Yank's Franks

Long Time Hot Dog Manufacturer Grote & Weigel to Shut Down

2012-01-28T08:37:00.005-05:00

After 122 years in business, popular Connecticut hot dog manufacturer Grote & Weigel will soon close their doors.

While the closing will not impact Yank's Franks (Yank's has always used Hummel Bros. hot dogs) it is very sad to see this long time business succumb to our terrible economy.

One of the Hot Dog Joints that will feel the impact is Doogie's Hot Dogs. Grote & Weigel supplies (supplied) all Doogie's hot dogs, but the one product that will be most difficult to replace is Doogie's Two-Foot Hot Dog. Yes, that's right, 2 feet of encased deliciousness. For a photo of this delicious piece of hot dog history click here.

Doogie's is interviewing other hot dog manufacturers to see if they can talk them into supplying two-footers. To be honest, I think they will find a replacement, but my question is, where do you get a two foot hot dog bun?

Neither Hot Diggity nor I have ever been to Doogie's, but I can assure you that if we are able to make it there before they run out of two-footers, that's what I'll be ordering.

Frankly, I want a hot dog for breakfast!

Blackie's Hot Dogs ~ A Hot Dog Joint Review

2012-01-06T10:50:00.004-05:00

I had been looking forward to this day for a couple of years now. I'd done my research so I knew that Blackie's Hot Dog Stand served Hummel Bros. hot dogs (my favorite) and they had their own, secret recipe, Hot Pepper Relish.

Our cross-country drive to Texas started with a Hummel dog at Duchess, and would end with a Hummel dog at Blackie's. Lucky for me, our events in between these outstanding gastronomical bookends were even better.

It was just about dinner time when we pulled into Blackie's parking lot. We were greeted with a friendly hello and when it quickly became evident that we were new customers, the young man behind the counter offered his help.

The hot dog options are somewhat limited so our decisions were made quickly. Your hot dog is scored and heated in oil and placed on a traditional roll. If you choose your dog well done, it is put on the griddle for a little bit of a char. The toppings consist of spicy mustard and Blackie's hot pepper relish. There is a jug of ketchup on the counter, but I prefer to think it's only there for the burgers.

It was one dog for Hot Diggity and two dogs for me. Hot Diggity had hers plain and I chose both toppings on one and mustard only on the other. I immediately realized that I had made a mistake and ordered another dog This one I tried well done.

The hot dogs at Blackie's are absolutely delicious. If you are ever traveling through Connecticut on I-84 (west of Hartford) look them up and plug them into the GPS. They are just minutes off of the interstate and they are well worth the stop.

Frankly, Yank loves Hummel Bros. hot dogs!

A Yank's Franks Restaurant Review ~ Smashburger

2011-12-29T22:28:00.004-05:00

Hot Diggity and I passed by Smashburger on a trip to Texas in November. While we didn't have time to try them out then, the thought of this new burger joint has been swirling around in my head ever since.

Today I was sporting a smile almost as big as the guy who, when asked how often he has sex, replied "once a year" Then why the big smile? "Because tonight's the night!"

Well, tonight's the night for Smashburger. Pictured here is Hot Diggity's Smashburger Classic with American Cheese on an egg bun. The Smashfries are shoe string russet potatoes tossed with olive oil, rosemary and garlic. Hot Diggity also had a Haagen-Daz milkshake as did I, but more on that later.

Joining in our review today were Spicy Salsa Marjan and The Hot Dog Cowboy. Spicy Salsa Marjan had the exact same lunch as Hot Diggity, but The Hot Dog Cowboy preferred the Smashburger Kid's meal with Veggie Frites (flash fried carrot sticks and green beans).

For me, it was a Create Your Own Burger. It had cheddar cheese and a bunch of other stuff. I opted for the Chili Cheese Fries (surprise, surprise).

We all had Haagen-Daz Vanilla Milkshakes. I haven't had a milkshake that was that good in many, many years.

As for the food...Hot Diggity, Spicy Salsa Marjan and I all agreed that these were spectacular burgers and amazing fries. The Hot Dog Cowboy let his empty plate do the talking. He loved the burger and really appreciated the Veggie Frites.

Smashburger received eight thumbs up on this trip! If you have the opportunity to visit a Smashburger it's worth the trip.

Frankly, Yank loves hamburgers and chili cheese fries!

A Yank's Franks Restaurant Review ~ Einstein's Bagels

2011-12-29T08:46:00.005-05:00

Einstein's Bagels??? Has Yank gone crazy? Doesn't he have anything else to write about?

The truth is, I love bagels. Believe it or not, I even eat those sesame "rolls with a hole" in the middle that Dunkies sells. I don't love those, but I'll occasionally eat them. The best bagels I've ever eaten are, hands down from The Bagel King in Fairfield, Connecticut. The worst, that's easy, Lender's bagels.

Einstein's falls somewhere in the middle. Certainly a cut above Dunkin Donuts "rolls with a hole" but with a first name like Einstein's and a last name like Bagels, they should be much better.

Having said all that, this isn't so much about the bagels at Einstein's as much as it is about their Bagel Dogs. Yesterday's breakfast was an Asiago Bagel Dog. I had every intention of enjoying one of Einstein's toasted sesame bagels with plain cream cheese, but I spotted those bagel dogs. Even at 9:00 in the morning those dogs were screaming my name.

A hot dog surrounded by an Asiago Cheese bagel roll! Maybe you could resist, but I didn't have a chance.

The Asiago bagel roll was a little soft. It was packed in a foil bag to keep it warm and that lends itself to steaming the bun. Not a big issue as the taste of the bun was still very good. If I had eaten it at Einstein's perhaps the roll (bagel) would have been crispier. No biggie.

The hot dog was split, but I was unable to tell if it was griddled or heated in an oven. I suspect it was the oven, but again, no big deal either way. The only issue I had (and it is a big one) was the taste of the dog. It was very strong and heavily seasoned. I don't mind an all-beef strong hot dog (in fact, I like them), but their seasonings were over the top for me. Not a bad flavor, just a whole lot of it. In all fairness, it was breakfast time and perhaps my taste buds were not fully awake.

All-in-all, I would say I wouldn't have it again, but I did eat the whole dog. If someone bought one for me, I'd eat it, but this time I'd put mustard on it. I should have added mustard for this one, but heck there are times I don't even get a photo because I'm so anxious to eat.

Frankly, isn't it amazing that hot dogs are showing up everywhere?

A Yank's Franks Restaurant Review ~ The Maine Diner

2011-11-21T10:21:00.006-05:00

One of the great things about living in the Wells, Maine area is access to an amazing place to eat called, The Maine Diner.

Hot Diggity and I were out Christmas shopping and were getting pretty hungry. In spite of the amazing Chili Dog fix I got at Hoss & Mary's last Friday, I was still jonesin' for more. A stop at the great Maine Diner was the answer.

One of Hot Diggity's favorite things to have for lunch (and for dinner) is breakfast. One of my favorite things to have for lunch (and for breakfast...and for dinner) is a Chili Dog. We knew what would satisfy both of our cravings.

Over the course of the last 30 years for me and the last XX years for Hot Diggity (I removed the number because Hot Diggity looks too young to go back that far) The Maine Diner has been a favorite with us.

Hot Diggity had her predictable breakfast selection. For me it was the bowl of Chili with 2 hot dogs. Being the clever foodie that I am, I not only turned these ingredients into chili dogs (I should be on the Food Channel), I accepted Hot Diggity's offer to choose French Fries with her meal and I was clever enough to turn her Fries into my Chili Fries. I am so creative.

The Maine Diner is awesome and consistent. We have dined there so many times, and have never had anything other than excellent meals.

Don't let the line of people bother you. There is a reason people are waiting...it's that good!!!

Frankly, Wells, Maine is fortunate to have such a great place to eat!

I Finally Got a Good Chili Dog

2011-11-18T14:21:00.007-05:00

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 Yank's Franks Restaurant Review ~ When Pigs Fly

2011-11-17T16:54:00.008-05:00

I have reviewed several Hot Dog Joints and now I have decided to branch out and review other great restaurants. This is the first of these reviews, but won't be the last.

When Hot Diggity and I relocated to Maine ten years ago, she asked me, "when will Southern Maine get a great pizza joint?" I told her, "when pigs fly!" Well, as it turns out, I was correct (it doesn't happen that often).

Hot Diggity and I decided to have lunch today at When Pigs Fly. We headed south on route 1 and took note that at 11:55 am, the Flo's Hot Dogs parking lot had 2 cars out front. A little further south, one of my favorite hamburger joints, Wild Willy's had just 6 cars (2 of which were likely employees) at just about 12:00 noon. A little further south and we drove out of York and into Kittery, straight to When Pigs Fly and their parking lot was nearly full. I'd guess about 25-30 cars.

When Pigs Fly has a retail store where you can purchase a variety of items including their artisan breads. Warning~~if you are on a diet or simply watching your calories, do not go into this part of the building. Their breads are just ridiculous! I'm not lying, they are crazy good.

The majority of the building is the restaurant and today, Hot Diggity and I had pizza on our minds. While one pizza may have been enough for the two of us, we had different ideas as to or toppings of choice.

Hot Diggity selected their Four Cheese pizza (pictured on the right in the photo). In addition to Mozzarella, Fontina, Provolone and Pecorino Romano her pie had Spanish style salami, Peppadew (what the heck is that?) and blah, blah, blah a few other things.

My pizza was the House-Made Chirizo Sausage with Chopped Jalapenos (pictured on the left). It had other stuff, but when you have Chirizo and Jalapenos, the other stuff doesn't matter that much. It was delicious! I also had a piece of Hot Diggity's pizza and it was amazing as well.

The menu at When Pigs Fly had plenty of other offering like soups, salads and sandwiches that sounded really good, but don't pass by the pizza. It's made with fresh, tasty ingredients and it's baked in a wood-fired oven.

The When Pigs Fly restaurant is a must, but don't go into the retail store unless you are trying to bulk up.

