For more than just a midday meal, Staff Writer Audrey Parente was invited to take a trip up State Road A1A along the ocean to The ChiDog. It turned out to be a sneak-away lunch break staycation. Laurence Bennett showed up with his red Ford Mustang convertible. No beach towels, no bathing suits, but on a hot day, nothing beats hot dogs and snow cones by the ocean.
What was the place like?
This is a beachside bungalow; the air-conditioned interior bathed in yellow paint and bright colors. A half-dozen red bar stools, cheery music inside for someone who doesn't really want to get sweaty and has to go back to work; but outside umbrella tables, for those who are beach-dressed for it.
What did you order?
This is a place where you pick your dog -- regular, jumbo or spicy -- and what it will be buried under. Bennett is a hot dog expert, since he once owned The Hot Dog Hut in Ormond Beach. He picked the regular Chicago-style dog as a test and said it was good, but of course not as good as his legendary dogs, he said.
I went for "Spicy with cheese and chili." Both came on poppyseed buns. Bennett did admit the Chicago-style dog was true blue (or green, I guess, since the signature lime-green relish was the real deal). The spicy dog was tangy and snapped, and the first round went down in just a few bites. We each ordered another.
For his second, he went for a chili-slaw dog and I got the Polish sausage with mustard and tomatoes just to be different. The second round went down a little slower, but each was tasty. There were chips and drinks, but we just took bottled water.
What else did you order?
I'm no snow-cone junkie, but I did ask what "Tiger's Blood" flavor might be and was told it was berry with a hint of coconut. The counter clerk also said it was probably the top favorite over 31 flavors listed -- on the back side of the tiny 3-by-10-inch hot dog menu -- in alphabetical order, from Banana and Blackberry to Watermelon and Wedding Cake. We didn't get any, though. Staycation over. Get back to work.
How much was it?
Regular Chicago-style dogs $2.79 (jumbo $3.79) and spicy $3.59 plus $.20 for each topping. The Polish sausage was $3.69, but no extra charge for the tomatoes. Waters $1.50 each. Total with tax and a few bucks and change in the tip jar: $18.
Anything else?
Prices for the food were cheaper than the gas to get there, but the getaway: priceless.
The ChiDog
WHERE: 210 S. Central Ave., Flagler Beach, a block west of the Flagler Pier
PHONE: 386-693-4931<cm cq>
HOURS: Open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
MISC.: Plenty of parking, handicapped-accessible ramp. Major credit cards accepted.
