July is full of reasons to celebrate, from Independence Day to… National Hot Dog Day? That’s right, tomorrow is National Hot Dog Day! That means from sunup to sunset on Thursday, July 23, it’s time to celebrate everyone’s favorite ballpark junk food.
If you’re craving a gourmet hot dog but don’t want to fire up the grill, here’s where you can find one in southeast Michigan:
Simply Franks, 21095 Farmington Rd., Farmington, allows you to build your own beef or turkey frank, or you can choose from a selection of gourmet ones. Try the B.L.T. Frank (deep fried and bacon wrapped, topped with lettuce, tomato and mayo), Franks Benedict (topped with a fried egg, bacon and hollandaise sauce) or Frito Frank (with baked beans, bacon, Fritos and maple syrup).
Don’t forget a side of Cajun or Garlic Parmesan Fries!
Ray’s Red Hots, 629 E. University, Ann Arbor, can often be found out and about in the community, and if you recently attended the Ann Arbor Art Fair, you may have spotted the cart there. At Ray’s, first pick your dog or sausage, then choose your style.
The Wolverine Dog is served on a white bun, and can be topped any way you want it. Try Reuben style, with Russian dressing, Swiss cheese and sauerkraut. If you don’t eat meat but still want to celebrate, try the Vegetarian “No Dog,” a char-grilled piece of tofu marinated in teriyaki and served on a whole-wheat bun. Topped Slaw Style (with barbecue sauce, raw onions, Swiss cheese and coleslaw), you won’t know the difference!
Stadium, 1034 Monroe St., Dearborn, is known for its gourmet footlong hot dogs. There are plain hot dogs, sausages, chicken and turkey hot dogs on the menu, but the gourmet hot dogs are the real winners.
The Breakfast Dog (topped with eggs, bacon and cheese), Jersey Dog (topped with pastrami, coleslaw, shredded cheese and mustard) and Stadium Dog (with hamburger, bacon, tomatoes, lettuce, onions and nacho cheese) are each a steal at $5.99.
It just wouldn’t be summer without a hot dog, and it would be wrong to not partake in National Hot Dog Day. Time to do your civic duty!