At 2:25 p.m. on a recent Saturday, I saw something while driving on East Lake Mead Parkway that I’d never seen before … there was no line at Hot Dog Heaven!
This roadside eatery always seems to have a line stretching away from its walk-up window. And long lines at that.
Headed west, I took the first turn lane left and headed back east to Henderson’s Vienna Beef central.
By 2:27 p.m. I was parked and at the Hot Dog Heaven window. I was the only customer.
I ordered a classic Chicago job with a poppy seed bun, luminescent green relish, onions, pickle, hot peppers and mustard. And mustard only, of course. Ketchup is not for hot dogs … ever.
One dog, that’s all I wanted and had. Chicago weiners are the epitome of hot doggedness. New York City gets accolades, and I loves me a Nathan’s with mustard, sauerkraut and onion relish … But Chi-town style Vienna Hot Dogs take the cake for dressed-up links.
Dog down and ready to go, it was 3:05 p.m. By the time I had made it to my car, there was a line forming at Hot Dog Heaven’s red and white-tiled window. Hot dogs indeed.
A Great Mix
It's not quite a pilaf. And it's not quite a pasta, either. But the Harvest Grains Blend from Trader Joe's beats the pants off any salty "San Francisco Treat" side dishes any day.
Envision a colorful collection of vegetable-tinted orzo shapes, cute little baby garbanzo beans and garnet-like specks of red quinoa, all pre-bagged in proper proportions.
Now go buy that vision and unite it with boiling chicken stock or vegetable stock. Reduce heat. Let simmer and steam away until serving time.
The uncooked blend is devoid of cholesterol and sodium. It's also relatively low in carbohydrates and is almost fat-free. And its many-hued, farinaceous facets look great on a plate.
Mix it up with the Harvest Grains Blend.
LasVegasWeekly.com writer Greg Thilmont is constantly prowling Las Vegas with a notebook, digital camera and videocamera -- along with a mind for interesting happenings. Contact him at [email protected]