not the rest of the restaurant. I feel the need to point this out ahead of time because the vast majority of the menu is fantastic, and the wait staff is exceptional. As I eluded to above, the subs and hoagies are worth going out of your way for. The onion rings I got with my order were above and beyond anything I've ever had. If there were a weenie award for side items, these onion rings would be the runaway winners.

Unfortunately, the hot dogs are terribly lacking. While the wiener is grilled, which always adds to the flavor of any variation of any hot dog, the remainder of the ingredients leave a lot to be desired.

For starters a dog here comes sans slaw, which is always an automatic point to half-point deduction. You can get it on the side, but at the price of $1.39 for a serving. On top of that, it's not particularly good either. It's pretty evident by the nearly uniform choppings of cabbage and overdose of vinegar that this slaw is of the pre-packaged, bulk food service variety. When you figure that a hot dog with chili, onions, and mustard as the standard goes for $1.29 here....well, need I say more?

The chili seemed to have been homemade, but it's not clear exactly when. The taste of the beef came across as somewhat watery. The sauce itself was particularly bland, lacking any kind of spice or seasoning, save for a hint of salt.

I'm still, as of this writing, trying to grasp exactly how the bun was heated. The best I can discern is that it was tossed into a warm oven for a minute or less; it seemed to be somewhat toasted on the outside, but barely lukewarm on the inside.

I really liked the Parkette, and would certainly enjoy bringing friends and family alike for a get-together or meal. The hot dogs, however, leave something to be desired. Per the guidelines for rating HDJs, they receive two weenies. These hot dogs need help.

Charleston (and everywhere else) Hot Dog Joint Review - 7-Eleven

I put this off as long as I could.

According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, 7-Eleven sells more hot dogs than any other store in America. Since there are numerous 7-Eleven stores in The Mountain State, and quite a few right here in the Charleston area, I have often thought about stopping off for a quick bite and review. Knowing that all 7-Elevens are self-serve was a discouragement because I hate to assemble my own food, but we're talking the king of all hot dog vendors here, so some flexibility was called for. Another discouragement was that I figured that it would not be a wonderful dining experience.

I picked the Spring Hill 7-Eleven location at the corner of Kanawha Turnpike and Chestnut Street in South Charleston because I was hungry and in a hurry and I figured I wasn't going to find a lot of difference between this one and any other.

This 7-Eleven, like every other one I've seen, keeps their weenies heating on one of those roller-thingies and they always seem to have a good supply of standard hot Oscar Mayer weenies and "Big Bite" sausages hot and ready. Buns are kept in a steaming drawer already in styro-coffins. I was surprised at how nicely steamed the buns were.

Many toppings are available at 7-Eleven. Chili is kept in an electric powered dispenser that is reminiscent of a soft-serve ice cream machine. I must say that it is a little unsettling watching a thick rope of brown goo being deposited on the bun - I'll leave it to your imagination without further comment. Mustard is available in a ginormous pump container of French's on the counter.

The rest of the toppings are kept in a cooler drawer adjacent to the hot dog serving area. This drawer was not marked and I had to search a little for the condiments that I felt certain were there somewhere. Once I opened the drawer I found not only slaw and onions but also relish and jalapeños.

So after locating all of the desired elements I set about assembling my hot dog, then came the taste test: The part I had been dreading most. The chili was kind of gross in texture (I was still queasy from the visuals mentioned above) but tasted decent. The slaw was lowest common denominator food service slop. The bun was soft from steaming, but still had a stale taste. The weenie tasty enough but was dry from being on the heat rollers for so long. 1.5 Weenies is the best I could possibly give this poor specimen.

Popularity is no sure sign of quality (e.g. Dallas Cowboys & Hillary Clinton) but it's difficult to explain how 7-Eleven can sell more hot dogs than any other HDJ on the planet. I guess there is no short supply of hungry people in a hurry, and there certainly is no short supply of 7-Eleven stores. It adds up to a lot of crappy hot dogs being consumed by a lot of non-discriminating people.

I'm glad that's over with.

