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Spanky Buns
Daddy's Dog House (West Bend, WI)

Located on main street just north of downtown.

1179 N Main St
West Bend, WI 53090
(262) 338-3073

This is one of my favorite places to grab lunch. The staff is very friendly and warm and always treat you with respect. I have got to know the owners very well over the last two years. The menu consists mostly of hot dogs and sausages but there are also things like Italian beef and seasoned ground beef sandwiches.

They also have what they call THE CHAMPION DOG. This is a one pound all beef hot dog that is made especially for them by Kewaskum Frozen Food and Meats. It sits on a full loaf of french bread with all the fixing you can imagine. THIS THING IS HUGE!. If you can eat it in under an hour they will give you a certificate of completion and add your photo to their hall of fame.

If you have a large appetite you have to try this one.

Although the inside seating area is a bit cramped there is a great patio with plenty of large picnic tables that over looks a small lake and the view is awesome.

I highly recommend this place to anyone that is looking for a small homey feeling place with great eats. You wont be disappointed.
Mrs Liz
July 29, 2007
The Sunday Post - Washington County Retail, A Wisconsin paper
In Good Taste with Sherly Popp

You won't mind being sent to the dog house - if it's Daddy's Dog House!

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I'd bet that you won't find another hot dog vendor anywhere like Daddy's Dog House in Barton. Who else would have both a special room for Christian book-sales and a one pound hot dog served on a whole loaf of French bread? I'm right, right?

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Daddy's Dog House is owned by Sherry and Roger Wigman. They're from the Colgate area, and moved to Barton, Wisconsin 18 years ago when they decided to open a Christian bookstore. "I just felt a calling to open the store," explained Sherry. She had experience - she worked in a similar store for four years. Although they looked around Washington County, Roger thought their chances for success would be better in West Bend, and when there was no place that seemed right except for their present location, Sherry thought the Lord was agreeing with Roger. The building had enough room for the bookstore, named Covenant Corner, and living space above the store. "The store was always more of a ministry than a business venture," explained Sherry. Meaning, all profit was turned back into the store.

The couple also had several popcorn wagons that they operated at county fairs, picnics and similar summer events. How, I wondered, do purveyors of a Christian bookstore start selling popcorn? "Well," said Sherry, "I'm not sure. It looked like fun, so we just decided to try it. We had three wagons at one time, and had that business for about five years, but it was getting to be too much. Working out of one of those wagons is a lot more work than you think it is." About five years ago, after they'd been out of the popcorn biz for a year or so, Roger started talking about running a hot dog shop when he retired. In order to afford the building and operate the bookstore, Roger had kept his job at Briggs & Stratton in Milwaukee. He was thinking along the popcorn wagon line, having a stand alone truck from which to sell dogs. Again, said Sherry, divine inspiration intervened and told her to get moving on the idea. So, they spent a year downscaling the bookstore into one room, and turning the other first floor rooms into dining space, a sales counter and a state approved kitchen. Daddy's Dog House will celebrate their fourth anniversary in just two weeks, on August 6th. The whole place screams dog and hot dog. Decorations and photographs abound. There is even a bulletin board where customers can share their favorite canine photo. "I don't have to shop for doggie trinkets anymore," laughed Sherry. "People bring them to me." Daddy's is a fun, family-oriented place - Sherry's daughter frequently helps during lunch hour, and you can find her grandchildren behind the counter too!

When Roger and Sherry were deciding upon the menu, Roger wanted something that would be theirs exclusively, said Sherry. "So we got Kewaskum Meats to make us a hot dog that weighed an entire pound." The all beef wienie is so large that there is no bun to accommodate it, so Sherry serves it on a loaf of French bread scooped out enough to secure the dog. Originally, the Wigmans were thinking of the monster dog like a party sub, assuming folks would share it, but they underestimated the challenge they'd created. Just like John Candy and his mission to consume a six pound steak in "The Great Outdoors," an eating contest was initiated by customers. Sherry takes a photo of anyone who accomplishes their quest in under an hour, and the photo is posted in the restaurant. The big eaters also receive a coupon for a free hot dog (not a giant), chips and a drink. Current record holders are a skinny young man (of course) at 11 minutes and 40 seconds, and the women's record is 38 minutes and 15 seconds.

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There is quite a variety - size and type of dog, to choose from at Daddy's. Sizes range from mini and standard, to quarter and half pound (and of course the pounder, now called the "Champion dog"). Variety of styles include: Chicago,
Kraut, Chili, Chili Cheese, California, and Slaw dogs. There are also brats, polish and Italian sausage offerings. Then there are hot dog wraps, in several varieties -very popular. For those folks who don't care for hot dogs, but are accompanying someone who does, there's the "lost dog" wrap. Just veggies, get it? Ham and turkey wraps, personal pizzas and vegetarian dogs can also be ordered. Menu puns are numerous. Side dishes (soup, chili, cole slaw, nachos), are "Dog Chow," and popcorn, ice cream and other desserts are "Doggy Treats."
"You might not think it," said Sherry, "but I do make things in a health conscious Planner. Popcorn is made with canola oil, and I don't have fries or a deep fryer. I have hash brown stix that are really good, but they're toasted. And of course 'gourmet' hotdogs not only taste better, but are better for you." One thing you won't find at Daddy's is fast food. "Please tell people," said Sherry. "That you can't keep hot dogs in a steamer for long, they get soggy. I really like to make up every order fresh. If someone comes in for a Champion Dog, that will definitely take a while." Daddy's does accept and recommend calling orders in, particularly for anyone who is on a lunch schedule. The uber-cozy spot seats 18 inside and during nice weather, customers can now sit outside on a deck overlooking the river. It seats 40, so a group could easily do a lunch outing. As an extra incentive, first time customers receive a buy one/get one coupon. bear_grin.gif Do the Wigmans have a dog? Think about it, answer below.

Daddy's Dog House is located at 1179 N. Main St. in West Bend. The phone number is 262-338-3073. In spring and summer, they're open Tues.-Thurs., 1lam-7pm, Fri. and Sat. llam-8pm. Fall and winter, the restaurant closes one hour earlier than listed above.

If you were curious about a slaw dog, so was Sherry when a southern customer asked for one. If the quintessential dog for the North is a Chicago Dog, then the South's is a Slaw Dog. Here are the fixin's for each. (Hint, start with good quality wieners.)

The Chicago Dog:
hot dog
green (neon) relish
onion
tomato
yellow mustard
sport pepper
pickle
celery salt
poppy seed bun

The Slaw Dog:
hot dog
chili sauce
onion
yellow mustard
creamy coleslaw
standard bun

bear_grin.gif Answer:
Of course they own a dachshund. Roger bought Sherry the wiener dog when the restaurant opened. His name is Chico, short for "Chicago" dog. He is indeed, pictured in the restaurant in his little hot dog bun outfit.


Mrs Liz
bear_thumb.gif Check it out, they have a web site too!

www.daddysdoghouse.com
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