Frankly, Hot Diggity and Yank love good food (and we love sharing it with you)!

What City (or State) Is The Hot Dog Capital?

2011-11-16T14:42:00.004-05:00

That's a question that will likely start an argument at your next party.

My initial answer is (or was) Chicago. After my Google search I realized that somehow I had forgotten about New Jersey. New Jersey is loaded with great hot dog joints, including Rutt's Hut, my favorite New Jersey joint.

At the top of my Google search was New Castle, PA. They made the list by producing the world's record largest hot dog at 16 feet, 1 inch. Sorry New Castle, that makes you weird not the Hot Dog Capital.

I grew up really liking hot dogs, especially a hot dog at Fenway. Put a hot dog and Coke in my hand while Dick Radatz was on the mound for the Red Sox and it just doesn't get any better. I really liked those dogs, but my real love for hot dogs was a result of the many awesome hot dog joints in Connecticut. Sure you had to wait 45 minutes to get your lunch at Rawley's in Fairfield, the lines weren't as long but the dogs were still amazing a Swanky Franks in Norwalk. Dinner at Jimmies of Savin Rock in West Haven always meant a couple of split and griddled dogs that were hard to beat.

Well there is another area of the country that is coming on strong and may present a challenge for the Hot Dog Capital title. Los Angeles has discovered the benefits of the All-American hot dog. L.A. has had the renowned Pink's Hot Dogs since 1939, but recently several serious "tubular meat" alternatives have opened prompting many to refer to "lala land" as Hot Dog Town.

Post a comment if you have an opinion. Is the answer Chicago? We shouldn't forget New York? Is it Boston? What did I leave out?

Frankly, Yank loves hot dogs!

I Found the Perfect Dessert Recipe ~ Whoopie (Pie)

2011-11-07T20:16:00.003-05:00

The official Yank's Franks Whoopie Pie has been found. After trial and error (well, maybe not error so much as "less than perfect" ) we have created an awesome, authentic-Maine, 100% made in the USA, delicious Whoopie Pie.

The three Whoopies pictured here (the top Whoopie filling is colored with red food coloring) were part of a batch of 24 that were finished at 4:00 this afternoon. Now, here I am at 8:30 this evening and there are exactly none left.

According to Hot Diggity, "these are the absolute best Whoopie Pies I have ever had!"

The other two taste-testers, The French Fry King and Double Dog Dennis had similar comments which lead me to announce, Yank's Franks Whoopie Pies are the winner of the Best Dessert on the east coast.

I love when we win an award...even when I am the only judge.

Franlky, we serve the BEST Whoopie Pies!

The Yank's Franks Test Kitchen Will Open Today ~ Whoopie!

2011-10-22T07:33:00.004-04:00

As many of you know, Yank's Franks did not have a dessert to offer this past season. Some considered it very surprising considering my love for dessert and my belief that dessert is the most important part of every meal. I'm not the kind of person that believes in eating dessert first, but I definitely enjoy eating it last.

During our first (partial) season we offered Cool Dogs for dessert. They were tasty, but they were expensive. We opted to eliminate them from the menu for season two. A few customers asked for them, but I felt they were more expensive than they were tasty.

We considered Hoodsies for season two. We wanted to offer Hoodsies that were branded with the Red Sox. It would be a small attempt to reinforce the fact that we are NOT Yankees fans, we are Red Sox fans. We had some difficulty selecting a good combination of branded and tasty Hoodsies and before I knew it, the season was nearly over.

Well, inspiration struck just yesterday as I perused a recipe book aisle. I won't tell you exactly what I'm thinking until the idea and the recipe pass muster, but I've included a photo as a subtle hint.

Frankly, yesterday's trip wasn't a total bust!

Three Dog Night, by Yank (Mama Told Me Not To Come)

2011-10-21T21:54:00.007-04:00

I had been jonesin' for a hot dog all week. I've been dreaming about Chicago Dogs and day dreamin' about Chili Dogs.

Today was my big chance. You see, IMHO (that's, In My Humble Opinion) once Yank's Franks closes for the season, I have to drive a considerable distance for a great hot dog.

Hot Diggity and I had planned a day-trip to the north, specifically to the Rockland, Camden area. With that in mind I had Wasses etched into the "Foodie" section of my brain.

We got on the road and I was excited with anticipation.

Then, about 90 minutes into our trip, Hot Diggity spotted a sign...Morse's Sauerkraut, 7 miles, next left. I have been planning to visit Morse's for well over a year when I received a recommendation from a well known Maine Foodie blogger and later another recommendation from a member of the Yank's Franks tasting team (The French Fry King). So, blinker on, left lane, left turn, 7 miles and we are there.

The deal at Morse's is, they have only a few tables. Okay, I'm not criticizing
(after all, Yank's doesn't have very many tables), I'm just saying. You leave your name with the hostess and, at the same time, you place your order. Very clever way to move things along.

My choice was simple, 2 hot dogs served on a pretzel roll...let me say that again, a pretzel roll...wow! Wait just one minute, they have another choice on the menu that includes those same two hot dogs and mac n' cheese. Holy Wiener Heaven Batman. I'll have that! Hot Diggity had something else, blah, blah, blah (not a hot dog).

We were called to our table and once we sat down I noticed 2 crocks of pickles. One half sour and one sour, all for me. I know what your thinking, that Yank guy is living right.

This is the hard part, you see I have never posted a review of any place that wasn't an excellent review. If you have nothing good to say, then don't say anything. Sound familiar? Yes, my mother used to say that too.

Here goes...it was disappointing. The pretzel rolls were really no big deal. In fact, they tasted nothing like pretzels and they were too big to be holding these hot dogs. The mustard, that was my fault, I selected the Whole Grain Dijon and the Hot German (mustard, that is). The dijon tasted funny, but the German was pretty good. Since it was a sauerkraut place, I asked for some sauerkraut. It arrived cold. I asked and was told that it is normally served cold, but she offered to heat it if I chose. I declined since I wanted to experience the kraut their way. I've heard of others serving cold sauerkraut. Actually, it wasn't others, it was one other and I just heard it a few weeks back. At a joint we sampled (and didn't write about, hint, hint) the owner told us she serves it cold and one of her customers started screaming at the cook for not heating it up.

Once I tried the cold kraut on my hot dog, I realized that I don't like cold kraut.I picked it off and finished both hot dogs. In fact, in a stroke of genius (read, hunger) I added some of those free and delicious sour pickles to my hot dog.

In summary...the pickles were great! And, I wasn't done, Wasses was a little further to the north. All is well!

Top Dog of Rockport ~ Awesome!!!

2011-10-13T20:16:00.006-04:00

Today was a rainy and chilly day in Rockport. That really didn't matter to the Yank's Franks Team because Rockport is a fantastic destination no matter what the weather.

On our stroll down Bearskin Neck we passed by several seafood restaurants because we had our plans to stop on the ride home at one of my favorite seafood joints, Woodman's of Essex. I had deep fried lobster on my mind.

Hot Diggity and I, along with Bad Dog Barbara (pictured right enjoying her Bad Dog) and Shaggy Dog Howard (below left enjoying his Shaggy Dog) meandered along the charming lane that stretches the length of the Neck and Lo and Behold...a Hot Dog Joint.

Top Dog of Rockport was staring at me and screaming, "Yank, get in here and have a dog!" (I take medicine in an attempt to control the voices)

I apologized to the others and explained my need to silence the voices. As it turned out the others wanted a dog as well (this was the beginning of the end of the Woodman's idea).

My choice was the Golden Retriever topped with Bacon (the owner, Scott's recommendation). Griddled and served on a buttered and toasted New England style bun (sound familiar?) and swimming in mac 'n cheese. Holy Hot Dog Batman!!! this hot dog was great.

The other's had the Shaggy Dog and the Bad Dog and all reports were fantastic. The Fries were great and the Homemade Onions Rings were spectacular.

Only one bad thing to report...if I had realized at the time that we weren't going to Woodman's, I would have had two more dogs. That would have made it a perfect trip.

Thanks Scott!

Frankly, Yank knows a good dog when he tastes it!

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

2011-10-10T05:41:00.002-04:00

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!

MAS*H Fans and Hot Dog Lovers Rejoice

2011-10-07T07:14:00.002-04:00

The Toledo, Ohio Hot Dog Joint made famous by M*A*S*H's lovable cross-dressing Max Klinger will stay in the family. The ownership of Tony Packo's was settled by a judge yesterday and the legendary "Joint" will continue to be operated by the Packo family. Read more here.

While the M*A*S*H television show ended 30 years ago, the restaurant's chili dog continues to be a fan favorite. While I am certain the Tony Packo's Chili Dog is delicious, I believe the Yank's Franks Chili Dog can't be beat.

Frankly, Tony Packo's would make a great stop on a Hot Dog road trip!

The Badger Burger...The Next Burger Lover's Craze!

2011-10-05T21:31:00.004-04:00

Foodie Blogger and Hamburger Aficionado, Chubby Werewolf has been asked by the folks at Wisconsin Cheese Talk to create and publish his best shot at an awesome burger. And, for those of you who don't know, Yank's Franks (more specifically, Yank) loves a great cheeseburger.

Inspired by one of his favorite college football teams, Chubby began to construct the perfect "Badger Burger"

Chubby established parameters for this project that were designed to pay proper homage to this cheeseburger's Wisconsin roots, as well as, to the personality of the Badger's mascot. The recipe was also developed to be "tailgate-party friendly"

Check out the recipe and get ready to salivate.

Frankly, this is one heck of a burger!

America's Best Selling Condiment???

2011-09-19T08:00:00.003-04:00

Did you guess mustard? Perhaps my photo threw you off. While my answer would be mustard, that's net even close.

Did you guess ketchup? Great guess, but ketchup isn't even in second place.

I'll give you a hint...if you order America's best selling condiment on your hot dog, I will reluctantly put it on your dog, but it will go on the bun before the hot dog. Why, because I don't even want to see it (let alone have other customers see it) so I'll hide it as much as possible.

