“It was derived out of both of us doing a lot of work in the community,” Johnson said. “We throw a lot of festivals, and we wanted to be part of the food truck scene.”
When El Meson put their original food cart up for sale — “what the El Meson empire was started with,” Johnson said — the timing and karma were too perfect to pass up.
And boy, are we excited they didn't. Launching with a bang on July 10 at the Yellow Cab's monthly Night Market and at the Yellow Cab's annual Beer! event on July 11, Bad Dog will serve up Trotwood's Keener Farms' grass-fed all-beef hot dogs, one foot long prior to cooking, served up on Oakwood-based Ashley's Pastry Shop's buns with fresh, homemade toppings created by House.
Even if you’re not a meat-lover, you should get excited: Bad Dog also will serve up grilled squash and veggie spears in buns and topped with House’s creative toppings like freshly made sauerkraut and mustard, and obviously, HouseMade hot sauces.
House will work with local farmers, including Treadway Farms and Ed Hill Family Farm, among many others, to create the seasonally rotating toppings. Customers will have the choice of up to three out of eight possible toppings, sides will include gourmet potato salad and mac and cheese. And the local flair extends to the drink options, too: Johnson said that they are in talks with a local soda maker to use their products, though nothing has been finalized.
"The whole idea is to keep it real local," Johnson said. After their grand opening weekend — grab a dog then and correctly guess a combination of sauces to win a $100 gift certificate — Bad Dog plans to join the bar food hot dog ranks of Chicago Dogs' cart and Tumbleweed Connection's tent in the Oregon District, parking behind the patio of Blind Bob's Bar on weekend nights to provide some quality late-night dogs.
For now, you’ll be best served to catch Bad Dog at the two Yellow Cab events, or while out on Fifth Street on weekends.
“We’re going to start it off slow, and see where it goes,” Johnson said. With luck, it’ll go far.
For more info and to keep posted on their openings, check out their new Facebook page here.
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