Cabell County Hot Dog Joint Restaurant Inspections for Dec. '07

From the Caball-Huntington Health Department website:


FROSTOP DRIVE INN, INC
1449 HAL GREER BOULEVARD
12/10/2007
CRITICAL VIOLATION: NOZZLES ON POP MACHINE UNCLEAN (CORRECTED).


JOHNSON'S FOODLAND OF MILTON (DELI)
#18 PERRY MORRIS SQUARE
12/6/2007
CRITICAL VIOLATION: WALK-IN COOLER IS 45*F - IT MUST BE 41*F OR LOWER. WILL CHECK TEMPERATURE OF WALK-IN COOLER IN 5 DAYS.


JOHNSON'S FOODLAND OF MILTON (DELI)
#18 PERRY MORRIS SQUARE
12/11/2007
NATURE OF VISIT: TO CHECK TEMP OF WALK-IN COOLER - 36*F


STEWARTS ORIGINAL HOTDOGS
2445 5TH AVENUE
12/13/2007
CRITICAL VIOLATIONS: SANITIZER IN SANITIZER BUCKET OVER 200 PPM CHLORINE (CORRECTED). FOUNTAIN DRINK NOZZLES UNCLEAN (CORRECTED).


GINO'S PIZZA EXPRESS AND TUDOR'S BISCUIT WORLD
6067 OHIO RIVER ROAD
12/14/2007
CRITICAL VIOLATION: CHEMICAL BOTTLE NEXT TO 3 VAT SINK NOT LABELED (CORRECTED).


SAMS HOT DOG
4450 PIEDMONT ROAD
12/20/2007
No Critical Violation


FARLEY'S FAMOUS HOT DOGS
1226 SOUTH MAIN ST.
12/18/2007
No Critical Violations


TUDORS BISCUIT WORLD
1202 HAL GREER ROAD
12/19/2007
No Critical Violations

Clarksburg HDJ Review - D&P Restaurant

We've received a couple of e-mails recommending we give the D&P Restaurant a try. Right along U.S. Route 19 in the Edgewood section of Clarksburg rests a little white block building where the D&P Restaurant calls home. D&P, in this case, stands for Donna and Pete, the proprietors who manage the daily mayhem inside their crowded but quaint eatery. And when I say crowded, I don't mean that in anything less than it's purest form. There's plenty of seating, but not much in the way of walkways between the seats to get to the counter and place your order. Don't get pushy here either: this is a favorite lunch time gathering place for the local troops of the state police.

When I was finally able to get to the counter, Pete took my order and hollered over his shoulder for "two with everything". In this case, everything is onions, chili, and mustard. No slaw available at all. Considering the very short-listed menu I find it as a little bit of a let down. Sandwiches, hoagies, hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, onion rings, and salad are the only menu items available. While all items are homemade, I would really have been pleased if that little extra umph had been given to develop a slaw as equally good as the rest of their offerings.

The hot dogs are grilled fresh continuously, which for some reason keeps the heat inside the wiener better as opposed to the standard boiling method. Personally, I much prefer grilled versus boiled, but that's just me. The preparation here allows it to get a nice, slightly charred color on the skin that adds to the overall flavor. The buns are kept nicely steamed, but never overdone so as to prevent them from falling apart.

The chili is a little on the thin side, but thankfully not watery. It had quite a bit of reddish tint, but surprisingly no tomato-based taste. This chili was of the spicy, northern WV variety. It contained a good bit of red pepper, but didn't overdo the spiciness. One thing that seemed to hurt the chili was the abundance of salt. In fact, it was a little too salty for my tastes. It would've been saved by a cool, sweet slaw. Although the chili wasn't bad in and of itself, it didn't really do anything to stand up and impress.

D&P's hot dogs rate three weenies. There's really nothing wrong with these hot dogs at all, but they just don't have that little something extra to put them over the top. Here's hoping some serious WVHD fans can encourage D&P to add slaw to their repertoire.

Charleston HDJ Review - Sam's Hot Dog Stand Randolph & Pennsylvania

It might be unfair to review a new hot dog joint based on a visit on its first day open. But then again, a franchise like Sam's should have its best foot forward from the get go, and since the brass is always there on the first day it should be as good as it gets, right? I don't know if it's fair or not, but that's what I did for this new HDJ that I've been waiting to see open for several weeks.

