The picture caught my eye _ and my taste buds. One look at the photograph of the Patagonia Hot Dog and I knew I wanted that to land on my plate.
That's the power of visuals. The photo was in a cookbook, but had that hot dog been displayed on a picnic table, I would have been as hungry and ready to indulge.
It's a reminder that small additions have a big impact.
In this case it wasn't simply the hot dog (always a favorite, early on in the grilling season), though even high-quality meat makes a difference. Toss that on a grill and, short of burning it, you have a winner.
The toppings, though, had my attention: avocado mayo (like a variation on guacamole), cilantro, tomatoes, onions and sauerkraut. This was a meal in a bun (a toasted bun, I should note, that actually fit the hot dog).
It's worth remembering, as we expand our grilling repertoire, that sometimes it's the embellishments that differentiate the good from the great.
A hot dog is a hot dog, until you add the extras. So make sure there are extras.
