News That Will Make You Say Hot Dog!

the tablehopper | 2:25 pm | July 10, 2009 | Foodie 411

The Foreign Cinema duo of Gayle Pirie and John Clark are getting close on opening their hot dog shop, Showdogs. The name is inspired by all the neighboring theaters, like the Golden Gate Theater, which is just across the street. There will be something like 13 dogs, all from various makers, like Let’s Be Frank, 4505 Meats, Fatted Calf, and more. They are also having Acme make a custom sesame bun for them. All the condiments will be house-made, so there will be an ancho BBQ sauce to go with the Louisiana hot link, for example, or the Fatted Calf knockwurst will come with piperade and raita. Yup, these are some gourmet dogs! They will cost around $8 or so. There will also be corndogs, plus some killer beer-battered onion rings and fries with “spicy dust.” Local beers on tap, too. There will be 25 seats, with white marble tables. The hours will be Mon–Sat 11am–8:30pm.

• 1020 Market St. at Taylor.

BIX has kicked off Martinis and Weenies, a happy hour that runs Mon–Thu from 4:30pm–6:30pm. You’ll be able to order a featured premium martini (the booze will change weekly) for $7.50 (regular price $10–$11), which will be served with complimentary pigs in a blanket: Schwarz frankfurters wrapped in homemade brioche dough and Dijon mustard.

• 56 Gold St. off Montgomery St. between Jackson and Pacific, 415-433-6300.

Let’s Be Frank is offering a special Twofer Tuesday deal: any two dogs at a special price of two for $8 (regularly priced at $11). Available all day every Tuesday. They are also hoping their beer and wine license will be ready any day now. Did you know the doghouse is open until 2am Fri–Sat, and they are delivering to local bars in the Marina?

Let’s Be Frank also wants as many people as possible to see Food Inc., because the more people know about where their food comes from and how it is made, the more likely it is that they will support a healthier food system. So to make seeing the movie even more appealing, they are offering a special incentive. Take your friends, send your friends, tell your friends about Food Inc. And then collect their ticket stubs. For every five stubs to Food Inc. you bring into their shop on Steiner, you get one free dog with all the fixings.

• 3318 Steiner St. at Chestnut, 415-675-6755.

Marcia Gagliardi writes a popular weekly e-column about the SF dining scene, “the tablehopper.” Subscribe for free at www.tablehopper.com and get it in your inbox every Tuesday. Got news? Email Marcia at taste@sanfrancisco.travel.