Did you guess it yet?

I dislike this condiment so much, I'm not going to tell you the answer here. You'll have to click this link to find the answer.

If you want this condiment on your hot dog just ask, but please don't ask me to put it on top of the dog. We aim to please (which is why we will put ketchup on a hot dog even if you're more than 8 years old), but we don't have to like it.

Frankly, we serve the BEST mustard!

The Hot Dog Man Showcases Yank's Franks in Wells, Maine

2011-08-17T07:59:00.003-04:00

Frankly, The Hot Dog Man did a great job!

Hot Dog Wars Move to the Court Room

2011-08-16T22:28:00.005-04:00

In a fight over the best hot dog, Sara Lee (maker of Ball Park Franks) and Kraft Foods (maker of Oscar Mayer) have taken their BEEF to the courts.

The arguments center around a hot dog taste test which Oscar Mayer claims to have won. Sara Lee has claimed that the taste test was deeply flawed for a variety of reasons.

My questions is this...How can you possibly have a national taste test for the best hot dog and leave out the very best hot dog made by Hummel Bros. for Yank's Franks?

I have had many Ball Park Franks and many Oscar Mayer Wieners. Those hot dogs are very good, but they are not even close to Hummel Bros. No wonder they kept Hummel out of their test.

We've said it before and we'll say it again...

Frankly, WE serve the BEST dogs!

The Hot Dog Man Tours Southern Maine

2011-08-15T21:43:00.007-04:00

Photo courtesy of The Hot Dog Man and his fancy schmancy camera.

The Hot Dog Man and his wife, Mrs. HDM set out on a tour of Southern Maine and his first stop...you guessed it, Yank's Franks.

The Hot Dog Man pulled into the Yank's Franks parking lot at about noon last Friday. He and Mrs. HDM unloaded their fancy, schmancy video equipment from their vehicle and proceeded to snap photos and conduct interviews for his Yank's Franks review.

Frankly, we can't wait to see the final result.

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

2011-08-05T20:53:00.007-04:00

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!

Yank's Franks Is One of Five Nominated For BEST Hot Dog in New England

2011-07-29T22:33:00.003-04:00

After less than a year in business, Yank's Franks is up against some very tough competition to become The Best in New England.

If you enjoy Yank's Franks hot dogs, please go to his link and vote for Yank's.

It would be amazing to win. With your help, it could happen. Our competition has many years of devoted customers, and they are all amazing "Hot Dog Joints."

We've got our fingers crossed. Thanks to all that nominated Yank's Franks.

Frankly, we have the BEST customers!

Foodie Blog, Chubby Werewolf Reviews Yank's Franks

2011-07-18T06:01:00.003-04:00

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.

"Hot Dog" Mike Returns To Yank's Franks

2011-07-10T20:34:00.002-04:00

He's back! One of the authors of the very popular Hot Dog Blog, The Hot Dog I Ate, Mike returned to Yank's Franks today with his lovely wife, Samantha. (and this time it wasn't by accident). As you may recall, his last visit was a result of a surprise sighting of Yank's by Samantha during their journey north. The bad news, at that time, was that they had stopped a short while earlier at Flo's for some dogs. Being a true "veteran hot dogger" that wasn't going to totally stop Mike. He found room for one Yank's Frank.

On this trip Mike had Yank's Franks as the destination and we were thrilled. After Mike and Samantha finished their meals the customer traffic slowed as if on cue. We had some time for some "hot dog talk" and just to visit.

Both Hot Diggity and I are now into our 3rd careers and the great thing is that "Hot Doggers" are the absolute best people.

Thanks for stopping Mike and Samantha!

Frankly, Hot Diggity and I love being Hot Doggers!

The Yank's Franks Testing Kitchen Re-Opens

2011-07-08T06:58:00.004-04:00

It's been a long while since the Yank's Franks test kitchen has been open, but we had a special reason to unlock the doors and fire up the cooking equipment. As you (hopefully) read in my previous article, we were recently visited by Chubby Werewolf and he came to Yank's bearing gifts.

On the menu for the testing were Zweigle Red & Whites and Skyline Original Chili. Both were products we were excited to sample.

Double Dog Dennis, The French Fry King and I were all present. Unfortunately, Hot Diggity was unavailable as she was visiting her 8 month old grandson, The Hot Dog Cowboy.

As you can see from the photo (above), the Dogs were served on buns that are not typical of Yank's Franks. They were given to us by our baker, Fantini Bakery to test out. Also, what Hot Dog Tasting could be conducted without fries? So, it was homemade Cajun Fries to keep The French Fry King smiling. And, it was One Red and One White Zweigle's for each of us to keep Double Dog Dennis happy. What kept me happy? I started with two vodka martinis. That'll do it.

I had my Red Dog with Cincinnati-Style Chili and My White Dog with my favorite mustard, Kosciusko. The Dogs...both of them were absolutely delicious. To me, the look of the White Dog was a bit scary. While I have tried White Dogs at Heid's of Liverpool, that was over 30 years ago. If you have never had a white dog, give it a try. They are awesome!

Onto the Chili. The Skyline Chili is what I was really looking forward to as I have heard so much about it. The first thing I noticed was the aroma. I have opened several different brands of chili from cans, and have been consistently repulsed by the odor. Not at all true with Skyline. While the aroma was subtle, it was pleasant.

The next obvious characteristic is the consistency. It was very soupy. I didn't know what to make of this as I worried it would be too runny for a hot dog topping. In the ingredients list on the can, listed first is beef (which I think means beef would be the ingredient most prominent). I continue to be skeptical that beef deserves top billing.

And finally the taste. The Cincinnati-Style Chili was delicious. It definitely reminded me of Mexican Mole (which I love) as it has a hint of a chocolate flavor. Good Mexican Mole just has a hint of chocolate...so little that you almost have to concentrate while tasting to get it. The same is true of this chili. After having the Chili on my hot dog, I had more with just a spoon. Awesome Chili! So good that our Annual Cross-Country Hot Dog Tour may include a swing through Cincinnati.

As to whether Cincinnati Chili makes its way onto the Yank's Franks menu is still undecided. The consistency makes it a messy and difficult topping. It also bothers me that people would know if served a chili that spent time in the can. I have always considered chili in a can as wrong. We'll see. Maybe that trip to Cincinnati will give us a different perspective. I'll let you know.

A special Thank you to Chubby Werewolf for this fantastic meal.

Frankly, Yank loves Chili Dogs!

Chubby Werewolf Visits Yank's Franks

2011-07-02T22:05:00.003-04:00

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

2011-06-30T06:57:00.002-04:00

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!

BBQ Pulled Pork in Wells, Maine???

2011-06-29T07:13:00.003-04:00

BBQ purists will scoff, but hold on Bubba. This BBQ was conjured up in Texas and you can taste it in every bite.

Yank's Franks serves a BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich with Award Winning, DennyMike's BBQ Sauces. Whether you choose your sandwich sweet or spicy you will be coming back for more.

If you're are afraid to try our spicy sandwich, made with DennyMike's Hot'n Nasty, don't be. It has a kick, but it's also very smooth. Don't let the name fool you. Ask us to top it with dill pickle slices. If you like a little more spice (oh yeah!) ask for the Jalapenos on your sandwich. Either way, you can't go wrong.

So there you have it, a little bit of Texas right here in Southern Maine. It's Yank's Franks and DennyMike's...giddyup!

Frankly, our BBQ is amazing!

It's Hot Dog Season in Southern Maine

2011-06-27T06:25:00.003-04:00

Yank's Franks is open and the Hot Dogs are movin'.

Hot Dog season has finally started. On a hot summer day, nothing goes better than a delicous "Yank's Frank." It's a perfect Hummel hot dog gridddled up and resting on a buttered and toasted, NE style bun. We'll top it with Rayes DownEast Mustard, sweet relish, onions, a slice of tomato and a slice of dill pickle. All this finished off with a dusting of celery salt. It's a smorgasbord happening in your mouth.

Don't forget to get a Yank's Root Beer (we now make a diet Root Beer...many of you asked, we listened).

We look forward to seeing you!

Frankly, we have the BEST customers!

Father's Day Idea ~ For The Dad With Everything

2011-06-09T09:27:00.005-04:00

It's Father's Day. Is your dad one of those guys who already has everything? Well, I bet he doesn't have a Yank's Franks Gift Certificate.

I've never met a great Dad that didn't love hot dogs!

Stop by Yank's Franks this weekend and get Dad the perfect gift. While you're at it, get yourself a hot dog and an order of onion rings.

Frankly, we have a great Father's Day gift!

Yank's Franks Opening Weekend

2011-05-23T08:13:00.003-04:00

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!

2011-05-18T21:28:00.008-04:00

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

2011-05-17T19:49:00.009-04:00

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!

Yank's Franks and Baseball ~ Little League Style

2011-05-01T06:04:00.006-04:00

Cody shows off his Yank's Franks RiverDogs
team shirt. Lookin' good Cody.

The Yank's Franks crew went mobile for the first time. Opening Day of the Wells~Ogunquit Little League kicked off yesterday. The day was a big hit for Yank's Franks as we served nearly 300 grilled hot dogs with all proceeds going to support the Little Leaguers.

The volunteers that run this amazing program stopped by several times to thank us, but the truth is we had a fantastic day and we thank them for letting us be a part of it.

As one of our Facebook Fans reminded us, Wells is the Friendliest Town in Maine. It really is true. We met so many great ballplayers and parents.

To top off an otherwise perfect day, the team Yank's Franks is supporting this year, The River Dogs, won both ends of the Opening Day double header. Congratulations to them and all the Little Leaguers that kicked off what will certainly be a great season.

Frankly, we are lucky to be in Wells, Maine!

What Two Words Does Yank Love?

2011-04-26T20:07:00.005-04:00

Lynn, wake up!

Food Show!