The former home of a BP service station, it is now Charleston's first Little General Convenience store and inside is a full service Sam's Hot Dogs Stand. "Little" is the operative word for this tiny store that tries very hard to have everything in spite of its confined space. The quarters are cramped, however, to the point of inconvenience. This is especially troublesome at lunch time when a throng of hot dog customers block access to virtually everything else in the store.

Service was quick on this opening day despite having a bunch of people working that were obviously trainees. My order took only a few minutes to be filled and I was able to escape the crowded confines more quickly than I expected.

"Everything" was not well defined. It seems that I could have gotten anything from relish to ketchup to mayonnaise if I had not expressly ordered my hot dog with chili, slaw mustard and onions.

The chili was standard Sam's fare (order the spicy, the mild is lame), but the slaw was lowest common denominator food service slop with huge chunks of hard cabbage. The weenie was of a smaller caliber and lower quality than I remember finding at other Sam's locations. The bun was straight out of the bag with no steaming or any other preparation and it seemed a little stale, which was especially surprising on the first day. Since there is no eat-in option, all dogs are served in a to-go coffin.

I'm going to give this Sam's location a month or so to get their sea legs and visit again, but for now three lackluster Weenies is as good as I can do in good conscience. This is a nice location for a HDJ and I hope they can do better.

Wheeling HDJ Review - New York Hot Dogs

A regularly scheduled trip to Wheeling opened up the golden opportunity to search for a West Virginia hot dog joint in the former capital city. Though my time was limited, I managed to find a place for lunch that I had passed en route to a morning meeting.

New York Hot Dogs boasts the selection of Nathan's Famous as the weiner of choice. Nathan's is a fine selection, in my own personal opinion, but probably not used as widely in most West Virginia hot dog joints due to the higher cost. While the basic criteria for a true WVHD is to make the most out of the least expensive ingredients --mostly relying on the slaw and chili combo to carry the dog-- these particular hot dogs are able to stand on their own with just a little mustard (no ketchup!) simply based on the terrific and unique beefy flavor that Nathan's weiners offer.

I was thorougly impressed by the delicious slaw. The cabbage cut was a medium-fine grade with small bits of shaved carrots that bought out the crunchiness and fresh flavors from each other. The dressing was subtly sweet, with just a fair amount of tang. It was by far and wide a complex masterpiece. Easily one of the best slaws I've had the pleasure of sampling.

Whereas the slaw was a showpiece of slaw-siring savvy, the chili represented a mastery of meat-melding merriment. The chili was markedly thick, but not to the point where it had a pasty or clumpy texture. On the contrary, it was quite smooth. The hearty, beefy flavor really stood up and blended nicely with both the slaw and the weiner. Barely any hot spices, so fans from the southern part of the state should find them quite palatable.

I only wish there was a bit more of the chili served on each hot dog, but I suppose it's possible to have too much of a good thing. At least it's not too little, so no complaints. I'm a little torn on what to rate New York Hot Dogs since they could benefit the customers by adding a little more chili to their dogs (and co-existing with a tanning bed business on the premises is kinda freaky), but seeing as how this is one of the furthest points north that offers a faithful and well-represented version of a WVHD, some of the best slaw I've had the pleasure to sample, and all-beef Nathan's, I'll go ahead and say they're good enough to rate five weenies.

A Cautious New Year's Greeting

Another New Year's Day rolls around and with it come its inevitable feelings of woe, guilt and dread. Why do we do it to ourselves? Impossible expectations are just that; impossible. Calling them resolutions doesn't make them any more achievable. This is why I gave up on the whole resolution thing years ago. For me, like most people I think, the process of resolution making and breaking was a meaningless and destructive exercise. So one year I resolved to never have New Year's resolutions again: It's the only one I ever kept.

Why do I mention this? Because 2007 saw a downturn in production here at WVHotDogs.com and I'm tempted to resolve to do better in 2008. But who knows what kind of challenges awaits me and my fellow Weenie Wonks in the new year? It would be fool hearty to predict a better year having no earthly idea of what might transpire in the coming 12 months.

