Sam's Hot Dog Stand is a hot dog franchise around the state known for its chili sauce.
I have visited most of the locations close to me, but West Union was a new one to me.
They are commonly located in gas stations, but this one actually had a separate entrance behind the gas station - plus gambling machines.
I ordered one hot dog with chili, slaw, mustard and onions.
It was a bit sloppy, but manageable. Decent chili, average slaw and not a bad dog overall. Nothing especially outstanding, but nothing fo knock it on either.
Do you have a favorite location?
Grade: B
In Weston, West Virginia, there is one restaurant serving up south Texas-style barbecue.
South Texas Barbecue Company offers "Authentic Texas barbecue in West Virginia. We serve smoked brisket, pulled pork, pork belly, and sausage by the pound, sandwiches, or taco."
Jessica Abrego and husband Celestino “Tino” Abrego founded the company in 2019, shortly after moving here from the Lone Star state (source).
They started as a food truck during the Lewis County Farmers Market and in 2021, moved to their current brick-and-mortar location.
South Texas BBQ is characterized by having some Mexican influences. You can see that here with menu items like brisket enchiladas and pork belly tacos.
While I was here, I ordered the taco sampler with smoked brisket, pulled pork and burnt ends - which came with pickles and pickled onions on the side. Plus, I got potato salad, Mexican street corn and mac and cheese.
The tacos were pretty good for the most part. Smoked meat, flour tortillas and a few light toppings. I enjoyed each of the sides from the creamy potato salad and cheesy mac & cheese to the tangy street corn. I think they could each do with a touch more seasoning for my personal palate, but I enjoyed them nonetheless.
Have you been?
Grade: B
Maid-Rite is fast food chain based in Des Moines, Iowa, known for its "loose meat" sandwiches. This is a sandwich made with ground beef that is not formed into a patty - the texture is more like a sloppy jo, but without the tomato-based sauce.
"Butcher Fred Angell worked to get just the right combination of a special cut and grind of meat and a selected blend of spices. When a deliveryman tasted Fred's new creation, he said, 'This sandwich is made right.' With that, the Maid-Rite was born. Fred was quite a sandwich maker but not much of a speller," according to the website.
"Our select line of seasoned loose meat sandwiches are made from 100% USDA Midwestern fresh ground beef served on a fresh steamed white or wheat bun, with your choice of ketchup, mustard, onion and pickles."
I ordered one with cheese and all the toppings. The flavor is much of what you'd expect - but it's certainly a bit messier. The loose meat falls all over the place. But it is a fun, different version of the classic burger we all know and love. The side of tater tots were fairly crispy, so a solid meal all around.
Grade: B
"The Detroit-Style Pizza legacy began at Buddy’s Rendezvous Pizzeria ... in 1946 when Gus Guerra and team made their first square-shaped pizza. Baked in forged-steel pans borrowed from local automotive plants, they were able to produce a very light and crispy crust which is now known as Detroit-Style Pizza. This was the first known square pizza in the U.S. and now, more than 78 years later, the pizza style has become a national favorite," reads Buddy's website.
"The style flips traditional pizza on its head by beginning with double proofed dough perfectly fit to a square pan – a process that allows the dough to rise and be stretched twice – followed by the backwards layering of toppings. The pepperoni is placed directly on the dough allowing the rich flavors of the meat to be absorbed into the crust. Next, crumbled Wisconsin brick cheese – a proprietary blend created just for Buddy’s – is sprinkled across the pie before the other toppings. Finally, to finish off the unique look, three wide stripes of sauce are skimmed across the top of the pizza before being baked to perfection," continues the website.
Of course, when traveling through Detroit, my first stop was at this location to get a real taste of Detroit-style pizza. I placed my order online, parked at the restaurant and picked up my pizza with no problems.
Piping hot directly from the box, the pizza scorched my mouth on first bite. Worth it. I devoured my first piece. It is exactly what I wanted from a Detroit style pizza. There was a nice crisp but slightly thick crust. It wasn't as caramelized as I thought it may be. Nice sauce, plenty of cheese. A legendary experience.
Grade: A
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