That's right, Yank, Hot Diggity and (the recently crowned) French Fry King spent the afternoon thoroughly enjoying the Sysco Food Show.

Of course, the primary goal of attending a Food Show is new menu ideas. This show didn't disappoint. It provided a great menu idea for our upcoming season (which, by the way, is just a little over three weeks away).

I'm going to hold off on telling you what this idea is. The truth be told, most of you won't think of it as anything groundbreaking, but those that have followed our progress will be surprised (pleasantly surprised, I believe).

Some of the ideas for the coming season that I've discussed before are taking shape. I would like to share a couple of them with you.

This year you will see a Pulled Pork Sandwich on the menu. You'll have your choice between a Sweet (not too sweet) BBQ Sauce or a Spicy and Smooth BBQ Sauce.

Also, new to the menu is a Specialty Dog that I'm thinking of calling, The Angry Dog, The Dog That Bites Back! It will be made with the new Yank's Angry Sauce. Warning...it really will bite you back.

The season is getting close. We can't wait.

Frankly, we serve a very Angry Hot Dog Sauce!

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

2011-04-14T21:24:00.007-04:00

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!

Yank's Franks Is Showing Up All Over The Hot Dog World

2011-04-01T20:53:00.005-04:00

The latest Yank's Franks spotting is in Bump's Guide, The Hot Dog Edition.

Exactly what does this mean? I'm sorry, I really have no idea. However, it is always nice to be noticed and if you click around Bump's Guide, it's kind of fun.

Hot Dog Season, aka Baseball Season is upon us, and it is predicted by Major League Baseball that us fans will consume 22.5 million hot dogs at ball parks during this 2011 season. In another stunning prediction, Hot Dogger Extraordinaire, Yank predicts the Boston Red Sox will win the American League Pennant and will go on to take the World Series in six games. Let me be the first to congratulate the Red Sox.

Frankly, Yank's Franks loves the Boston Red Sox!

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

2011-03-31T20:19:00.000-04:00

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!

Yank's Franks Checks Out Vienna Beef Hot Dogs

2011-03-22T17:51:00.006-04:00

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!

Breaking New Grounds ~ Perkins Cove

2011-03-20T17:18:00.010-04:00

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.

Have You Eaten At Yank's Franks Lately?

2011-03-13T17:39:00.005-04:00

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 Year of the Hot Dog

2011-03-05T08:49:00.002-05:00

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!

While in Maine, Find Out What's Hot

2011-03-04T16:28:00.006-05:00

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!

The Academy Awards and Hot Dogs

2011-02-27T10:15:00.004-05:00

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!

Gilley's Hot Dogs ~ A Hot Dog Joint Review

2011-02-23T15:20:00.007-05:00

Two of the four members of the Yank's Franks research team, The Hot Dog King and I traveled south to Portsmouth, New Hampster today. Our destination was the little hot dog joint known as Gilley's PM Lunch.

The place is a really cool, old wooden diner. Built in 1940 by The Worcester Diner Company it is the only one of the original five built that continues in full operation. It's very small, but really neat.

Today's lunch for The HDK was going to be a cheeseburger and fries. While he was ordering I noticed a menu item that was unfamiliar to me (what fun!!!). I asked, "what is poutine?" As the person behind the counter described the French Fries covered in cheddar cheese curds and brown gravy, The Hot Dog King quickly adjusted his order and changed his fries to Poutine.

The HDK really liked his hamburger. He and I had a long discussion about the size...is it 4 ounces, no that would be a quarter pound. Is it a 2 ounce slider, no it seems bigger. We settled on 3 ounces. Normally we would simply asked the person behind the counter, and normally that person would give us even more information than we asked for. Not here, it was apparent that these folks were a little short on "friendly." Perhaps they attended the Flo's Hot Dogs School of Customer Service. I just don't get it.

For me, of course I was immediately attracted to the Chili Dog. Hey! Wait a minute, they also have Chili Fries. With regard to my Chili Dog...the good news was, there was plenty of chili and both the dog and the chili were pretty good (steamed dog on a steamed bun, I'm starting to get used to it). The bad news, look at the photo. How the heck was I to eat that. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind eating a generous chili dog with a fork and knife, but perhaps due to Homeland Security issues, Gilley's doesn't have plastic knives. At the suggestion of the "less than friendly" hot dogger on duty, I took an extra fork and attempted to mangle my dog into submission. It was a nasty fight in which both the chili dog and I ended up on the floor. In the end, I was victorious and the chili dog was very good.

As for the Chili Fries, they were delicious. Fortunately, there were some that were not slathered in chili so I was able to get a taste of just the French Fries. The plain fries were also very good.

Overall, I certainly would return to Gilley's for the food. Everything was good. If I wanted to make friends and have an awesome dessert, I would head across town to Roly's English Fudge where the people are super nice and the fudge is super delicious.

Frankly, Yank's Franks has the NICEST hot doggers!

No, I didn't misspell New Hampshire, I did it on porpoise.

The Best Hot Dog in the Country!!!

2011-02-11T18:42:00.004-05:00

Photo courtesy of Holly Eats

Rachel Ray and her Every Day Magazine has teamed up with the great folks at the food blog Serious Eats in search of the nation's best hot dog. A very worthy endeavor in my opinion.

Unfortunately, Yank's Franks was not included in the selection process since we weren't yet in business at the time of the pairings.

Similar to the methodology used by the NCAA, the country was divided into four quadrants. A total of 64 hot dogs joints in all were chosen, 16 from each section. [Bracket chart is courtesy of seriouseats.com] In addition to others, the northeast was proudly represented by Flo's Hot Dogs. I am pleased to see that two joints were selected from Hot Diggity's and my old stomping ground, Fairfield, CT. Both Rawley's and Super Duper Weenie made the cut. I can attest to the fact that both joints are amazing.

The three judges, Ed Levine, Adam Kuban and Hawk Krall combed over three thousand miles to select the grand prize winner. The East Coast bracket was likely the most difficult since there are so many great hot dog joints clustered up here in our corner of the country.

When all was said and done, a small hot dog joint outside of Chicago was crowned, America's Best Hot Dog. The place is known as Gene & Jude's by some, but their sign identifies them as Gene's & Jude's. Call it what you like. I know next time I'm in the Chicago area, I'm stopping at Gene's & Jude's. I'll also be visiting Portillo's and Super Dawg and Hot Doug's and a few more of the Chicago greats.

Frankly, Yank's Franks serves the BEST dogs!

Yanks' Franks Wants All Hotdoggers to Attend the 2011 Hot Dog Safari

2011-02-07T19:08:00.006-05:00

The Phantom Gourmet's Hot Dog Safari is not only "Hot Dog Heaven" but it also supports two wonderful charitable organizations.

So while going from booth to booth getting your hot dog fill, you will feel great that your attendance is supporting The Joey Fund and The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Pencil in the date on your calendar and set your GPS units to Suffolk Downs. The 2011 Hot Dog Safari promises to be bigger and better than last year.

As you can see from the smile on Hot Diggity's face, she made a new friend and had a great time at last year's Hot Dog Safari.

If you're lucky you'll get to meet the Phantom Gourmet himself or maybe his famous wife, Eatie Gourmet. (that joke never gets old)

Frankly, we serve the BEST dogs!

Edgar's Olde Mill Burgers ~ A Hamburger Joint Review

2011-02-06T09:02:00.006-05:00

Located just off the main road through Sanford, Maine, Edgar's Olde Mill Burgers is truly a "joint" and I loved it.

Double Dog Dennis, The Hot Dog King and I took a drive over the snowy roads of Southern Maine to try these famous burgers. Warning, call before you go, Edgar's has odd hours of operation. Let me tell you, it's worth the trip.

The specialty of the house (or of the Olde Mill) is burgers, but the menu includes hot dogs, chicken and Edgar's homemade clam cakes.

DDD tried the clam cakes since Edgar (aka Pete) is so proud of his creation. DDD gave the cakes an A rating. The HDK opted for a Zun Dog and and Scrambled Zun Burger. Zun Relish is Edgar's special recipe. It has a sweet taste from brown sugar and apples, but it also has a bite to it from some sort of pepper. The HDK loved his Zun Dog, but he couldn't stop praising The Scrambled Zun Burger. He went on and on until both DDD and I finally ordered one for ourselves. It was excellent. I had to try their Burger. How could I go to a burger joint and not have the burger. For my burger I chose grilled onions, pickles and mustard. Delicious!!!

We all split orders of Fries and Rings. The rings were good, but the fries were excellent.

I washed everything down with a draft root beer. It's served ice cold with no ice, just pure root beer.

When travelling to or through Sanford, do not miss Edgar's Olde Mill Burgers on Washington Street.

Frankly, Yank's Franks serves the BEST dogs!

Yank's Franks ~ The Next Health Food Craze?

2011-01-26T23:26:00.001-05:00

We've all heard the health warnings about nitrates or nitrites in such foods as bacon, ham, sausages and hot dogs. This perception was bolstered in the 1970's by research conducted at MIT. Wow, coming from such a prestigious institution of higher learning, this conclusion is very damning to these foods.

As Paul Harvey used to say, "and now, the rest of the story."

As revealed in her blog, Junkfood Science, Sandy Szwarc identifies the source of misinformation about nitrates as a 1970's MIT research report that was later discredited as faulty by scientists at the FDA, USDA and NIH among others.

Imagine that, those pompous MIT fools proved nothing more than their own incompetence, yet the scare they perpetrated lasts until this day.

Sandy Szwarc's article continues with many startling (and positive) facts about nitrates. Unlike those Cambridge, Mass. jokers, these facts are backed by legitimate studies.

I've always thought that MIT real estate along the Charles River would make beautiful condos. Now, it appears that a condo conversion may do a service to mankind. Okay, that's a bit much, but it would do a service to hotdoggers everywhere. Hopefully the bottom floor of those condos will be retail. That would make an awesome Yank's Franks location.

Frankly, we serve the BEST (and healthiest) dogs!

