Reliable sources say yes. We say, “Please, No.”
UPDATE (April 20): Richard Blais’ hot dog restaurant to open in June
Industry insiders suggest Atlanta chef Richard Blais’ new gourmet hot dog restaurant will be called Haute Doggery. If that’s the case, we hope the concept is sounder than the name.
Try as we might, we can’t wrap our bun around this concept, let alone the name.
We understand the idea of gourmet, recession-friendly dining strategies such as Blais’ own FLIP Burger and Sean Doty’s YEAH! Burger. But note the word “burger” as opposed to “hot dog.” When was the last time you turned to somebody and said, “I’m in the mood for a hot dog?”
We rest our case.
That said, we’re big fans of Blais and wish him nothing but the best, as he’s one of the true creative culinary geniuses in the city.
To be fair, there is some evidence that the concept could succeed. Lisa Schoolcraft with the Atlanta Business Chronicle makes the case:
Gourmet hot dogs are a trend going on in other parts of the country, said Harold Shumacher, president of The Shumacher Group Inc., a restaurant consulting firm.
Show Dogs in San Francisco, for example, offers up gourmet sausage dogs, with toppings that include blue cheese sauce and arugula, or fig chutney with homemade mustard.
“He would not be the first guy in the country doing it, but it is not as prevalent as burger places right now,” Shumacher said.
Stay tuned for more information, including confirmation of the new restaurant’s name and menu. Meantime, are we crazy or are fashion hot dogs the next big thing in the Atlanta restaurant scene?
