Thursday, March 31, 2011

Hoss & Mary's Tasty Grub ~ Old Orchard Beach, Maine


Take a trip to Old Orchard Beach and don't miss Hoss & Mary's Tasty Grub. Hoss & Mary's had their pre-opening today and their official opening is tomorrow.

Three fourths of the Yank's Franks research crew, Double Dog Dennis, The Hot Dog King and I traveled north in anticipation of some "tasty grub." We entered Hoss & Mary's new restaurant (they used to operate Tradewinds Cafe) and we were overwhelmed. What a fantastic place and it's on the beach. As they advertise, Hoss & Mary's is, "In the shadow of the roller coaster!"

As for our expectations of the tasty grub, we talked about it all the way home. It was awesome. Double Dog Dennis got a cheeseburger and fries ( a little boring DD) which he thoroughly enjoyed. The Hot Dog King decided on The Foghorn Leghorn, a cheeseburger topped with chicken fingers, lettuce, tomato and mayo. He is known as The Hot Dog King, but had I been a little more patient in assigning him his hot dog name, he would have been The French Fry King. Needless to say, he selected and loved the fries. For me it was The Moultron, a sandwich named after another of Hoss & Mary's faithful customers(and obviously a foodie genius). My sandwich was simply a cheeseburger topped with a grilled hot dog. I added mustard to make my sandwich the little piece of foodie heaven that I am still dreaming about. My fries were excellent, but that sandwich...WOW!


It's definitely worth a trip up to Old Orchard Beach. Enjoy the rides, enjoy the beach...but you have to eat at and enjoy Hoss & Mary's Tasty Grub. Their menu has something for everyone and from the comments and observations of everyone that showed up today, everything is just amazing.

Frankly, the Yank's Franks research team knows where to dine!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Yank's Franks Checks Out Vienna Beef Hot Dogs


Hot Diggity and I were invited to Boston today to speak with representatives of Chicago's Legendary, Vienna Beef. The purpose was to discuss whether Vienna Beef Hot Dogs would be a good fit at Yank's Franks.

In addition to the Vienna Beef rep. we were warmly greeted by Grady, the founder and owner of Windy City Eats, the awesome Weymouth, Mass. hot dog joint that serves nothing but Vienna Beef products. Hot Diggity and I thoroughly enjoyed a Windy City authentic Chicago Dog at last year's Hot Dog Safari. That Chicago Dog was easily the highlight of the Safari.

In addition to hearing some of the benefits of Vienna Beef and their products, Grady from Windy City Eats had prepared for us some of his delicious Hot Dog Chili and Spicy Polish Sausage. Both were exceptional.

All this is what's known as food for thought.

Frankly, Yank's Franks serves the BEST dogs!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Breaking New Grounds ~ Perkins Cove


What a nice afternoon that Hot Diggity and I had. While cruisin' through Perkins Cove, we stumbled upon a great little coffee shop. We aren't ones that can pass up a coffee shop especially when it comes with a million dollar view (inflation adjusted, it's a 5 million dollar view). There it was sitting right on the open ocean, Breaking New Grounds Coffee & Tea.



What a find! The coffee was superb, the ambiance was unbeatable and the friendly staff made the visit all the better.

This is an official Yank's Franks recommendation...if you're a local, get there before the season kicks into high gear. If you're visiting for summer vacation, plan on a trip to Perkins Cove (you'll probably go there anyway) and keep your eyes peeled for Breaking New Grounds. The chief Barista, Ed tells us that in the summer there are Adirondack chairs out on the rocks for customers to enjoy. I'm telling you, not only will you enjoy their coffee (their bagels and pastries looked amazing), but you'll have a chance to live like a millionaire lounging on the rocky Maine Coast.


Breaking New Grounds has all the specialty coffee and tea drinks you could want and there's a bagel or pastry for every taste.

Frankly, Yank's Franks serves the BEST dogs! But, we do love our coffee especially when it comes with a magnificent ocean view.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Have You Eaten At Yank's Franks Lately?


That's what people will be asking their friends when they taste the new toppings at Yank's Franks this year.

Let me back up a little. I have been wanting to find a special, Yank's Franks Sauce to top our hot dogs. People love our Ridge Relish, it's delicious. People love Flo's Relish, but while it's good, it's not for me. People love the Zun Relish at Edgar's Olde Mill Burgers, but that's not what I put on his awesome burgers.