Wasses Hot Dogs ~ Rockland, Maine

2011-01-23T10:20:00.006-05:00

Our field trip yesterday took us north to Rockland, Maine the home of Wasses Hot Dogs. When we arrived at about 3:00, we were the only people there. Unfortunately for us several customers stopped within minutes. I say unfortunately because I was hoping to have more time to quiz the Wasses people about some of their products.

Anyway, The Hot Dog King gave me his order while he snapped photos. For The HDK it was a dog with mustard and onions (sauteed). I asked one of the Wasses people what their famous dog was. She replied, "a dog with mustard, relish and onions." The other person in the kitchen quickly blurted out, "that's not my favorite, my favorite is bacon, mustard, onions and hot relish." I couldn't resist and that's what I ordered.

Since we had already eaten lunch (at the famous Moody Diner), Hot Diggity and Double Dog Dennis remained in the car while we dined. Well, not so much dined as wolfed down. You see, the temperature was about 10 degrees outside and I wasn't looking forward to wearing this delicious snack so eating in the car wasn't a good option.

The Hot Dog King said his dog was fantastic. As you can see from the photo, both dogs looked amazing. (click on the photo and it should give you a larger view) If you're not hungry after looking at these dogs, what are you doing reading my blog?

My hot dog was excellent. I do have just a couple of critiques, but don't let them distract from the fact that it was a really awesome hot dog. The only two things I would change...one, as many of you know, I don't like the soggy steamed buns. Please, take a minute and toast them. And two, the nacho style cheese on top is not a favorite. To me this cheese is neither good nor bad. It has so little flavor that I can't say it distracted from the overall taste of the dog, but a more flavorful cheese would have been spectacular. Having said that I come back to the fact that the dog was excellent, it was grilled to perfection and the other toppings were just right.

The addition of a couple of Chocolate Milks was a nice touch to wash it all down. The Hot Dog King thinks we should add Chocolate Milk to the Yank's Franks menu. You see, this research does pay off.

Now I can't wait for our next trip to Rockland.

Frankly, Yank's Franks has the BEST field trips!

Johnny Rockets ~ Freeport, Maine

2011-01-20T15:15:00.004-05:00

Hot Diggity and I stumbled upon a Johnny Rockets this past Sunday. Normally such a find would result in a spirited "Yahoo" from me, but unfortunately we had just finished lunch at a different restaurant. I only had enough room for one of Johnny Rockets awesome milk shakes.

The thought of a Johnny Rockets' burger danced through my hungry brain for the last several days until today, I was able to convince Hot Diggity, Double Dog Dennis and The Hot Dog King to join me for a mini-field trip back up to Freeport.

In addition to our burgers and fries, I ordered the chili dog and we all split an order of rings.

As you may know, my standard by which all hot dog joints are judged is the chili dog. Others often choose the simple plain hot dog or hot dog with yellow mustard, but my sense of taste and ability to discern the subtle variances in spices and flavors is highly sensitive and extremely sophisticated. (are you buying this?) Plus, I love chili dogs.

Well, I will stop slinging the bull and get right down to the review. The burgers were excellent! Everyone agreed, however Hot Diggity ordered the patty melt and was disappointed with the preparation of the bread. The onion rings were unusual in that the coating was made from sourdough breading. Excellent! The chili dog was great... great dog, great chili. I'll definitely get one the next time I go. Now for the "not as good news" The french fries were not that good. Hey Mr. Rocket, if you're listening, it's an easy fix. I noticed your deep fryer is automatically set to cook for 3 minutes. Set that baby to 4 minutes and you'll have some killer fries. Easy peasey, lemon sqeezey.

Frankly, Yank's Franks serves the BEST dogs (and rings and fries)!

Don't let that stop you when you're in Freeport. Johnny Rockets is a great spot.

Don's Famous Franks ~ Augusta, Maine

2011-01-07T01:06:00.001-05:00

Our research field trip north took us next to Don's Famous Franks in Augusta, Maine. I'd never heard of Don's, but luckily if there is anyone that knows eating spots better than me (or at least as well as me) it's The Hot Dog King and he knew Don's.

The bad news was, we had just eaten at Bolley's Famous Franks (how long does Yank's Franks have to serve hot dogs before we can call them famous?).

The HDK and Double Dog Dennis were kinda full. A true researcher doesn't let that stop them. For me, it was my standard chili dog and a large order of french fries (to be shared). The menu sign said Homemade Fries, but when they arrived I noticed that they were crinkle cut. I would categorize homemade crinkle cut fries as very rare so I was skeptical.

The hot dog was very good (Kayem natural casing), griddled and served on a steamed bun (if you don't know my opinion of steamed buns read the previous article). The chili was okay, but the fries....the homemade crinkle cut fries were fantastic!!! It is worth a trip to Augusta to try these fries.

Frankly, Yanks Franks serves the BEST dogs!

Bolley's Famous Franks ~ Hallowell, Maine

2011-01-06T17:30:00.007-05:00

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?

2011-01-02T13:46:00.004-05:00

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

2010-12-25T11:02:00.007-05:00

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!

An Inspirational Hot Dog

2010-12-22T22:53:00.004-05:00

The last hot dogs from our Cross-Country Tour were from a spot that Hot Diggity and I used to frequent. We would go there often and get the same Dogs each time. We both got Hot Dogs resting on a bed of bacon, then slathered (is that a word?) in spicy mustard and topped with sauerkraut.

We would always get our dogs to go, drive to the beach and eat them.

Any idea what these memorable hot dogs inspired?

Don't answer...let Max tell everyone. How about it Max, do these dogs remind you of anything at Yank's Franks?

Frankly, we serve the BEST dogs!

The Cross Country Hot Dog Tour Continues ~Chi-Town

2010-12-15T17:00:00.007-05:00

It's day nine of The Cross Country Hot Dog Tour.

We finally hit pay dirt when I stumbled into Chi-Town Chicago Style Eatery in Austin, Texas.

First a little background...Hot Diggity and I lived in Austin for seven years. It was the nicest place we have ever lived for so many reasons. When we moved to Austin, I quickly noticed that it had some of the best restaurants you'd ever want, however I also noticed that, like Maine, it didn't have what I would consider a great hot dog joint. I always believed that opening a hot dog joint in the right spot in Austin would be a winner. Well, here we are back visiting Austin and what do they have just a few miles from where we lived...a great hot dog joint!

Last night I decided to check out Urban Spoon. They had several negative comments, however most of them concerned what I would describe as start-up issues. Not that they aren't legitimate, but virtually all places (including Yank's Franks) go through a learning period. These guys, Travis and Tim, seem very responsive to their customers comments. For example, one customer complained about the quality of their fries and was upset that they used frozen fries. He went on to point out some great places that would only serve fresh cut fries. Well, Chi-Town now uses fresh cut fries. And, I promise their fries are far better than 5 Guys Burger fries. If I may add one point of disagreement, Yank's Franks uses frozen French Fries. After a very long and extensive comparison of many kinds of potatoes and fries, I will stack our Yank's Frank fries up to any out there.

Back to the point, in addition to the fries I had their Classic Chicago Dog and a Chili Dog. Both dogs were Vienna Beef hot dogs and both were done just right. What a bonus, a delicious lunch when you least expect it.

I can't believe that Austin finally has a great Hot Dog Joint!

Frankly, we serve the BEST dogs! And, Chi-Town serves the best dogs in Texas!

Is That A Yank's Franks Shirt...

2010-12-12T00:27:00.009-05:00

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...at the famous Margaritaville Hotel on Pensacola Beach, Florida?

Yes it is, Hot Diggity and I are on the cross-country hot dog tour. Actually we are on our way to see Henry, aka The Hot Dog Cowboy. We're almost there Henry.

JB offered to trade me one of his shirts for a Yank's Franks shirt. Sorry Jimmy, I have a boatload of your shirts already. He was also surprised at my answer to his question, "what's your favorite [Jimmy Buffet] song?" I think he expected Cheeseburger in Paradise or Margaritaville. My favorite...Mother, Mother Ocean.

To follow the cross-country hot dog tour visit Yank's Franks Facebook page.
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A New Hot Dogger Has Arrived

2010-11-11T18:56:00.006-05:00

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Our Texas Research Division just released some pretty exciting news.

Deputy Dawg Dan and Spicy Salsa Marjan made the exciting announcement of the arrival of the newest Hot Dogger, Henry. Henry weighed in at 7 lbs, 7 ozs. and was born today, 11/11.

So my mission (and I did decide to accept it. for you M.I. fans) is to come up with little Henry's Hot Dogger name. With his weight at 7, 7 and born on 11/11 the name Lucky Dog Henry sure pops to the top. However, the little guy's initials are HDC. He lives in Texas. And, did I mention his first two initials are HD? (Thank you, Deputy Dawg and Spicy Salsa for sticking to the Hot Dog theme)

So, this lucky little guy will be known as The Hot Dog Cowboy. When he gets a little older and orders his monogrammed dress shirts (his daddy was six years old when he ordered business cards so monogrammed shirts probably aren't that far in the future) his luck will shine through once again. The Hot Dog Cowboy need not worry about a separate set of shirts with his Hot Dog initials (like the rest of us that need to keep two separate wardrobes).

Frankly, Hot Diggity and Yank are feeling like Lucky Dogs!
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My Hot Dog Mission

2010-11-06T21:53:00.004-04:00

It's Saturday and Hot Diggity and I found a new relish to try. Have you ever heard of Zucchini Relish. We sampled it at a local Farmers' Market and it was very good. Of course, I had to put it to the hot dog test.

So what you see below is my Zucchini Relish and Kosciusko Mustard Dog (for research purposes) and two Chili Dogs with Cheese (because I was dying for Chili Dogs).

The result...the Zucchini Relish was very good, however it is not different enough from our sweet relish to add to our offerings. We will keep looking and we will invite others to try the Zucchini Relish to get more opinions.

