Flo's Hot Dogs

If you’re from New England then you have to know about Flo’s Hot Dogs. Flo’s is a small little hot dog stand in Cape Neddick, Maine which has been in business since 1959. Yes, that’s right, and all they sell is hot dogs! The most amazing hot dogs you’ll ever taste that is. The stand itself is in operation all year round, but they are closed on Wednesdays and have standard operating hours from 11-3pm. The door closes promptly at 3, so if you want a hot dog you need to make sure you’re in by 2:59 or the door will be locked on you.

Flo’s sells boiled hot dogs in steamed New England style buns. You can order your hot dog any way you want it (plain, mustard, relish, ketchup, sauerkraut, onion, Flo’s relish, mayo, etc.), but there are two staple ways that are famous for this little hidden jewel in the hot dog realm. There is the The Special (I call it Flo’s way), which has mayonnaise (yes, you read that right mayonnaise! But don’t let that tidbit stop you from reading further), Flo’s relish and celery salt on it. While there is The Works which has Flo’s relish, green relish, mustard, onion and celery salt on it.

These hot dogs will cost you $2.50 each, plus tax.

I personally do not like celery salt so when I order my hot dogs I always ask for the celery salt to be held. My personal favorite is The Special, hold the celery salt, add onion. It’s so delicious; I can’t even get past that! I’ve spoken to Gail (the owner) a million times when I go in there and she’s told me exactly what she uses (the name brand of the hot dog and the name brand of her mayonnaise) and I’ve picked up the stuff (including the shops relish which I bought while at the stand) and it just does NOT taste the same at home! I think the secret truly is in the water since she’s boiling hundreds of hot dogs and I’m boiling three.

Now, don’t get turned off by mayonnaise on a hot dog. It REALLY plays off the Flo’s relish well; it makes their relish a little sweeter (since the relish can be considered tangy on its own). The Works would be my second favorite hot dog because it has some of my favorite staples on a hot dog on it. You can easily make this a meal, by picking yourself up a soda or water and throwing in a bag of chips.

Every time I am in Maine and it’s between the hours of operation at Flo’s I try to stop in to grab a hot dog. I’ve heard people in the shop state it as a Life Altering Experience. And yes, I have seen someone come in and order 30 hot dogs to go to bring home to feed family who came home to visit.

I must say though if you are ever in Maine for any reason what so ever, drop into Flo’s and try one of these. I promise - you won’t be disappointed.

Flo’s Hot Dogs

Since joining Weight Watchers, I decided eating regular hot dogs just isn’t quite worth it so I typically eat Turkey, Chicken or 97% fat free beef hot dogs.  Although there are a few occasions where I’ll have a regular hot dog – typically once a year at a cookout (if there isn’t anything I’d enjoy – like grilled chicken or steak).  BUT when heading into Maine there is a hot dog stand – Flo’s that makes THE world’s best hot dogs.

Flo’s is located on Route 1 in Cape Neddick Maine.  It’s a small little red building – when you come around the bend you can spot it because there are cars just piled up.  The shop is only open from 11-3 6 days a week.  You can read up about Flo’s on their website and even order their special relish: http://www.floshotdogs.com/.  I’ve purchased the relish to make my hot dogs at home and it truly just isn’t the same.

The hot dogs are made as you order them and the buns are steamed as well.  I ordered a House Special – which comes with mayonnaise (don’t knock it ‘til you try it!), Flo’s relish and celery salt. I opted to add onion to it because it’s just delish.  This combination makes the relish taste sweeter and out of the 2 I ordered this is my favorite combo. I also ordered a Loaded – which comes with mustard, green relish, Flo’s relish, onion and celery salt.  This combination makes the relish tangier.

Sure these two hot dogs cost me 19 points plus values BUT it was completely worth it.  Why? Because I don’t have them all the time, I was looking forward to them for almost a week and I thoroughly enjoyed it as a meal.

QUESTION:

What is one of your favorite “once in a while” meals which are a specialty to a particular area you visit?

Lunch: Pigs in a Blanket – a Healthier Alternative

This is what I had for lunch today … pigs in a blanket, but a healthier alternative to the decadent dish.  I had seen quite a few posts on Instagram showcasing these and after picking up some crescent rolls at the market I let my boyfriend know I was going to make these for lunch and he was intrigued because he said he hadn’t had them since he was a kid.  I used regular hot dogs for my boyfriends and used the Hebrew National 97% Fat Free Beef Franks for myself and paired them alongside reduced fat crescent rolls.

I opened the crescent rolls (trying not to jump as it popped) and wrapped each hot dog up into the center of the roll and placed onto a Pam spritzed baking sheet.  I then put them into a 350 degree oven and baked for 12 minutes until nice and golden.  My oven cooks very quickly so I have to avoid baking anything per directions or they just burn up completely.

I did have a small side salad with my pigs in a blanket just to have a bit more filling lunch.  And of course who can have pigs in a blanket without mustard and ketchup? Certainly not this girl!

For two crescent rolls it added up to 5 Points Plus values and for 2 hot dogs it was 2 PointsPlus values.  So a great, 7 Points Plus lunch!

QUESTION:

Do you like pigs in a blanket?