The Yank's Franks Angry Sauce Is Ready

W O Hesperus Bottling Department

With the Yank's Franks Opening Day fast approaching we ordered our special recipe, Yank's Angry Sauce from Captain Mowatt's (aka, W O Hesperus Co.).

Hot Diggity and I ventured north to Portland's Eastern Promenade, the worldwide headquarters of Captain Mowatt's. Overlooking Portland's Casco Bay, we were given a tour of their offices, the production kitchen, the bottling department and the storage room.

We were given a gastronomic tour of Captain Mowatt's amazing sauces, including their new Captain Mowatt's Hot Pink which earns a Heat Level rating of 7 out of 10.

We sampled the Captain's new Old Salt, an awesome combination of Sea Salt, Habanero & Cayenne Chiles, and a little Maine Seaweed. At a Heat Level of 4 out of 10, it was just the right kick while still being able to appreciate the taste buds.

Storage Department

We were sent off with a bottle of the Old Salt to keep at Yank's Franks. Anyone wanting a bit of a kick to their burger, fries or onion rings, please ask. I can't wait to try it myself.

Frankly, Some Like It Hot!!! 

Yank's Franks on the Green Monster??

Good job, Matt!

Well, maybe not on the Green Monster, but we will be on the "home run wall" at the Wells-Ogunquit Little League Stadium.

Opening day for the 2012 season is this Saturday, April 28th and Yank's Franks will be there again grilling up hot dogs.

Whether for breakfast or lunch, stop by the Yank's Franks stand and pick up an awesome dog. And remember, all proceeds are donated back to the Little League.

Frankly, nothing goes better with baseball than hot dogs!

Litchfield's Bar and Grill ~ A Restaurant Review

The Yank's Franks tasting team went to dinner and did we find a great place.

All but Hot Diggity were in the mood for a burger so we decided to try the newest place in town (the town being Wells, Maine).

Litchfield's Bar and Grill just recently opened under new (and much improved) management. Their sign notes their award for Best Hamburger in the NECN "Baby You're The Best" poll in 2011. The new owners are aligned with Lee Circle Grocery in Lee, NH winner of first place in the Baby You're the Best poll.

The burger pictured above was Litchfield's Cowboy Burger with a half pound of beef, plenty of delicious cheddar cheese and onion rings on top. For me, tonight I chose the Cheddar and Bacon Burger. It was a half pound of perfectly seasoned and perfectly cooked beef topped with gooey cheddar cheese and crispy bacon (in addition to lettuce, tomato and onion). It was delicious and luckily my mouth was big enough to enjoy this mile high sandwich from top to bottom.

The French Fries that come with Litchfield's sandwiches got a special mention from Double Dog Dennis and they recieved the Seal of Approval from the French Fry King, very high praise indeed. The fries are not the thin, shoestring variety but a more substantial slice of potato. They were cooked perfectly, nice and crispy on the outside and just right on the inside. It doesn't sound like much, but cooking Fries to get that perfect combination seems to elude many. Not at Litchfield's, they know how to do Fries.

I can't finish without a commentary on dessert...Peanut Butter Pie. Wow, it was amazing. Leave enough room for this fantastic end to a wonderful meal.

Whether you're a summer visitor or a year round area resident, give the now owners at Litchfield's a try. You too will be pleased that Wells has another great place to eat.

Frankly, Wells is a great place for a Foodie to live (and eat)!

Maine Hot Dog Stands (Joints)

Maine is a beautiful state, but best of all, Maine has some great Hot Dog Stands (or Joints as I prefer to call them).

I have sampled some of them and I have put the Joints I have yet to sample on my "to do" list.

I am listing the Hot Dog Joints of Maine in alphabetical order. I am certain I have missed some so please feel free to post a comment or email me to let me know the Joints I have left out.

The Joints I have had the pleasure of visiting I am rating on a scale of one * to five *****. I wish I could do something more clever than *, but I'm not a computer guy, I'm a hot dog guy.

If you see your favorite and I have rated it less than you would have, don't be upset, it's just a matter of taste. Also, for those that have not noticed, this blog is the Yank's Franks blog so, of course, Yank's gets a *****. Hey, it's a matter of taste.

Ava's Hot Dog Stand, Oakland
Bolley's Famous Franks, Hallowell ***
Chicago Dogs, Scarborough ****
Danny's Hot Dogs, Brunswick
The Dog House, Kittery ***
Don's Famous Franks, Augusta **
Dunton's Doghouse, Boothbay Harbor
Flo's Hot Dogs, York *
Hot Diggity Dogs, Kennebunk ****
Perry's Sidewalk Cafe/Almost Famous Since 1994!, Portland
Rapid Ray's, Saco *
Red's Eats, Wiscasset ****
Rosie's Hot Dogs, Eastport
Simone's, Lewiston
Upie's Take Out, Port Clyde
Wasses Hot Dogs, Rockland *****
Yank's Franks, Wells (I told you *****)
That's my list so far.
Let me know if you have a favorite or if you want to weigh in with your ratings.