The Chili Dogs were made with Yank's Beantown Chili (as opposed to our regular Chili Dogs that were made with Angus Steak Chili). Whenever and where ever I have Chili, it needs to be topped with shredded cheddar. The Chili Dogs were awesome! Our Beantown Chili is just spectacular. We will likely have it on our menu next Spring.

Now for my problem. I ate these hot dogs a little after 9:30 pm this evening. I could go to bed an hour late, after all we set the clocks back tonight. I'll break even on sleep while most of you get your extra hour, but that's the price I'll pay.

Wait a minute, I have another idea. Maybe if I chase those dogs with a bowl of Ben and Jerry's everything will even out. Yeah, that's what I'll do.

Enjoy your extra hour of sleep. I intend to as well.

Frankly, blah, blah, blah...gotta go to bed!

Yank's Franks Is Closed For The Season

2010-10-31T20:23:00.004-04:00

It went by way too quickly, but we're excited to open next season.

We'll be making plans all winter long and we will let you in on them as the plans materialize. So, check back, we're really not going anywhere (well yes we are, but we'll be blogging and Facebooking (is that a verb yet)) all winter long.

Thank you to all.

Frankly, we serve the BEST dogs!

Two Days Left And Yank's Franks Will Close For The Season

2010-10-29T19:15:00.003-04:00

Saturday and Sunday (depending on the Hot Dog supply) are our last two days for our first season at Yank's Franks.

We're running low on a few things (we're out of chicken). Tomorrow we'll be out of our awesome onion rings. We'll also run out of our fantastic French Fries, but I bought some knock-offs for those that must have some Fries. We are not even pretending that they are nearly as good as our usual fries, but they'll help for those with fry-cravings. I even got Krinkle Cut so they'll be no confusion.

We will be serving cups of Yank's Beantown Chili. If you haven't tried it yet, it's spicy and delicious.

We hope to see you for your last Yank's Frank of the year.

Frankly, we serve the BEST dogs!

The Yank's Franks Website Is Up And Running

2010-10-25T21:48:00.006-04:00

The new Yank's Franks website went live today. We are thrilled with it. It's clean, crisp and fun, just like Yank's Franks.

Thank you AfterFive by Design, our web developer, for all your great ideas.

Please, take a look and let us know what you think.
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Yank's Franks Gets Written Up In The York County Coast Star

2010-10-07T20:20:00.008-04:00

In today's York County Coast Star, Yank's Franks was written up by writer Casey Sullivan.

As Casey wrote in the article, "...it's part of a dream he's [Yank's] had for the past 30 years to open up his very own frank shop in the Wells Beach area."

Casey is correct and Hot Diggity and I are having a great time. Our customers have been fantastic.

Frankly, we serve the BEST dogs!

It's October and It's Getting Spooky at Yank's Franks

2010-10-05T20:16:00.006-04:00

Sounds like someone needs a road trip to Yank's Franks.

Frankly, we serve the BEST HALLOWEINERS!

Hmmm! I before E except after C or when sounded like A as in neighbor and weigh. That's spooky and weird!

Hot Dog, We're Having Fun!

2010-09-29T22:10:00.004-04:00

Hot Diggity and I started our "Hot Dog Joint" to have fun. It's been a lot of work, but we are certainly having plenty of fun.

I'm smiling today because one of the "Hot Dog Joints" that Hot Diggity and I frequent (many times The Hot Dog King joins us) called Tradewinds Cafe, stopped in to try out Yank's Franks.

Not only did they try us out, but they were kind enough to post an awesome review of their experience on their, and our, facebook page.

Actually, Tradewinds Cafe is much more than a Hot Dog Joint.

As the photo of a portion of their menu indicates, they have an awesome variety of choices, and their setting on Route 1 in Arundel is ideal.

Fall Weekend Special at Yank's Franks

2010-09-21T18:33:00.006-04:00

The first weekend of the Fall season and Yank's Franks is introducing Yank's Beantown Chili.

Chili lovers take note...this isn't a chili for the masses. This chili is for "chili lovers."

Our Yank's Beantown Chili is different from our hot dog chili. Our Certified Angus Steak Chili is still being smeared on every chili dog you'll enjoy at Yank's Franks. It goes perfectly with our awesome hot dogs.

But, if you want a cup of chili that will keep you warm on a chilly Autumn day, you need to come to Yank's Franks and try our Beantown Chili. Add cheddar cheese and a Yank's Franks Root Beer and it's Foodie heaven.

Yank's Franks Beantown Chili is so good, if it were served at a Superbowl Party, it would guarantee a Patriots win.

Frankly, we serve some amazing chili!

The Yank's Franks Website Is In The Works

2010-09-14T20:32:00.005-04:00

Shortly after we came up with our name, Yank's Franks, we decided to secure a URL because we knew we would want a website.

I attempted to get, http://www.yanksfranks.com/. Unfortunately, that URL was taken. There was no active website, but we figured with all the Yankees fans (just for clarification purposes...we aren't Yankees fans) somebody probably secured that URL to sell a New York version of Fenway Franks.

We had to settle for our second choice, http://www.yanks-franks.com/. As cumbersome as that little hyphen is, it's better than no website.

The really good news is, I was recently in touch with the owner of http://www.yanksfranks.com/ and after some very tough negotiations, we have purchased the URL we wanted.

Don't click away too soon. Our new website is currently under construction and we'll let you know when it is ready to go.

Frankly, we'll have a GREAT website!

Oh, if you know anybody that's looking for http://www.yanks-franks.com/, there's a commission in it for you.

Oh, one last thing, GO RED SOX!

High Praise for Yank's Franks

2010-09-09T21:31:00.003-04:00

Jack Nahil, owner of The Cape Arundel Inn, the finest restaurant that Hot Diggity and I have ever had the pleasure to experience (we have had our anniversary dinner at The Cape Arundel Inn every year for the past 8 years) has written about his visit to Yank's Franks.

Jack writes, "Just had the best damn hot dog with great mustard and sauerkraut. Hmmmnn. And the fries were heaven. Perfect. Everything was so good it even made the Coke seem special. Where? YANK'S FRANKS IN WELLS. omg"

The Cape Arundel Inn is located on the bold oceanfront, directly across from President Bush's Compound. Don't think for a moment that they rest on those credentials...everything that Hot Diggity and I have had there has been outstanding.

So, you see, this is very high praise from such an outstanding restaurateur. We are very proud to get such a brilliant review.

Frankly, we serve the BEST dogs!

The Yank's Franks Team

2010-09-06T17:27:00.007-04:00

Visit Yank's Franks during the week and you find Christina (on the left) cooking the very BEST hot dogs and Ellen (on the right)

welcoming you as you arrive.

They are a great team and will provide you with a pleasant experience and a delicious and memorable meal.

On the weekends you'll find Yank and Hot Diggity (Hot Diggity will be the one with the big smile).

No matter when you come to Yank's Franks, we will give you a great meal and we'll make you feel welcome. You will be treated like we want you to come back for more.

Frankly, we serve the BEST dogs!

Yank's Franks Gets Reviewed By The Hot Dog Blog

2010-09-03T20:38:00.008-04:00

After a visit just a week ago, The Hot Dog Blog gave great marks to Yank's Franks. In the words of The Hot Dog Blog, "...Yank's is a fantastic Hot Dog Joint...they do serve a wonderful hot dog."

Mike and his beautiful wife, Samantha, have promised to return. In turn, I promise nobody (including our customers) will try to put him to work again (you'll have to read his September 3, 2010 article to understand this promise).

When they return I'm hoping they'll try our Wells Beach Dog and our Chili Dog. I played customer at Yank's Franks today (Christina and Ellen were working while Hot Diggity and I did some YF chores) and I ordered a Chili Dog, an order of Yank's Franks almost famous French Fries and a Yank's Franks Root Beer. It was the first time I did this and I sat outside on the front porch, I mean the veranda.

I must say, I was thrilled. The food was fantastic, the Root Beer was amazing and the veranda is so relaxing. It was everything that Hot Diggity and I were hoping to achieve.

Frankly, we serve the BEST dogs!

Even The Hotdoggers Are Finding Yank's Franks

2010-08-28T22:10:00.004-04:00

If you have ever noticed My Favorite Hot Dog Links section of this blog, you will certainly have noted The Hot Dog Blog.

Well guess who drove right past Yank's Franks today. Yes, it was Mike from The Hot Dog Blog. Anyone who has read Mike's blog knows that if Mike drives by a hot dog joint, the next move is a U turn. That's exactly what Mike did and he arrived at Yank's Franks to give us a try.

What did Mike order...The Yank's Frank of course. Had I been more on-the-ball I would have snapped a photo of Mike biting into his Yank's Frank.

Oh well, maybe Mike's beautiful sidekick got that shot and we'll see it on his blog.

Frankly, we serve the BEST dogs!

Have You Been to Yank's Franks Yet?

2010-08-27T21:52:00.003-04:00

If you have been to Yank's Franks and loved your meal, share your experience with others on TripAdvisor. Follow the link and tell everyone the good news. Thank you, from everyone at Yank's Franks.

Oh, if you haven't been to Yank's Franks you really should try it.

Frankly, we serve the BEST dogs!

Wait, You're Not Done Yet

2010-08-26T22:12:00.010-04:00

You've chosen your hot dog (or hot dogs), and you have selected a Yank's Franks Root Beer for your beverage. So far you are doing great.

What about dessert? You have to get dessert. Again, we have made your choice an easy one. You need to try a Yank's Franks Cookie.

Not only are these cookies fun, they are absolutely delicious. They are handmade by Cookies by design in Exeter, New Hampshire. We're not sure how long we will continue to sell them (it depends on how they sell), so stop by and try one. You will come back for more.

Frankly, we serve the BEST dogs (and Cookies and Root Beer)!

Which Hot Dog Should You Get At Yank's Franks?

2010-08-26T21:59:00.004-04:00

The choice of which hot dog to get at Yank's Franks is difficult. We had one patron yesterday that ate six hot dogs and the young lady he was with had three hot dogs. Apparently they found a way to make the choosing a little less stressful.

