March '10

Frank

March 26, 2010

This was our biggest AFDA to date. We had 30 diners pack into the newest in hot dog heaven, Frank, in downtown Austin. Frank specializes in almost every hot dog, sausage, and bratwurst you can imagine. We also had the pleasure of Austin Statesman food writer, Addie Broyles, join us. She discovered AFDA's blog and was curious about the group, so coming to a dinner was a perfect way to check us out. The initial thing that attracted me to Frank was rumor of Bacon infused Maker's Mark. If you're curious as to what was ordered first, it would be a glass of the goodness on the rocks. When first sipping on the smooth golden liquid, the taste of bacon was not immediate. Slowly though, the saltiness came through and there was a slight hint of something. Not overwhelming, and mostly filed with the deliciousness that is Maker's, but definitely enjoyed by those who tried it. We then ordered a few appetizers and sides. One of the biggest hits was a special, the Green Chile Chorizo Cheese Fries. Uh, yeah. They were incredible. The green chile hit so delicately with the kick of chorizo and creaminess of cheese. They were gone in about 2.5 seconds. The second biggest hit was the Corn Cup (Grilled corn served off the cob with chili mayonesa, lime juice, cilantro and cotija cheese). If you've had this style of corn before, you know it is amazing. Don't be fooled or freaked out, this combination is stellar and you will not be able to put your utensil down. Everyone's immediate reaction was "Oh my gosh, you have to try this." The mayonesa keeps the citrus, herb, chili, and cheese blended for a fiesta in your mouth. Do it! We continued the night with more Maker's, Lonestar Tall Boys, and of course hot dogs and sausages galore. We chose the Jakelope (local antelope, rabbit & pork sausage, huckleberry compote, sriracha aioli, applewood smoked cheddar). The sweet compote was fantastic against the rich game flavor. The Notorious P.I.G. (Housemade pork, bacon, jalapeno & sage sausage with macaroni & cheese, Texas BBQ sauce). Yes, that's right, mac and cheese on a sausage. It was so good, but so filling. Other great orders were the Beer Soaked Braut, Chicago Dog, Jalepeno Cheese Dog, Carolina Pork It (Vienna beef, stuffed with cheese, wrapped in bacon and deep fried, Grilled coleslaw, house made green chile pimento cheese), Nacho Dog, and another special, the Zweibelwurst (Beer soaked brat with caramelized onion, grilled kraut, horseradish mustard. We sealed the deal with a Whoopie Pie and Chocolate Covered Bacon, because why not? They were out of Bananas Foster, which will be tried on the next visit. This place is a party in itself, so check out the millions of combos they offer. Perfect for starting off a night that well honestly ended in riding a mechanical bull. Sums it up perfectly. Hot dog!

Top Picks: Green Chili Corizo Cheese Fries, Corn Cup, Beer Soaked Brat, The Jakelope, Bacon Infused Maker's Mark

http://www.hotdogscoldbeer.com

Addie Broyles - Relish Austin

www.addiebroyles.com