So instead, I'll just wish all of our loyal readers and fans a Happy New Year. Or, if you are one of those who thinks that even that puts too much pressure on you, Happy Tuesday. Or not.

But as a service to those traditionalists who might be reading this today, let me point out that eating a West Virginia hot dog with all the trimmings today will help you with your New Year's Day cabbage requirement.

Classic Weenie Commercials: Oscar Mayer Wieners

I found this classic Oscar Mayer hot dog commercial from the '60s the other day. This is the one with the ubiquitous "I Wish I Were An Oscar Mayer Wiener" song that has become a staple of American pop culture.

There are a couple of points in the advert, however, that seem rather dated. First, notice the peer pressure exerted on the child who has an opinion that is not in line with the other children. That sort of groupthink, while still prevalent, would probably not be encouraged these days. Also notice that they go out of their way to discuss that the weenies are "all meat." Back then, putting soy in a hot dog was considered a way to cheap out, as opposed to current conditions where Tofu Pups cost twice as much as dogs made from "meat" (likely meaning turkey, chicken, and pork). Nowadays, one would only advertise "all beef."

Anyway, enjoy this blast from the weenie past.

New Martinsville HDJ Review - Presto Lunch

West Virginia Hot Dog lovers, There's a new thrill in New Martinsville: Presto Lunch.

According to the printed mats placed on each table in this beautiful retro-styled eatery, the original Presto Lunch was located a few doors down from the current location on over fifty years ago and remained popular well through the 1960's. The granddaughters of the original owners and their mother reopened the restaurant in 2006.

The dining area is spacious while remaining warm and inviting just the same. It's directly adjoined with a wide-open cooking area, separated only by a counter with some stools. Each table has its own roll of paper towels on a spool, which is more than a nicety...it's a necessity to help sop up all the lip-smacking goodness. My ultra-friendly waitress was happy to point out that everything on the menu is homemade. “Mom” was constantly referred to, and it was easy to figure out which one in the kitchen area she was. No doubt this family puts their all into this fantastic establishment.

My order arrived in a relatively short amount of time, and I was more than pleased by the quality of my hot dogs. The slaw was nothing short of to die for. This was not your typical HDJ slaw, but rather a flawlessly balanced sweet/tangy promenade. The cabbage was finely shredded and chopped, which allowed to dressing to weave into the mixture. It was not too thick to clump or too thin to run. There was a hint of freshly ground black pepper to boot.

The chili was also a work of art. The sauce was smooth and rich, complex yet not overpowering the rest of the dog. The grind of the meat wasn't too fine, but that served it well since the meat and sauce were able to blend together and compliment each other. It was very hearty and gave you that stick-to-your-ribs semblance.

As well it should be, the onions were sandwiched right in between the layer of chili and the slaw. The mustard was applied right on top of the onions to ensure they didn't slide out of place on the comfortably steamed bun. Personally, I'd call it a work of art when a hot dog artisan takes the time to place the components of a hot dog in a deliberate layout that results in a plethora of flavor.

Astounding service from a wonderful staff, awesome hot dogs, and attention to detail (cherry Coke that comes with actual cherries) earn the magical Presto Lunch a five weenie rating. This is well worth going out of your way for. Watch for Presto Lunch to be nominated in the Weenie Awards.

Barboursville Hot Dog Joint: Auntie Anne's Pretzels

During a recent shopping expedition to the Huntington Mall, we all needed a snack and had some coupons for Auntie Anne's Pretzels. Well, one of the certificates was for a free pretzel with the purchase of a pretzel dog. I have long flirted with the idea of reviewing these weenies, but at $2.79 I could get 2 Stewarts dogs or a slice of over-priced mall pizza, so it hasn't ever exactly been a priority. With this coupon, however, it was worth a shot.

For their weenies, Auntie Anne's takes a rather high quality all-beef frank and wraps them with pretzel dough and bakes them in an oven. IF you have ever had pigs-in-a-blanket made with Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, you get the idea. They offer ketchup and mustard for free and a variety of dipping sauces for $.59. No slaw or sauce, however, so I just opted for a couple of mustard packets.