Pearl's of Wisdom...

Hot Diggity and I were excited when we received an invitation from Pearl Meat Packing Co. to visit their Massachusetts headquarters.

The Yank's Franks tasting team showed up this morning anticipating a fun and educational (get it...Pearl's of wisdom) tour of Pearl's facilities. We were greeted by Bud Lazaro, Vice President of Sales as well as, Bob Camelio, President and CEO. We were very impressed by the facility's cleanliness, efficiency and the friendliness of the people.

Hot Diggity and I were treated to All-Beef hot dogs of various sizes, including a new Pearl Hot Dog spiced with Jalapeno peppers (ay chiwawa). We tried Pearl's beef and pork hot dogs as well as their Italian sausages. We sampled breakfast sandwiches, and even a wonderful Reuben sandwich made with Pearl's lean smoked Pastrami (absolutely delicious).

Of all the terrific offerings, the thing that kept us going back time and time again was the Jalapeno dog, it was delicious and unique.

What a great way to spend the day!

Frankly, Pearl makes awesome Hot Dogs (and more)!

I Finally Got a Good Chili Dog

Today The French Fry King and I went north to finally lay to rest my overwhelming hunger for a chili dog. Where else would we go but Hoss & Mary's Tasty Grub at Old Orchard Beach.

For me, it was a chili dog and a Moultron (a Moultron is a cheeseburger topped with a hot dog) along with an order of fries. For The French Fry King, it was just a Moultron and fries (wimp). Our meals were fantastic.

I took good photos of our food, but sitting next to me was this young man named Ethan. And, as I came to learn, those eight cheeseburgers that were on the griddle were soon to be put together and served to Ethan as his Ocho Burger. I couldn't resist that photo op. I guess I am now a member of the Paparazzi. That's Ethan in the photo just before digging into his Ocho Burger.

I spent the next five minutes or so, watching Ethan make quick work of his Ocho Burger. He didn't skip a beat and then moved quickly on to finish off his order of fries. So as not to risk feeling a bit hungry on his walk home, Ethan topped his meal off with an order of deep-fried Mother Futchers Coffee Cake with sweet dipping sauce.

Great job Ethan! It was good to have lunch with you and all your friends.

And, great job Hoss & Mary...as usual your food is consistently great!

Frankly, I Love a Great Chili Dog!

A Five Day Waiting Period to Purchase a Hot Dog???

After an incident on the 7th green at Cordevalle where Tiger Woods was attacked by a "hot dog slinging" fan (well, maybe not a fan of Tiger), officials now are focused on the dangers of hot dogs. According to one security expert attending the tournament, "It wasn't a chili dog, that could have been really bad."

I'm hoping all of you will agree with me when I say, "if we make it a crime to carry a hot dog, only criminals...you know the rest."

To slightly modify the words of the great Homer Simpson, "What do you mean I have to wait 5 days for a hot dog permit...I'm hungry now!"

Frankly, Yank's Franks chili dogs would never be tossed!

Yank's Franks Scores High In "New England's Best Hot Dog" Poll

Yank's Franks takes second place in the voting for New England's Best Hot Dog. Not bad for a "hot dog joint" that opened less than a year ago.

Yank's was up against some of the toughest competition in New England.

Connecticut alone is home to some amazing hot dog joints (after all it was a Connecticut Hot Dog Joint that was the inspiration behind Yank's) scattered all over the State.

Rhode Island has great places and has their own method of serving dogs, oddly enough called New York System Weiners. Yank's Franks customers from Rhode Island rave about them.


Maine has the old stand by Flo's one of this year's nominees and winner last year.

Anyway, this isn't about the other hot dog joints, this article is about the wonderful people that voted for Yank's Franks in this year's NECN poll , Baby You're the Best!

Thank you all for taking the time to vote for Yank's Franks, it is very much appreciated.

Frankly, Yank's Franks has the BEST customers!

Foodie Blog, Chubby Werewolf Reviews Yank's Franks

Photo courtesy of Chubby Werewolf
Popular Maine Food Critic and blogger of Life in Maine, Chubby Werewolf has written a review of his recent visit to Yank's Franks. Chubby not only writes about his opinion of the hot dogs (pictured is the Yank's Frank that Chubby enjoyed), but he also gives a great description of Yank's almost famous Pulled Pork sandwich.

Check it out! If you are living in Southern Maine or visiting the Greater Portland area, do yourself a favor and read Chubby's articles on What To Do and Where To Eat. If you follow Chubby's suggestions, you will greatly enhance your Southern Maine experience.

