One day when my children and I were driving along US Highway 1 in Fort Pierce, I decided to try a quirky little ice cream and hot dog shop called Di-Z’s. We had been exploring the beautiful Fort Pierce Inlet State Park and my children were hankering for a little snack afterwards.
My sister had told me that Di-Z’s makes great meatballs, but I wasn’t in the market for “Mama’s Meatballs” that hot July afternoon, so I started to ask about their Hot Dog Menu while the children waited for their ice cream cones. The chatty congenial owner, who is originally from New York, told me that they only used Hofmann dogs because they are “the best.” The menu was quirky and the dogs themselves hailed directly from Hofmann’s, which was founded in 1879 in Syracuse, New York. I had never had a Hofmann dog.
So, I was pressed to choose between Di-Z’s many choices–The Chicago Dog, The Syracuse Dog, The Bronx Dog, or The Poor Man Dog. Ultimately, I played it safe and simply ordered the Hofmann Beef Hot Dog. It set me back $2.55 and the owner tossed in a side of his special macaroni salad as an accompaniment. I haven’t had a hot dog that delicious in ages. The dog itself was juicy, tender and flavorful. The bun was toasted just right. And, the mustard was squeezed on in the traditional zigzag pattern. My daughter and I split that dog. I was contemplating buying another one, but a crowd of guys showed up and the kitchen thus went into a backlog.
So, I’m wondering if you’ve found any fabulous quirky road side joints that offer great food for a great value? Hot dogs, Poor Boys? Barbecue? Ice cream? If so, I’d love to hear about them!
Photo by Carolyn B. Trainer
–Melissa A. Trainer