Let me make this one thing clear: while the dawg was indeed purchased in WV, it is by no means a West Virginia hot dog. Therefore I cannot and will not rank them on the weenie scale. As a regular old snack, however, they weren't shabby, getting 3 out of 5 stars. That being said, I would still recommend something from Cosimo's or the Big Loafer if you are at the mall and are starving.

Shinnston HDJ Review - T&L Hot Dogs

T&L Hot Dogs of Shinnston is one of those cozy little HDJs that abides by the mantra 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'. And for WVHD fans, that's obviously a good thing.

The little stone covered building situated on Main Street always manages to bring in the customers in a very steady stream all day long. My recommendation is to get there early if you're in the area for lunch, because the two dozen or so seats fill quickly. The staff keeps the focus on the food, and each order is prepared freshly and with TLC. The local regulars are greeted by name with open arms, much like a returning long-lost family member.

The cooking area is wide open for view, and markedly smaller than some other HDJs. You'll be able to watch the experts in action. Everything from the ladles to the fry slicer is well worn but highly cleaned, giving the place a lot of character. The snug dining area follows the typical T&L 50's motif, with reprints of classic advertisements, movie posters, and the like adorning the walls.
The menu here is relatively simple, with only hot dogs and hamburgers listed (of course fries and chips are also available). Many of the other locations offer up the likes of steak hoagies, kielbasa, and so forth. I suspect the limited cooking area factors into this, but it doesn't really matter since the hot dogs are the star of the show here.

Starting at the top of each WVHD is a very fresh slaw mix, featuring that finely chopped cabbage, carrot, and dressing combo that goes well with any variety of hot dog you can think of. It's got a pleasurable taste that melds sweet and tart on the perfect plane. You can't help but smile a little from the great taste.

Right below is that famous T&L chili, which you can get in mild (good for most), medium (not for the casual fan), and hot (how brave are ya?). It's finely ground, with a wonderful mix of flavorings that blends well with the hearty, beefy taste from the cooked-just-right meat.

About the only thing I wish this T&L would improve on (aside from the parking, which is beyond their control) are the fresh-cut fries. Listed by the moniker “Freedom Fries” on the menu, they have a tendency to get either overcooked on the outside or under cooked on the inside. Sure, it's a timing issue, but nothing a little more experience and practice won't fix. Then again, fresh cut fries are an art form. Sometimes you have to take the good with the bad.

This T&L location deserves no more or less than four weenies. If you're in the area, be sure to stop by and grab a couple for the road (if you don't mind waiting behind with the long line of locals).

Charleston HDJ Review - RPM Restaurant

A new Capital City HDJ has opened in the former home of the Patrick Street location of Sam's Hot Dog Stand. RPM Restaurant, obviously a reference to automobile terminology (revolutions per minute) since the interior is decorated with cars: Little model cars all over the place. I'm guessing the owner is a car enthusiast. I'm psychic like that.

The most impressive piece of decorating, though, is not inside but standing outside in the parking lot: A five foot tall weenie pouring ketchup over its head! Ketchup! (at least it has a bottle of what looks like mustard in the other hand) I've seen this statue at other HDJs before, but this one is unique because it is wearing a cape made from an American flag. This kind of lawn ornamentation definitely says loudly and proudly that this is a Hot Dog Joint. And RPM is definitely a hot dog joint.

I was in a hurry so I didn't have much time to peruse the menu board. I stopped when I saw "West Virginia Hot Dog" with its chili, slaw, mustard and onions. I ordered 2 to go. I was pleased to look in the bag and see that the dogs were individually wrapped in aluminum foil. They were really nice and soft by the time I got them to the car, and unwrapping them was a treat. The slaw was gorgeous, finely chopped with enough carrots to give it some great color. It tasted great too: Very fresh and lightly sweet. It went perfectly with the chili, which was a little on the tame side spice-wise, but had a good flavor nonetheless. The whole dog was kind of salty tasting, which was unusual but not unsavory. The all-beef weenie added the extra oomph that made this a special dog.