If you're a Foodie and enjoy a perfect burger, Chubby devotes an entire section (Burger Watch) to his efforts to seek the ultimate burger. Warning - proceed cautiously through this section if you are hungry.

Thanks, Chubby for the great review. We are so happy you enjoyed your lunch.

Frankly, I Love Working at Yank's Franks! We Meet The Nicest People.

Chubby Werewolf Visits Yank's Franks

Chubby and Yank

We had a special visitor today at Yank's Franks. It was a great way to begin the day, meeting someone that writes an amazing blog focused on, among other things, one of my favorite subjects...food.

Chubby Werewolf himself showed up early this morning and introduced himself to Hot Diggity. While I was at the grill, I heard his discussion and I was so excited. Chubby and I had corresponded shortly after his first visit to Yank's last year.

This time Chubby came bearing gifts, and awesome gifts they are. A couple of cans of Skyline Chili (Cincinnati-Style Chili) and a package of Zweigle's Red & White Hot Dogs.

Okay, Chubby really writes a great blog, but boy oh boy does he know what to bring a "hot dogger" for a gift.

Thank you so much, Chubby. Hot Diggity and I have a special dinner planned with some "hot dog" friends and I have already told them what's on the menu. Now, we're all excited.

Frankly, Yank & Hot Diggity have met some fantastic people!

July is National Hot Dog Month

We would love to see you at Yank's Franks to celebrate National Hot Dog Month.

Try a different combination of toppings each day. Let us know your favorite.

Someone recently ordered The Angry Dog topped with Onions and Jalapenos. It sounds delicious, but I may wait until October to try it myself.

Frankly, we serve the BEST dogs!

Yank's Franks Opening Weekend

Yank's Franks would like to thank everyone that helped make our opening weekend so GREAT!

We said it last year and we'll say it again...we didn't realize that one of the best benefits of opening a "hot dog joint" would be all the new friends we are meeting.

Appearing for the first time, the Burgers, the BBQ Pulled Pork and The Angry Dog were tried by a few of you. But, it was the beloved favorites that stole the show... The Wells Beach Dog, The Chili Dog and The Yank's Frank were clearly the huge sellers for the weekend.

Thanks again everyone that stopped in to say hello and get their hot dog fix. And those of you that couldn't make it, we look forward to seeing you soon.

Frankly, we have the BEST customers!

Where Can You Go and Have a Gluten-Free Hot Dog, Burger, Or Pulled Pork Sandwich...Yank's Franks!

Yank's Franks hot dogs are too good to pass up, even if you suffer from Celiac Disease or Gluten Intolerance. Well, there is no need to ask for your hot dog or burger "just plain, without the bun."

Yank's Franks is working with Rudi's Gluten-Free Bakery from Boulder, Colorado. Rudi's bakes both gluten-free Hot Dog Buns and gluten-free Hamburger Buns which will allow more customers to fully enjoy their visit to Yank's Franks.

Both of these products are new to the market and Yank's Franks is thrilled to have this option available, making our menu more accessible to a wider variety of guests.

Frankly, we serve the BEST dogs!

Yank's Franks is That Way

Coming Soon!

If you're hopping off the highway and approaching Wells, or if you're leaving the beach to grab a delicious and quick lunch...just follow the signs to Yank's Franks.

They'll be up soon and if your jonesin' for a delicious hot dog with some extra crispy fries, just follow the signs.

Frankly, I really love our signs!

Opening Soon! May 21st is Opening Day for Yank's Franks

Yank's Franks Opening Day will be Saturday, May 21st. Yank's will be open weekends (Saturday and Sunday) from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Beginning Saturday, June 18th, Yank's will be open 7 days per week from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

The 7-day per week schedule will continue through Labor Day, Monday, September 5th. After Labor Day, Yank's will be back on the weekend schedule through Columbus Day, Monday, October 10th.

We're getting excited, we're working on new Specialty Dogs, the perfect Pulled Pork Sandwich and a few other new offerings. If you are a fan of Yank's Super Crispy French Fries, you'll love the Chili Fries (or the Chili-Cheddar Fries). And speaking of chili, Yank's Beantown Chili will be available by the cup during the entire season.

We have a new sign being built. It will certainly be up before opening day. When it's ready, I'll have photos so you will know what to look for.

And last but not least (okay, maybe it is least), we have a new name for one of our hot dog researchers. The Hot Dog King has been stripped of his title, but don't feel bad for him. He still is King except from here on he'll be referred to as The French Fry King. This new title is far more appropriate and frees up The Hot Dog King title for someone who is a true lover of encased meats. The French Fry King's true passions are Cheeseburgers and French Fries.

That's it for now. I'll keep you posted.

Frankly, we can't wait until Opening Day!

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!

The Academy Awards and Hot Dogs

What do the 2011 Academy Awards have to do with hot dogs? Well, if I had to guess there are probably many actors and actresses that are wild about hot dogs.

