
If you're saying to yourself: "A hot dog is a hot dog." You are right, no argument there. However, a hot dog is just like a person in the sense that it's what's on the outside that counts...wait...did I get that right? Tubby Dog is one of (yes, there's more than one!) Calgary's specialty hot dog establishments, and eating down for a bite to eat is always a memorable experience.
Instead of being 'good for you,' Tubby Dog opts to be 'fun for you.' With old food memorabilia showcased inside, dessert options ranging from Twinkies to Wagon Wheels, and unexpected toppings such as crushed potato chips, it is a safe bet that most customers are going to be leaving their calorie counter at the door. It boasts a creative menu with selections like the Sumo Dog (wasabi, pickled ginger, seaweed, and japanese mayo) or the PBJ dog (peanut butter, jelly, and topped with Captain Crunch cereal...yum?)

My out-of-town lunch-date had specifically requested this venue for our bite to eat. A Tubby Dog regular in her college days, she went for her old favorite, the Yogi Bear (standard fixings: ketchup, mustard, relish, onions, cheddar cheese) with a 'Not Dog' (veggie) instead of a hot dog. I grabbed the weekly special with mustard, home-made relish, pickled chili peppers, cheese, onions, tomato slices and finished with some celery salt. (Hey, I never said this was fine dining!).
We also decided that a perfect accompaniment to our dogs would be the T-Rings, their take on onion rings are, well, intense, to say the least. Let's just say they are on par with the size of a donut and the onion to dough ratio is about 1:8. In this case it's really all about the 'oh my gosh' reaction, and less about the taste, but definitely fun for kids!
Tubby Dog should definitely not be on your daily menu agenda, but once in awhile feel free to indulge, and, hey, buy that Twinkie for dessert, you deserve it!
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Tubby Dog
1022 17 Avenue Southwest
Calgary, AB T2T0A5
(403) 244-0694
Dan Clapson is a business manager and food blogger based out of Calgary. He is always creating new recipes and striving to expand his culinary limits.
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