Not quite a Five -Weenie, because the chili was a little too tame. After I ordered I noticed a spicy option, and I've already decided to schedule a revisit to check it out. But for now, RPM scores a very good 4.5 Weenie rating.

Parkersburg HDJ Review - Mr. Diggity

My recent Parkersburg swing allowed me to visit another HDJ that I've received lots of email about: Mr. Diggity's. While technically in Vienna, this little HDJ is a little more upscale than the average small town typically has to offer. I came to this conclusion when I saw the sign on the front sidewalk announcing that they were serving Lobster Bisque: not your typical side dish for a WVHD. Inside I found a very functional floor plan with some nice decor, a few really roomy booths and enough tables to seat more than the lunch time crowd that was there at the time of my visit. It would be a nice place for a casual business lunch as well as a nice place to take the kids.

A board behind the counter offers a dizzying array of possible combinations of hot dogs and toppings. Since it was the lunch hour and many hungry people were waiting in line I just ordered one with the proper toppings for a West Virginian and let them decide which of the menu items it most closely resembled. I did notice that the board listed the most requested combination as sauce, slaw and onions. My additional request of mustard didn't seem to raise any eyebrows.

When I got my hot dog the first thing I noticed was the incredible softness of the bun. It literally molded itself to the shape of my hand as I began to unwrap it. Once it was unwrapped it was the slaw that caught my eye: This just might be the most finely chopped slaw I have ever seen on a hot dog. The slaw could not help but be creamy with its minute cabbage particles, but the taste was very nice as well. It was applied in a heaping helping.

As for the chili sauce, it was good and went well with the slaw, but it lacked any distinctive characteristic: Not spicy, not tart, not meaty. Just sauce. If it were a bit spicier would make the whole dog better.

Still, Mr. Diggity's has a mighty fine hot dog. It scores a 4.5 Weenie rating.

Cabell County Hot Dog Joint Restaurant Inspections for Nov. '07

From the Cabell-Huntington Health Dept. Website:

FARLEY'S FAMOUS HOT DOGS
1226 SOUTH MAIN ST.
11/1/2007
CRITICAL VIOLATION: NOZZLES OF FOUNTAIN DRINK DISPENSER ARE DIRTY (CORRECTED).

TARGET - FOOD AVENUE
2070 THUNDERING HERD ROAD
11/5/2007
CRITICAL VIOLATION: NONE

SAM'S HOT DOG STAND
2885 5TH AVENUE
11/5/2007
CRITICAL VIOLATION: NONE

DAIRY QUEEN/BRAZIER
1939 ADAMS AVENUE
11/6/2007
CRITICAL VIOLATION: NONE

TUDORS BISCUIT WORLD
424 29TH STREET
11/8/2007
CRITICAL VIOLATION: CAN OPENER BLADE UNCLEAN (CORRECTED).

TUDORS BISCUIT WORLD
520 20TH STREET
11/8/2007
CRITICAL VIOLATION: NONE

STEWARTS ORIGINAL HOTDOGS
2445 5TH AVENUE
11/8/2007
NO SANITIZER DETECTED W/ TEST STRIPS-- SINK REFILLED AND PROPER AMOUNT OF SANITIZER ADDED. ROACHES FOUND UNDER POWER SUPPLY OF 2ND CASH REGISTER-- MUST SEND COPY OF EXTERMINATOR.

DAIRY QUEEN
2660 5TH AVENUE
11/13/2007
CRITICAL VIOLATION: NONE

TUDORS BISCUIT WORLD
5984 ROUTE 60 EAST
11/19/2007
CRITICAL VIOLATION: SAUSAGE GRAVY 121*F IN WARMER - OUT OF TEMP. COOKED EGGS 119*F SITTING ON TOP OF STEAM TABLE INSTEAD OF INSIDE - OUT OF TEMPERATURE (CORRECTED - BOTH THROWN AWAY).

SAM'S HOT DOG STAND
816 8TH STREET
11/26/2007
CRITICAL VIOLATION: EGGS IN COOLER OVER READY-TO-EAT FOOD ITEMS (CORRECTED - EGGS MOVED TO BOTTOM SHELF).