Why would I say that? Hollywood is home to one of the country's best Hot Dog Joints. Pink's Hot Dogs. If you check out their website, you'll see that they have devoted an entire page to photos of celebrities that dine at Pink's.

But, that's not the answer I was searching for. I'll re-phrase my question to narrow it down.

What does the movie that's favored to win "Best Picture" have to do with hot dogs?

Need a hint? Okay, the movie I am referring to is, The King's Speech.

Need another hint? Okay, there's also a connection to our day off (some of us) just last week, Presidents' Day.

Did you get it yet? I'll post what I am alluding to in a comment soon. Take a guess.

Frankly, Yank's Franks serves the BEST dogs!

Bolley's Famous Franks ~ Hallowell, Maine

Today's research field trip took Double Dog Dennis, The Hot Dog King and me to Bolley's Famous Franks in Hallowell, Maine.

My first impression of Bolley's was, WOW! they are packed. We arrived just after noon time and we had to wait for a parking space.

Once inside we ordered. The HDK had a burger and fries. One of the reasons we came to Bolley's was The HDK had stopped here for lunch many months back and couldn't say enough good things about the fries. DDD ordered a burger and large onion rings. Apparently they both forgot that we were at a hot dog joint. For me it was two dogs, one with mustard and sauteed onions and the other was the chili dog. I find myself ordering a chili dog everywhere and using it as a standard by which to judge hot dog joints (and I love chili dogs).

For dessert The HDK ordered us all donuts, homemade of course.

Both DDD and The HDK reported that their burgers were very good. They looked good. My hot dogs (Old Neighborhood natural casing dogs) were both good, the chili was good and the sauteed onions were very good. The chili was not authentic hot dog chili, but it was good and that is what counts. The only thing I didn't care for was the bun. It was steamed, which makes it too soggy for me. I know many people prefer their bun steamed, but I'm not one of them. Both the rings and the fries were also good, but even The HDK said they were much better during his last visit. On the other hand, the donuts were probably made that morning and probably would have tasted better when they were fresh. The donuts we had were very bad.

When in Hallowell, I'll gladly go to Bolley's and enjoy the hot dogs, the fries and the rings, but I'll steer clear of the donuts next time. I'll also try a burger with my dogs next time. Thanks Bolley's for a good lunch.

Check out tomorrow's article here at the blog and find out where we stopped next. Just as a teaser, they had awesome Homemade Crinkle Cut French Fries (very rare and very good).

Frankly, Yank's Franks serves the BEST dogs!

Where's The Beef?

The beef was in the Yank's Franks' testing labratory. Actually it was the Italian Beef, imported from Chicago the land of great politicians and even greater hot dogs.

The judges were set. Each one of them, Hot Diggity, Double Dog Dennis, The Hot Dog King and me (Yank) had sworn to skip several meals prior to the tasting and arrive super hungry. I wasn't able to skip breakfast, but I did skip my mid-morning snack. Well, I didn't skip it, but I had far less than I otherwise would have. Well, not far less, but less. Hey, the point is, I was very hungry.
The menu was set, and the Italian Beef sandwiches were to be the highlight. I felt we couldn't have a legitimate tasting without a sidedish so I added onion rings to balance things out. They weren't the amazing Yank's Franks onion rings, but they weren't bad.
To wash it all down, we had the famous Yank's Franks Root Beer. What a meal!

As you can see from the photo, we gathered around the tasting table for our first bite of the Beef sandwiches. What you may not know from my previous posts is, The Hot Dog King is in the Witness Protection Program (you now understand why his title The Hot Dog King doesn't include his name) so his face had to be obscured to protect his identity.

The Italian Beef was made by taking very thinly sliced roast beef which is placed briefly into Au Jus gravy and then onto a warm and crispy bread roll. Then you add a ladle of Au Jus gravy followed by some cooked sweet peppers to finish this awesome sandwich. Some people (me in particular) like to have their sandwich topped with Hot Giardiniera. It was delicious, I mean delizioso!

I always said I'd like to get a job eating or testing mattresses. One more check mark on my Bucket List. Even though Yank's Franks won't be opening until May, we continue to do research to bring our customers the best eating experience possible.

Frankly, we serve the BEST dogs!

We Are Re-Opening The Research Kitchen Next Week

The Yank's Franks research kitchen will open to test a potentially new Yank's Franks menu item. This time it's not hot dogs.

Santa left this package for us and it is full of the ingredients (or as they say in Texas, the fixins') to create authentic Italian Beef sandwiches.

Thank you, Santa (and also Chicago Dog Debbie and Jumbo Dog Jim). My taste buds won't sleep a wink until they get some Italian Beef.

Frankly, we serve the BEST dogs!

Who knows, we may add to our tag line...
Serviamo anche le miglioro carni Italiane!