Hot dog season is here, but don’t fire up the grill just yet — check out the offerings at Calgary’s first hot dog festival instead.
Running from May 23 to June 6, Dog Days brings together 45 restaurants across Calgary to share their best hot dog creations in support of a good cause. $1 from every featured hot dog sold during the festival goes towards the Pet Access League Society (PALS), a local organization that facilitates pet therapy at over 55 facilities across Calgary, including all Calgary hospitals and the Calgary International Airport.
Celebrate the start of this new festival at the Dog Days kickoff party on May 23 at Cold Garden. Bring your own furry friend along and meet some PALS volunteer therapy dogs. Local food truck The Dogfather will be on site serving up hot dogs. During the event, $1 from the sales of Dogfather Cheesy Pawrito hot dogs and Cold Garden Garden Pool Party Blonde beers will go to PALS.
Here are some of the hot dogs we’re especially excited to try during Dog Days.
Hot Dog Bao from Lulu Bar
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Dog Days offers the perfect excuse to revisit this popular menu item from Lulu Bar. Soft, fluffy steamed baos and char siu (a Cantonese-style barbecue pork) take centre stage with this tempting entry. That’s adorned with flavourful mustard greens and banana ketchup, then you get some crunch with a peanut topping. Share the two-piece dish with a friend or enjoy it all yourself.
510 17 Ave. S.W., 403-519-0444, lulubar.ca
Get Along, Little Doggie! from Palomino Smokehouse
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The Palomino brings its smoked meat expertise to its festival entry, the Get Along, Little Doggie! This entry brings a Tex-Mex vibe to your dog, with a smoked hot dog topped with Texas-style chili, queso, diced onion, yellow mustard and chives. But the star of the show is the “cowboy candy,” also known as candied jalapenos, which bring a sweet and spicy kick to the dish. The Get Along, Little Doggie! comes with your choice of two sides from Palomino’s extensive “fixins” menu, which includes a variety of fries, salads, corn bread and more.
109 7 Ave. S.W., 403-532-1911, thepalomino.ca
Truffled Carbonara Dog from Posto Pizzeria & Bar
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Posto has proven time and time again that it knows how to make delicious and unique pizzas (dill pickle pizza, anyone?). Now, the restaurant brings that creativity to hot dogs with the truffled carbonara dog, which is exactly what it sounds like. Enjoy a spaghetti-wrapped hot dog on top of a garlic brushed brioche bun, topped with Posto’s housemade carbonara sauce and adorned with bacon, caramelized onion, pickled shallots and grated truffle pecorino cheese. It’s like getting two meals in one!
1014 8 St. S.W., 403-263-4876, posto.ca
French Onion Dog from The Station Pub & Grill
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What really is a hot dog, anyway? The Station stretches the definition of hot dog with the French onion dog. This “hot dog” is a beef sausage wrapped in puff pastry, topped with caramelized onions and melty Swiss cheese. To really drive home the French onion soup inspiration, it’s served with a bowl of onion jus for dipping. For fans of French onion soup and French dip sandwiches, this is money well spent.
40 Riverglen Dr. S.E., 403-720-5577, thestationpubcalgary.com
Tocino Pineapple Heat Dog from Village Brewery
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Village Brewery is bringing the heat and the sweet with the Tocino Pineapple Heat Dog. This Filipino-inspired hot dog featured a grilled sausage glazed in tocino sauce. On top are the titular pineapple slices, along with a crisp slaw and spicy chili garlic mayo. Village Brewery teamed up with All Beef Catering & Smokehouse on this creation, so you know you’ll be getting some sweet, spicy and smoky goodness.
5000 12a St. S.E., 403-243-3327, villagebrewery.com