Once you choose your hot dog and perhaps a side of fries or rings, we have made the beverage choice easy. You should select a Yank's Franks Root Beer.

Our own custom root beer is delicious and refreshing and it just arrived late this afternoon.We put it in the beverage cooler after we closed, so it will go on sale tomorrow.

Give it a try, you'll love it.

Frankly, we serve the Best dogs (and Root Beer)!

Everywhere You Look It's Yank's Franks

2010-08-26T10:33:00.000-04:00

No matter where you look at Yank's Franks, you'll see the little extras that Hot Diggity has taken care of (hey, I put this parenthetical statement here so my sentence wouldn't end with a preposition. See, I wasn't sleeping in English class, I was resting my eyes).

Frankly, we serve the BEST dogs!

Yank's Franks is Featured at Sassy Condiments!

2010-08-25T08:39:00.005-04:00

An article about Yank's Franks is featured at Sassy Condiments! ~ Sassy Bits of Life and Food.

Sassy Condiments! has written about street foods of all kinds, however they have strayed from their usual M.O. and done a piece on Yank's Franks because as she says she was, "Drawn in by the Yank's Franks blog about an Entrepreneur (and future hotdogger) detailing, from start to finish, the trials and tribulations of establishing a "Hot Dog Joint" I am straying from my usual Street Food."

In addition to featuring various Street Food vendors, Sassy Condiments! also has several great recipes for everything from appetizers to desserts. It's one-stop shopping for good food (and now, with the addition of Yank's Franks, great hot dogs).

A big thank you to Sassy Condiments!

Frankly, we serve the BEST dogs!

Yank's Franks Is The Hot Dog Of The Week

2010-08-21T21:28:00.007-04:00

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Yank's Franks has been written up as The Hot Dog of the Week by "The Hot Dog Guy" in his blog, Dogs on the Road.

Dogs on the Road is a site devoted to the hot dog. Covering the latest in Hot Dog News.

Additionally, Dogs on the Road seeks out hot dog spots to guide the weary hot dog lover in his/her attempts to enjoy the All-American treat.

The Hot Dog Guy and "Side Dish Jody" travel the countryside enjoying new spots. The Hot Dog Guy enjoying new versions of Dogs and Side Dish Jody enjoying just what her name implies (she's not a hot dog fan). Well Side Dish, when you come to Yank's Franks you can choose from delicious chicken tenders, a veggie dog (not for me) or try our incredible French fries and onion rings.

Don't forget, at Yank's Franks...

Frankly, we serve the BEST dogs!

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Yank's Franks Opens With A Bang!

2010-08-11T22:30:00.006-04:00

We are thrilled with the comments we are getting from our customers. From the local Wells residents, to the travelers from "away," the comments about the hot dogs and about our renovations have been so nice to hear.

The most popular hot dog...The Yank's Frank. It's a hot dog on a toasted bun with Raye's Downeast yellow mustard, sweet relish, raw onions, a slice of tomato, a slice of dill pickle topped with celery salt.

The most popular condiment...mustard, of course.

The surprise (for me) runner up condiment...raw onions. We are going through them like crazy.

There you go, three days down and we're doing great.

Frankly, we serve the BEST dogs!

Opening Day!!!!

2010-08-08T22:30:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow, August 9th. Our hours are 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. We hope to see you at Yank's Franks.

Frankly, we serve the BEST dogs!

The Hot Dog Inspectors Were Out In Full Force

2010-08-06T23:00:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was "Inspection Day." We had the Fire Department, The Town Code Enforcement Department and the State Health Department into Yank's Franks to give the final A-OK.

All went well and we are ready for business.

This weekend we take care of the final touches and do a thorough cleaning of the entire place. Our food was delivered today. There were a couple of items that need a slight change, but that will be taken care of early Monday morning.

All systems appear to be GO for a Monday opening.

Frankly, we (will, in just 60 hours) serve the BEST dogs!

Now That's A Hot Dog Joint

2010-07-30T21:04:00.004-04:00

With the roof sign up there is no mistaking this place for anything but a "Hot Dog Joint"

The sign went up this morning and it sure is an eye catcher. With our new, forest green roof for a background, the hot dog and bun stand out like a beacon calling to all passing hot dog lovers.

The planting areas (you can see one of them in the foreground) on each side of the parking lot entrance were filled with loam later today and they will soon be filled with plenty of colorful flowers.

We are getting there, but there is still a lot to do.

Frankly, we (will soon) serve the BEST dogs!

Hold The Presses!

2010-07-29T20:20:00.005-04:00

The big day for Yank's Franks has been delayed. A new roof and a new floor (that's it in the photo. Spiffy, huh?) have caused us to push out our targeted opening date by a week.

We now anticipate opening on August 10th. Our apologies to all those that made flight arrangements, but we'll try our best to make it up to you.

One more week of anticipation. One more week to decide if your first hot dog at Yank's Franks will be the Chili Dog. I mention the Chili Dog because that is what I'm thinking will be my first hot dog at Yank's Franks. I was describing our Certified Angus Steak (not ground beef) Chili to one of the workers at Yank's Franks today. I can't get it out of my mind. Our chili is awesome and I'll top it with shredded cheddar cheese and diced onions. All that on top of a perfectly griddled dog that is nestled (fancy word) in a buttered and toasted New England hot dog bun.

I'm getting two Yank's Franks Chili Dogs, an order of the crispiest fries in New England and I'm going to wash them down with a Smoothie.

I can't wait.

Hot Dog! Things Are Looking Good

2010-07-25T22:17:00.002-04:00

The inside of Yank's Franks is looking pretty spiffy. The walls are up, the counter is in (and painted Tomato Red).

Tomorrow the kitchen area will have a new black and white floor installed. The beautiful wood floor will be covered in order to make clean up easier and to keep the area sanitary. The customer area, as well as the back storage room, will still have those shiny wood floors.

The cooking and refrigeration equipment will begin to show up on Tuesday.

I can almost smell the hot dogs cooking now.

Frankly, we (will) serve the BEST dogs!

My Roof Has A Hole In It And I Might Drown!

2010-07-20T21:21:00.004-04:00

Our roof sign is done and ready to go. The 8 foot hot dog looks awesome and I can't wait to see it sitting atop Yank's Franks.

Unfortunately, after the installation of the exhaust hood, we sprung a leak. The installers gave us the bad news that the roof has 5 layers of shingles on it.

Obviously, totally contrary to the building code. (why didn't the building inspector catch this??? Argh!) We had a choice, patch it and take our chances, or get a new roof. It's an unfortunate situation, but an easy choice. A new roof it is.

I'll have more photos of the inside on Thursday. It looks really good.

Hot Diggity Dog!!!!!

2010-07-15T18:05:00.006-04:00

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It was never more true than it is in this photo...as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words!

We even have a target opening date...Tuesday, August 3, 2010.

Frankly, we (will soon) serve the BEST dogs!

At the Ballpark, the Hot Dog Reigns Supreme

2010-07-14T05:52:00.007-04:00

Despite efforts to steer fans toward other options like low-calorie snacks, or gourmet offerings, at the ballpark the all-American Hot Dog remains #1. (click on the photo for the full New York Times story)

Ballparks have added pizza, Cuban sandwiches, steak tips, lobster rolls and that's just the beginning. With all these gastronomical delights, the good old hot dog remains in the top spot among fans.

Of course, the ballpark that outsells all others when it comes to hot dogs...Fenway Park. We all know that, but at which ballpark do hot dogs get upstaged by sausages? That would be Miller Park in Milwaukee where Brewers fans are treated to a race each game between mascots dressed as a Bratwurst, a Polish Sausage, An Italian Sausage a Chirizo and a Hot Dog.

Yank's Franks Will Be Serving The Very Best Chili Dogs

2010-07-09T18:27:00.007-04:00

The six month long, constant search has come to an end. After trying, what seemed like thousands of different kinds of chili, and after the Hot Dog King cooked dozens of different chili recipes (most of which he made up himself) we can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

To say we were nervous is an understatement. Here we were just weeks away from opening Yank's Franks and no chili to go on the chili dogs ~~ unthinkable!

So, tonight we sleep knowing all of you chili dog fans will leave Yank's Franks with big smiles on your faces (and plans to return for more).

The chili that will be served at Yank's Franks is not made with ground beef. Our chili is not made with steak. Yank's Franks chili is made with Certified Angus Beef steak.

Angus Beef is a select breed of Scottish cattle. Considered a premier beef, the Angus has become widely known with its name being synonymous with quality.

Certified Angus Beef has become known as the best of the best. Its certification is received only after meeting a rigorous set of standards.

Yank's Franks Chili Dogs will soon be known as the best of the best.

Frankly, we (will) serve the BEST dogs!

At Yank's Franks, We Eat So You Don't Have To!~~~That Doesn't Sound Right??

2010-07-08T21:10:00.008-04:00

Can you guess what Hot Diggity and I were doing today?

Our goal was to complete the offerings for our menu. After a day of eating, and eating and more eating we left full, and in need of a long nap. But, it was a very satisfying day in more ways than one.

We tried some great hot dogs with interesting toppings. We even had a footlong hot dog that was easily 18 inches long (please, no jokes). We had an awesome hamburger. There were at least 5 different types of french fries and another 5 types of onion rings.

We sampled two types of chili. I thought the first chili was very good. Chef Gary suggested we hold our praise until after the next serving. He was right, the second chili was one of the best I had ever enjoyed.

All this sampling was topped off with a whoopie pie. I love whoopie pies, but how did they know?

After all this, and as an after thought, the Chef went to his freezer and came out with two Cool Dogs. Cool Dogs are delicious, premium vanilla ice cream (some of you probably know how much I love vanilla) wrapped in a mouth-watering cake and topped with rich chocolate that melts in your mouth. What else could one ask for?

Frankly, we (will) serve the BEST dogs!

And, some of them may be Cool.

