— TheToothfish

Repressed Memories from a Wiener

In my younger years, my mother had big dreams for her son who conquered hot dogs the same way running a mile for the physical fitness test conquered him. Like most, mine saw me as adorable and quotable and special. Television special. So on a Saturday afternoon in the living room, I stood facing my father who held a giant, black camcorder. Oscar Mayer Weiner, the geniuses behind the vacuum-packed dogs at Kroger, was holding a contest for their next commercial. Contestants had to sing the theme song, and the winner would get to drive in the Oscar Mayer Weiner-mobile (just look at it. Who wouldn’t want to cruise down a street with sausage this big?)

My memories of the recording are few but distinct. I remember singing the song for, what felt like, two hours. I remember getting tired and fidgety and being told that I just needed to sing the 30-second song one. more. time. I remember running upstairs into my parent’s bedroom where I proceeded to jump on the bed shouting, “I DON’T WANT TO SING ANYMORE.” And then I remember what everyone else could imagine from watching my audition tape. While you only see a white wall on screen, you first hear my complaints from off screen. And then you hear the screams of a furious Chinese mother.

“IF YOU DON’T GET DOWN THERE AND SING THE SONG, I’M GOING TO BEAT YOUR ASS.”

I did not win the contest.

I say all this to show you that I love hot dogs. Yes, maybe we don’t always know what goes in a hot dog, but they’re delicious and that’s really enough for me. At Richard Blais’s (Top Chef, Flip Burger) newest, trendy adventure, HD1, the meat is no mystery.

Look here. In line with Blais’s playful style, the menu is hardly something you would come across anywhere else. 

The Kenturky: turkey sausage, bacon, mornay, tomato-pimento marmalade & parmesan. Perhaps a bit over the top, but still delicious.

pig between the sheets: curried pork in puff pastry + mango pudding.
Flaky pastry with salty pork goes surprisingly well with the smooth mango pudding. Original. 

The red haute dog (a glorified chili dog) was also good. I’ve only had two dogs from here so I can’t pass any judgement, but on first impression, HD1 is a fine place that is doing something nobody else in town is. I can’t say I’m clearing space in my calendar to return, but if I’m in the area, I won’t hesitate to stop by.

HD1
(404) 815-1127
Poncey-Highlands
664 Highland Avenue NE
Atlanta, GA 30306