Restaurants
Man Bites Dog: Buddha Dog's Tasty Paradox
There's a particularly stubborn old Zen koan in which a young pupil asks his master whether a dog can indeed posses Buddha-nature. The master (in typical zen obliquity) implies that the question itself must be unasked for any wisdom to be attained.
This pseudo-mystic morsel offers a useful bit of question begging distraction while awaiting your order from the grill of this pleasantly Scandinavian-decored Roncesvalles satellite of the much loved Picton wiener shop (and it takes a ponderously long time for my order to arrive which is surprising since my Friday night visit sees me the only patron in the place).
So then, just what is the nature of a Buddha dog?
That they're tiny is obvious. That they're surprisingly tasty may shock some.
The wieners themselves ($2 each) are locally sourced and roughly 4" long-- apparently a marketing ploy aimed at giving kids just enough to satisfy them and grown-ups a bit of variety to mix and match flavours (pimp your wiener with cheese and sauce upgrades at $.25 a pop). Y'know the tapas trend has truly exhausted itself when even hot dog joints are jumping on the 'small plates' bandwagon.
Your Buddha dogs (trust me, you'll want more than one...possibly more than three) then get grilled on a panini press--first solo and then along with the bun to melt the cheese and create a nice variety of textures: the hallmark 'snap' of the dog plays well off the soft crispiness of the bun, and the assortment of homemade condiments.
My three dogs come dressed with: brie and red pepper jelly (Friday being brie day, as if you didn't know); jalapeno jack and beef chili; and smoky ketchup and old cheddar.
Oddly enough the standout is the brie and red pepper jelly dog; the musty creaminess of the brie and sweet savouriness of the jelly enhance the wiener's natural spice allowing a tiny package to pack a surprising flavour punch. The ketchup and old cheddar dog is tasty but unremarkable and the chili and jalapeno jack dog gives an example of too many intense flavours undermining the experience by competing with each other.
No doubt eating that much tubesteak can work up a thirst which can easily be slaked with a bottle of Buddha dog's deliciously sweet and tart 'Pucker-up' lemonade (also available in a strawberry infusion for $2.50 each) a near perfect drink for a humid summer afternoon.
The novelty of grabbing some tasty, locally sourced 'artisan' hot dogs on a day trip out to Picton would appeal to most foodies getting ready to jump into their 's' class for the long ride home but expecting people to jump on the subway for those same dogs is another thing entirely. Buddha dog isn't close enough to the action to appeal to the apres-club crowd who's taste buds are so dampened with spirits they could care less about how gourmet their dogs are (Buddha dog closes around 8 so it's a moot point anyway). And as gourmet as the dogs are, it's hardly a place for an anniversary dinner or a foodie destination.
Don't get me wrong, these dogs are very tasty, the problem lies in the fact that i'm not sure the hotdog by nature was ever in need of an apotheosis-- especially not to the tune of $12 or so with a drink. So as flavourful as the dogs were it's hard to imagine a return visit being high on anyone's dining list.
Buddha Dog Hours:
Monday - Saturday: 11-7
Sundays & Holidays: 11-6
Discussion
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Overall, we found this place to be utterly pretentious and the fact that each individual hotdog is "cheap" is not a good enough reason to go back. You would need at least three or four which would put you back minimum $6-8 and at the end of the day, you probably would not be satisfied at all. It works in Picton because they get a lot of one-time tourist customers who don't know any better like ourselves, but I honestly can't imagine this place lasting in T.O.
As the saying goes, much ado about nothing....get some street meat instead!
TEM
The fooides of Picton believe in organic food and what not, and have created a hot dog that is not the traditional 'lips and a$$holes' dog. It's not cheap, and it's not for everyone. If you appreciate delicate flavors, and want something new, this is a great product. If you want your ball game hot dog, then hit the street vendor.
I tried them and loved them.
How do I really feel?
1) They are an <b>insult</b> to locals and <b>thieves</b> to tourists.
2) There is no question in my mind that mc at September 7, 2007 is a shill. Firstly I don't know a sole who has that kind of passion for the crap they serve and it is <b>WAY</b> over the top with stats and enthusiasm!
Give me break.
<strong>GO BACK TO PICTON!</strong>
LOL - I suppose it went like this - Today we have the freshest red peppers ever <i>Bill</i>. I suggest you begin making some red pepper jelly right away! But avoid the onions, they are a tad bit bitter this week.
LOLOL
its keegan. totally was in at the one in PICTON!!! and billy we are totaly coming to see you! and eat lots of buddha dogs! cause they taste so yummy! they make me warm inside. i need to go. cause I am at school. Keep Smiling
Keegan
The owner is planning on opening a patio this summer although his expansion plans, as well as those of anyone else operating a business on Roncey this year, will be mitigated by the renovation of the streetcar tracks along Roncesvalles this year.
All you haters can go fly a kite!
Personally Ill go to the Buddha Dog.
That last comment was retarded by the way, what the hell?? At least say something constructive, yo.
I'm going back and I told a bunch of other people to go...is that bad?
I'm going to give it a couple more shots because the guys who work there seem decent and the atmosphere is pretty great. If they are succesful in getting their liquor license then it will likely become more of an evening destination; but if the beer is on the same price scale as the dogs, which themselves are a tad ridiculous: $2 for a 3 1/2" dog is not a good business model, no matter how good the ingredients.
(As for the Buddha business, I thought that everybody knew that joke. The irony is that, what with the fancy minimalist preparation, you can't actually get one with everything.)
I really think they could make an excellent secondary business selling some of their condiments.
They have some balls with their choice of name, I have to say. It still bugs me.
These doggies should never be compared to street-meat or carnival offerings. They're Buddha Dogs. The owners, Mac and Hunter - the Andrews - are delightful people who are very community spirited. They have helped to move The County from ordinary to extra-Black-River-Cheddar-cheese-ordinary.
To know the Andrews is to love'em. Thanks for being one-with-everything guys!
Get over yourself.
Alotta people here seem to be pissed based on principle, which is stupid. Everyone calm down, we're talking hot dogs here. I think its a tat presumptuous to assume we could predict Buddha's reaction to an organic hot dog shop. And its great to support local places that in turn support local farming, but come on, you don't have to love every decision they make.
Hot dogs have no political affiliation except the ones we attach to them. Or maybe I'm wrong and the next round of Stephen Harper ads should include his favorite type of meat tube so that I can choose my government based on food preferences. Feel free to disagree.
And alex... mustaches are awesome.
@tom - note that their other locations are still alive and well. Look up their website for details, I was just reading it.
Yes, the local farmers that Buddha Dogs supports really do exist. We're one of them - and we personally know several other farmers that supply Buddha Dogs. BD tested our Shepherd's Choice lamb at a recent Food Day festival and got rave reviews.
On the price issue - it's an interesting comment on our society that city people insist on "Fair Trade" coffee, but not a fair price for local farmers.