CLEVELAND, Ohio-- Last week’s “Classic CLE Eats & Drinks” column on Swensons’ Galley Boy cheeseburger earned some divisive reader letters and social media comments.
It seems that pairing of sweet with savory and salty is not for everyone—perhaps even an “acquired taste” like curry and cilantro that not everyone acquires.
But the more I thought about it during our latest Dine Drink CLE Podcast, I realized that it’s not so much the pairing itself that’s a universal “no.” It’s all about our own expectations.
Let me give you an example: no one expects to find breakfast cereal on their hot dog.
That’s exactly what The Slider Dog at Happy Dog Cleveland (and Progressive Field!) is topped with.
There’s also a hearty serving of pimento mac and cheese, bacon and a frankfurter under all of those Froot Loops. If you dig into Reddit, you’ll find detractors who call it a “hot mess,” “disgusting” and “blasphemous.”
It’s not that weird. Here’s why:
Froot Loops cereal is made of corn, oat and wheat flour. Now hear me out. If someone added croutons on top of a casserole full of bacon-bombed macaroni and cheese, no one would bat an eye.
Go find a bag of croutons at your local store and read the label.
Now... add some food coloring and sugar to those croutons and watch everyone lose their minds.
People generally do like sweet-savory things like chocolate covered pretzels and teriyaki dishes, but because there’s an immediate expectation around those foods for them to be sweet, there’s no recoil.
When you make something intentionally sweet (even shyly so, like this dog nicknamed for the Guardians’ mascot) that’s when people get all worked up. Making a Galley Boy sweet with barbecue and tartar sauce? Same thing.
This explains why adding pineapple to pizza is seemingly a bridge too far for some. For whatever it’s worth, I’m Team Pineapple, don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it. Something about the warm unctuousness of mozzarella cheese against the tangy pineapple and tomato just really works for me.
Same goes for the sweet, salty, smooth, creamy and crunchy combination of the Slider Dog. It’s not a super-graceful thing to eat, mind you. But it is a flavor explosion, followed by an endorphin and dopamine hit and I’m here for all of it. Four unique comfort foods delivered in one exceptional package?
Sign. Me. Up.
In fact, The Slider Dog has been a go-to for my Guardians home games and any visit to the neighborhood corner watering hole with the “racetrack oval wood bar.” Last time, it was for a concert by Elise Trouw and Kid Tigrrr. Not gonna lie, I was as excited about the dog as I was the show itself.
Both were wonderful.
Happy Dog’s Sean Watterson and the late Sean Kilbane landed on the hot dog menu with chef Eric Williams (Momocho, El Carnicero) in the late aughts. You’ve got the 50 hot dog toppings that Happy Dog offers on the menu, along with vegan options, fries or tater tots offered as the sides. And that’s literally it.
Hot dog toppings include blue cheese coleslaw, chorizo chili, everything bagel cream cheese, habanero picked red onions—even Spaghetti-Os. What’s most important to remember about casual American food staples (like a hot dog) is that they’re essentially a canvas to do what you like with them.
I talk a lot about memories that certain foods evoke in these columns. In the case of The Slider Dog, sure it’s evocative of some fun shows at the Happy Dog and equally fun times at “The Jake,” but it’s also a delightful reminder in having lived in eclectic Cleveland for my whole life.
Every bite of The Slider Dog is just a little bit different from the last, just like the city itself.
The Happy Dog’s toppings list is essentially emblematic of the diversity, creativity and unusuality found in our city. It’s also a place where you can learn, dream, do, try whatever you want.
Cleveland is small enough to be creative and innovative, but large enough to elevate that creative innovation into a larger consciousness. Where else but a place like this does a Slider Dog even make sense?
I’m convinced that people often mock what they don’t understand. Maybe that explains all the rotten jokes and shade that our fair city has endured over the years.
I digress. Do a Google search. There are a lot more people from the outside talking about this crazy “glizzy” mash-up than those of us in The Land. That definitely says something.
Happy Dog Cleveland, 5801 Detroit Ave., Cleveland. 216-651-9474. happydogcleveland.com.
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