|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We all have priorities and goals in our lives. Some of us are attempting to build a better mousetrap, while others are searching for a cure for cancer. My priorities are much simpler, as I'm always on the prowl for a restaurant that serves a decent hot dog, or a good hot link. I guess you could call it a goal or a personal quest, but I'm always searching for a good hot dog... and my quest takes me to some very interesting places, such as Denio's Farmer's Market and Swap Meet, a Roseville institution since the 1940's.
Photo: David cooks delicious burgers and hot dogs in front of Western Barbecue, where their motto reads, "Fresh Off the Grill." Denio's isn't noted for its fine cuisine, as the eateries serve the most basic of fare, such as hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken strips, and other fast-food staples. I've had the pleasure to enjoy hot dogs at Denio's before, but they were very basic, and not at all imaginative. Imagine my surprise on Sunday morning, July 5, 2009, when I was cruising Denio's, in search of absolutely nothing, when I encountered a plume of smoke coming from a propane-fired grill, and a very friendly and smiling gentleman grilling hot dogs and hamburgers. Not only was there a cloud of smoke, but I could smell the intoxicating smell of grilled hot dogs and hamburgers... It was 10 O'clock in the morning, and I was already on my second beer, but how could I resist a hot dog or a hot link?
Photo: I was attracted by the cloud of smoke coming from the grill, as David grills a burger and hot dogs for other customers. Note the hamburger bun that he's toasting, which adds to the flavor of a delicious burger. Western Barbecue is located inside Denio's Farmer's Market, near the far north-east corner of the complex, among several other restaurants. Their menu is rather basic, as hot dogs, hot links, hamburgers, chicken strips, and other basic American fast food staples are offered. OK, that sounds prosaic, but there's a silver lining in the cloud, as they actually grill the hot dogs, the grill produces smoke, and Western Barbecue's pitmaster, David, knows what he's doing, and knows how to produce fine barbecue, especially hot dogs and hot links. I was left in a state of shock and disbelief, as I didn't expect to encounter great barbecue at Denio's that Sunday morning, and I wasn't even prepared to take photos. But thanks to 21st century technology, I always have my trusty cell phone at my side, and its equipped with a decent camera phone, which makes spur-of-the-moment photography, as illustrated in this article, possible.
Photo: Friendly Kristina takes my order for a delicious hot link. I felt a little adventuresome, so I bellied up to the order window, and ordered a hot link from lovely Kristina, the girl at the window. After placing my order, I watched David slap my hot link on the smoky grill, next to another hot link and a cheeseburger that he was grilling for other customers. While David was cooking the burger and the hot links, I peppered him with questions and took a few photos... By the way, for some obscure reason, the management at Denio's bans photography, but I pride myself as operating under the radar, and David didn't seem to have any objections to me taking photos. The camera phone is also quite stealthy, and does a pretty decent job taking pictures.
Photo: These ladies seem pleased with their order to go, as they allow me to take their photos, in a place where photography is frowned upon.
Photo: David grills my hot link. Yep, that's it, on the grill. My hot link was ready in only a couple of minutes. Chef David toasted the bun for my hot link on the grill, which added a nice touch to my delicious lunch... Western Barbecue provides a decent selection of condiments, which include sliced jalapeņo peppers, diced white onions, sauerkraut, mustard and ketchup.
Photo: My delicious hot link... Note the toasted bun and the attractive grill marks on the hot link.
Photo: This girl is at the condiment bar, applying mustard to her hamburger. Technically, a hot link isn't a hot dog, but it's pretty close, so I chose to include this review in my Sacramento area hot dog section. Western Barbecue serves a decent hot link, and their pitmaster, David, is a friendly guy, and knows his way around a grill. It's a winning combination when you're visiting Denio's Farmer's Market, and you're looking for a decent hot dog. Western
Barbecue Copyright(c) 2009 eRench Productions, Inc. All rights reserved. This site has been on the web since December 22, 2002. Web page design has been created by eRench Productions, Inc., custom photography for any occasion...
|