PRITCHARD COFFEE AND SANDWICH SHOPPE
603 9TH STREET
11/27/2007
NO VIOLATIONS

Nitro HDJ Review - Jen's Southern BBQ

Here's a little local place with a big future.

To say that Jen's Southern BBQ is the talk of Nitro is an understatement. It is the talk of the whole Kanawha Valley. It is one of those places that isn't fancy or flashy but has some of the best food you're going to find at reasonable prices prepared and served by some of the nicest folks you will ever meet. It's only been open for a few months, but already people line up at lunch time to get one of the dozen or so tables that might still be available. It sits right on the corner of First Avenue and 8th Street in Nitro in the former home of one of the many Rio Grande Restaurant locations. Look for the huge smoker out front.

I first went there because I heard that the pulled pork was to die for (and it is) and went back to try the country style ribs which were equally as scrumptious. On my second visit I noticed the menu includes a "WV Hot Dog" that comes with chili, slaw, mustard, onions and ketchup (the last ingredient being superfluous, as regular readers already know). I knew that I needed to get back and try one because as good as the rest of the food is I figured that the hot dogs would be awesome. I figured right.

It's difficult to know where to begin, so let's start at the top: The slaw didn't look like anything special. It was cut much more coarsely than I normally prefer and I was expecting something different from what I tasted, but this slaw is very good. Despite the larger pieces of cabbage it was creamy and as sweet as you'd ever want with just a hint of tartness. It tasted unbelievably fresh. This is perfect side-serving coleslaw and it works just as well on top of the dog.

Just under the slaw was more goodness: The chili on this dog, while not terribly spicy, was as tasty as chili gets. It was wonderfully overloaded with garlic (is there such a thing as too much garlic?) and nicely complex. Some folks would no doubt prefer it a couple of shades hotter, but it worked perfectly with the slaw.

Down under it all was an all-beef weenie that seemed to have been lightly grilled. It was bursting with flavor. The onions and mustard didn't detract, but the bun did a little: It seemed to be standard Heiners issue but had not been steamed, toasted or grilled. If I had gotten my dogs to go the wax paper wrapping would have no doubt softened the bun. This is a mild nit-pick and I'm not going to penalize for it. Also, don't forget to ask them to hold the ketchup.

Add it all up and Jen's scores a Five Weenie rating.

Cha-Ching! We're in the money!

Ever since I began this blog and expanded its content to the wvhotdogs.com site, I have dreamed of a big payday. I knew that there were legions of loyal West Virginia Hot Dog fans out there who would inundate our sites with gazillions of hits looking for information on the beloved hot dogs of their homeland. I knew that my writing skills along side of those of Chris, Kevin and now Big Daddy, would bring popularity and critical acclaim to our little corner of the internet. Of course I had to pay for the domain name, and the web hosting fees. I've bought promotional items to give to people who could help spread the word. I have used up hundreds of gallons of gas running all over looking for hot dogs joints to review. Printing certificates for the annual Weenie Awards wasn't cheap. Overall I figure I've spent in excess of a thousand dollars on this little enterprise. That doesn't account at all for the hundreds of hours I have spent typing reviews and designing and updating web pages and just doing the work of the Head Weenie Wonk. But I decided it was a wise and prudent investment that would someday reap great financial rewards. I dreamed of a life of luxury paid for by my hot dog income.

And now, coming up on its two-year anniversary, this site has finally paid off. I received in the mail today my first payment from Google Adsense.

That's right: $103.37. That is the total income produced by the Google Ads on our site for the past two years.

Look out Donald Trump; There's a new Weenie Mogul in town.

5-Weenie HDJ to be Featured on Food Network

WSAZ is reporting that Huntington area 5 Weenie hot dog joint Hillbilly Hot Dogs of Lesage will be featured in an upcoming episode of the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives." They are in town this weekend filming for a segment that should air sometime next year.

Maybe one of y'all with cable or satellite can tape it for Stanton and I (we spend too much on hot dogs to afford such luxuries).