Yank's Franks Is Cookin'

2010-07-06T20:09:00.005-04:00

Well, maybe that isn't the best way to describe what's happening at Yank's Franks. We're still a few weeks from actually cooking, but things are really changing at 1738 Post Road.

As you can see, the walls are framed. The counter is being built off-site. In the lower left of this photo of the interior of the building, you can see the cooking hood, which was scheduled for installation today. Unfortunately, there was a small error in the exhaust ducts so it will be re-tooled and ready to go for Thursday installation.

Also, on the left of this interior photo you can see some light shining in. That's our new rear door. Well, it's not a rear door yet, it's a hole where the rear door will soon be installed.

While all this progress was happening inside, the landscapers were working their magic outside.

This photo of the exterior shows the landscapers working on the area where Yank's Franks outside dining [strike that] where Yank's Franks al fresco dining will be enjoyed on a beautifully, professionlly manicured lawn.

Beyond the lawn, the workers later began improving the parking area to make it more enticing to the hungry passersby (that's not even a word, is it?).

I'm looking forward to keeping you updated as more work progresses.

It won't be long before Yank's Franks really will be cookin'

Frankly, we (will) serve the BEST dogs!

The Yank's Franks Sign Posts Are Up

2010-07-02T17:19:00.003-04:00

Thanks to the help of Coney Island Jack, the street sign posts for Yank's Franks went in today (that's him showing off his work). They are level in all three directions, they are the proper distance apart and they are cemented in.

And look at Route 1. That's trafffic out there. Look into the windows of those automobiles and you can see people that are clearly jonesing for hot dogs. Sorry folks, you'll have to wait a little longer.

Frankly, we (will) serve the BEST dogs!

Let's Celebrate National Hot Dog Month

2010-07-01T21:35:00.005-04:00

It's Here! In 1957, The U.S. Chamber of Commerce designated the month of July, National Hot Dog Month.

This month alone, Americans will consume 150 million hot dogs. And, what will they put on those hot dogs? The number one condiment is easy, it's mustard. Number two gets a little more difficult since there are strict rules governing its use on hot dogs. That should be enough of a hint for the readers of my blog who will recognize this "hot dog controlled substance" as ketchup. And the number three most popular condiment is still more difficult. I celebrated the start of National Hot Dog Month with this condiment when I enjoyed my Chili Dog for lunch today. Yes, chili is even more popular than relish.

If you are wondering what 150 million hot dogs might look like...that's enough to stretch across the United States, from coast to coast, more than five times.

It is no wonder that, with such popularity, the hot dog is recognized for the entire month of July.

The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council has today unveiled a series of four commemorative placemats that are sure to liven up any hot dog gathering. Ironically enough, one of the four includes, "Hot Dog Etiquette" so those over the age of 18 years and using Ketchup on their hot dog, can see exactly which rule they are breaking.

Yank's Franks wishes everyone a wonderful Hot Dog Month!

Frankly, we (will) serve the BEST dogs!

Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign

2010-06-25T17:08:00.007-04:00

The roof sign is taking shape. You need to use your imagination a bit, but you can see it. (Scroll down to see what it will look look when completed) You can also see a corner of the road side sign in the upper right hand corner. It's gonna be great.

Chili topping update, we made some homemade chili from a special recipe last night. At first we were going to follow the recipe verbatim, but (believe me) that would have been unacceptable. We made a couple of quick changes and ended up with a pretty decent chili.

The Hot Dog King and Double Dog Dennis (our testers) came over to try it with us. It was very good, but it was made without any tomato sauce, just meat and seasonings.

As a result, the chili had to go under the hot dog. Tasty, but not the way it should be. At the suggestion of the Hot Dog King, I took some of the leftover (I made enough for a medium sized army) and I added a very small amount of tomato juice. Yes, tomato juice. It turned out very good, however I'm going to try one more thing to spice it up.

If I'm successful, I'll let you know. If not, I won't even tell you, I'll just keep on tryin'.

Frankly, we (will) serve the BEST dogs!

Hot Dog! Yank's Franks is a Work in Progress

2010-06-22T19:22:00.002-04:00

The electricians were in today. Lots of progress. I can taste the Hot Dogs already (maybe it's because I cooked some for lunch).

Hot Diggity and I went to pick out colors today. That's more fun than actually painting them.

We applied for a Sign Permit. Wow, how many permits does one need? I can tell you that we have applied for seven so far.

The good news is, it'll all be worth it when we start selling those awesome hot dogs (Yikes, still no awesome chili).

Frankly, we (will) serve the BEST dogs!

Summer at Wells Beach~~Hot Dog!

2010-06-21T07:56:00.005-04:00

Hot Dog season starts today. Happy summer everybody. Click on the link for a little entertainment from The King (not the Hot Dog King...The King).

We're operating at a fever pitch to open Yank's Franks. Construction is underway. Our contractor has given us a very optimistic construction schedule, but we clearly will miss a portion of Hot Dog Season.

Just remember, good things are worth waiting for.

Frankly, we (will) serve the BEST dogs!

Hi Ho, Hi Ho...

2010-06-16T21:03:00.012-04:00

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...it's off to work we go!

Construction started on Yank's Franks today.

To the casual observer, the changes that began today will not be noticed, but reinforcement of the building's foundation is the first and most important step in converting our building into our Hot Dog Joint.

The noticeable changes will start soon.

Frankly, we (will) serve the BEST dogs!
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A Yank's Franks Hot Dog Researcher Pushes the Limits of the Law

2010-06-14T20:28:00.004-04:00

Yank's Franks is fortunate enough to have reseachers (read spies) across the globe (literally). Well the latest caper to report involved our newest researcher. To protect his identity, we will simply refer to him as Danger Dog Mark.

As it turns out, Danger Dog Mark decided to scope out an awesome Hot Dog Joint in Buttzville, NJ. That's the real name of the town. I have no need to protect the town's identity and apparently the person who named the town also saw no reason to protect its identity.

Danger Dog decided to attempt to learn a little bit about what makes Hot Dog Johnny's so very good. Apparently, despite repeated questioning, "Mrs. Johnny" refused to give up any secrets. Not to be denied, Danger Dog set out on a mission to "dumpster dive" in search of secrets. Again, he was foiled by an early dumpster pickup guy.

Danger Dog, I have some advice. First, keep up the good work. Second, if you get caught, do not mention my name. It can only hurt your situation. And third (and most important) don't get caught because you don't want to spend a second in Buttzville jail, if you know what I mean.

Yank's Franks has the Best Spies!
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Another Day Older...

2010-06-14T19:41:00.003-04:00

...and Deeper in Debt!

It's official, Hot Diggity and I closed on the purchase of the future (mid to late July) Yank's Franks.

Very early this morning we returned from our trip to Texas where, among other things, we continued our search for the best hot dog/Texas chili on the planet. (hopefully that last sentence will be enough to convince the IRS that our trip should be tax deductible)

Additionally, we learned that while we were gone, we received our building permit for the major renovations from the Code Enforcement Office, and we received the required permit from the State Fire Marshal's Office.

We are on a roll and we are ready to roll.

Frankly, we (will) serve the BEST dogs!

I've Been on a Blogging Vacation

2010-06-08T21:02:00.008-04:00

While it has been over a week since my last blog, the pace of our progress has been exciting. In the past 9 days we have:

- Filed for permits with the State Fire Marshal.

- Selected (hired) a general contractor.

- Filed for our primary building permit (in addition to the previous permit filed on May 26th).

- Applied for a license with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.

- Applied for a State Sales Tax Certificate.

- Met with and hired a company to build our signs. The image above is a sign that will appear at the roof line of the building.

- Completed 15 week ServSafe course, passed the exam and received my certificate (I'm so bright, my father called me Sunny).

- Met with our insurance agent and arranged to have insurance in place as of the closing on the real estate.

Of course, while taking care of the above we gotta eat (ahh, I mean conduct research). Not only have we been visiting hot dog joints, but we've expanded our research to Mexican food places. We still haven't identified our perfect hot dog chili. We have had some great chili, but it wasn't hot dog chili. We'll keep looking.

Does anyone know what is unique about both Texas Chili and Hot Dog Chili? Post a comment with your answer. No prizes, just bragging rights.

We close on our real estate next Monday. Shortly thereafter our construction will begin and our neat little building will be converted into Yank's Franks, the best "Hot Dog Joint" ever.

Frankly, we (will) serve the BEST dogs!

The History of Sauerkraut

2010-05-30T08:42:00.004-04:00

Around 300BC, the Chinese and the Mongolians pickled cabbage to preserve it. Pickled cabbage was used to feed the workers as they built The Great Wall of China.

It was over 1000 years later that it arrived in Europe having been carried by the Huns and the Mongol cavalcades.

Sauerkraut arrived in the United States in the mid-1800's being brought by German immigrants.

During World War I, due to fears that German products would be rejected by American consumers, makers of sauerkraut in the U.S. re-named the product "Liberty Cabbage."

As near as we can tell (although it is disputed) the hot dog was first created in the late 1400's.

The obvious question...What did they do with all that sauerkraut (for nearly 2000 years) until the hot dog finally came along?

I have no answer, I can't imagine. The important thing is you'll have to remember to try the Bacon and Kraut Dog at Yank's Franks. It'll be served with spicy mustard and it will leave you with only one regret. You will wish you ordered two of them.

Frankly, we (will) serve the BEST dogs!

Construction To Begin at Yank's Franks

2010-05-26T22:57:00.002-04:00

The first phase of construction to convert our little building into Yank's Franks, the very best "Hot Dog Joint" will soon begin. A building permit is in hand and work will begin any day now.

Phase two of the building transformation is also around the corner. However, we have not yet applied for the permit for this much more extensive chapter of the conversion. We are hoping the permit application will be submitted within the next week.

Before you know it, Wells, Maine will be the Hot Dog Capital of the Northeast.

Frankly, we (will) serve the BEST dogs!
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Yank's Franks

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