Sometimes I feel a bit frustrated, but searching for just the right combination of flavors that I would call my absolute favorite has been a very tasty mission as well.

That search has finally paid dividends (can you tell I'm an accountant?). I stumbled upon a small creator and purveyor of mustards, relishes and other sassy sauces. W.O. Hesperus Co. Right here in Southern Maine, they create some of the tastiest condiments you'll ever eat. The genius behind these condiments, Dan Stevens has taste buds that were trained on New Orleans cuisine. When he returned to Maine, he soon found that if he wanted truly amazing sauces, he would have to make them himself. That's what he's doing and Yank's Franks will be a beneficiary of that determination.


The local tasting team of Hot Diggity, Double Dog Dennis, The Hot Dog King and I headed out for yet another tasting field trip. We tasted relish (with red chiles and seaweed), and we tasted mustard (with cayenne pepper and Garlic). We tasted Dan's fantastic Canceaux Sauce, that has won so many awards Dan can barely keep up with adding them to his website. And, we tasted his Bar Harbor-Que Sauce, a tangy sweet BBQ sauce that is so well balanced everyone will love it.

After tasting so many unbelievable condiments, my mouth and taste buds were kicked into neutral. Another taste would have been futile. Yet there was one more sauce that I had to try. The Boston Red Sauce is a must for a kid from Boston. I took a bottle to go.

So, here I am sitting at my computer and I am going to the test kitchen to give the Boston Red Sauce a try. I'll be right back.

Okay, I'm back. Hang on, I've got to go get a drink of water.

Back again, holy cow is this sauce hot. I'm trying to tough it out and not leave you for another water or piece of bread, but I had that spoonful of Boston Red Sauce about four minutes ago and I am sweating on my forehead, my upper lip and my lower lip. It is...

I'm sorry, I didn't even warn you, I went for more water and I brought the bottle back with me. No more interuptions.

The Boston Red Sauce is awesome, but it is very hot. We may offer this at Yank's Franks this coming season, and I assure you that anyone requesting it will be told that it is delicious and very hot.

It's been one of the best and most rewarding field trips we have taken and we didn't have to go very far. Now, more than ever, we can't wait until our season begins. The new toppings we select as a result of visiting the W.O. Hesperus Co. are going to be awesome.

Frankly, we serve the BEST dogs...and we serve the best toppings!

Saturday, March 5, 2011

The Year of the Hot Dog


At Yank's Franks, 2011 is The Year of the Hot Dog.

Confirmed by, Every Day with Rachel Ray editor-in-chief Liz Vaccariello, she says, "I am personally excited about this...I am a hot dog girl!"

While July is National Hot Dog Month and the summer is hot dog season, right now is Hot Dog Spring Training. Loyal baseball fans are flocking to Spring Training Camps to view pre-season games, meet the players, get autographs and eat hot dogs.

So, there's no question, 2011 is gonna be big in the Hot Dog World and the season is getting off to a great start.

At Yank's Franks, we can't wait to get started. Our current plan (and it is subject to change) is to open for the season on May 21st. We will open weekends only until June 25th. Starting June 25th, we plan to be open 7 days per week from 11:00 am until 3:00 pm. We expect to return to the weekend schedule after Labor Day.

That's the current plan and we really are looking forward to getting started. I can taste the chili dogs melting in my mouth right now.

One last thing...here's a sneak peek at something we are considering. We may be selling Yank's Franks tee shirts that will more than pay for themselves. More on this to follow.

Frankly, we can't wait to get started on our 2011 Hot Dog Season!

Friday, March 4, 2011

While in Maine, Find Out What's Hot

chubbywerewolf

Here is a new offbeat blog that will seek out (among other things), America's best hamburger. The photo to the left accompanied Chubby's review of a Portland, Maine restaurant named Local 188. Go to Chubby Werewolf's blog to see how this Local 188 Brunch Burger stacks up against others.

Chubby himself made an appearance at Yank's Franks back in early October. He arrived unannounced and never identified himself until he wrote a great online review of Yank's Franks. Thanks, Chubby!

For insight into Portland's pop culture, reviews of popular movies, life in Maine, and my favorite, the hunt for the perfect cheeseburger (only one thing could be better...the hunt for the perfect hot dog) visit Chubby Werewolf's site and check back often, it's full of great ideas.

Frankly, Yank's Franks serves the BEST dogs!
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