I’m late writing this piece. I hate that. Why? Because I want to celebrate the creativity of the ‘Dog of the Month’ at Daddy’s Dogs. And…well….it’s January 29th. So, if you want to try it, assuming you can even get out of the house and that Daddy’s Dogs is open, you only have a couple of days. The truth is I went about 12 days without my MacBook, and that meant no writing. I don’t see how some of you sickos “write” from your phones. It goes against every fiber of my being. Anyway, I probably shouldn’t have written this, but I’ll tell you why I opted to roll with it anyway…because the underlying message here is that Daddy’s Dogs is a beacon of creativity. That menu fucks. And, there’s no doubt in my mind that even if you do miss out on January’s dog of the month, February’s dog of the month will undoubtedly be something that blows our collective minds. Now, with that out of the way, allow me to indulge in this decadent luncheon.
It was January 10th. The rigors of covering the Tennessee Titans were over with. Their season ended with a depressing thud – the sound a sick deer makes when it keels over and breathes its final breath – when the Jacksonville Jaguars beat them 41-7 the previous week. It was my first open weekend in months when I didn’t have to worry about preparing for a show. It was cold, but I wanted to do something completely spontaneous and relaxing. I hadn’t gotten to spend too many weekends with my wife due to the nature of our lives being so busy and hectic. So, we decided we’d hop in the car and head to the Franklin area just to stroll around and waste the day away.
We shopped. We took a lap around Cool Springs Galleria (is it still called that? We don’t call enough things ‘galleria’ anymore). We ended up at The Factory out in Franklin. If you haven’t been, it’s a veritable smorgasbord of Nashville culinary institutions. It was lunch time and we hadn’t eaten yet, so when I walked by Daddy’s Dogs, the smell and the thought of those dogs stuck in my brain. Alas, we passed by. We walked around some clothing market and made our way back. That’s when the spirit of the day hit me – we have no plans….spontaneous….relaxing. I’m going to do what I want. “You know what?” I asked my wife. “I’m gonna get a Daddy’s Dog and a beer.”
With nowhere to be, we decided to post up at the bar for a short lunch break. That’s when I read the description of the dog of the month. It was as if the clouds parted on a dreary day and sunlight beamed through to warm my cold downtrodden spirit. I don’t recall exactly what it was called, but it was a hot dog with bacon, peanut butter, and maple syrup on it. I had to try it, and I had to pair it with an ice cold Dos Perros.
You may think this sounds disgusting. Maybe it’s too rich for you…too decadent…too heavy. But, I will say that I was impressed by the touch with which this dog was crafted. Not too heavy on the syrup or peanut butter…just enough to provide a taste. The bacon was cooked perfectly and piled high. It was all put together in a way that popped with the sweet-n-savory flavor that I personally love while still allowing for the heart and soul of the dish to shine – the meat and the bread.
It was a little heavy, but hey – plan ahead. Be smart. I opted to forego a side and just take my time suckin’ this dog down. Bite by bite, I savored the experience. I even talked my wife into trying a couple of bites. And, that’s where I thought to myself, “man, I’ve never had a bad experience with Daddy’s Dogs.” With as many of these things as I’ve eaten over the years, that’s saying something.
I like to paint. I sip my liquor neat. I smoke a pipe (tobacco only – relax, Mama). I handwrite poetry. These are all things that reflect a desire in me to take it slow….to fend off the inevitable passing of time and appreciate the moment I’m living in. It’s a craft. It can be art. And, in that spirit, I’ve found that a good meal can accomplish the same goal for me. I got that feeling from sitting on a barstool at Daddy’s Dogs and enjoying this dawg. So, it goes far beyond simple sustenance and parlor tricks to capture your attention. It’s a dog done right, and that’s a damn powerful thing.
I can’t wait to see what they cook up next.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, second on Football & Other F Words, analyst for Stacking The Inbox, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, the NFL Draft, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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