Introducing: Craft Dogs, a new place for artisanal street meat on King East
Name: Craft Dogs
Neighbourhood: St. Lawrence
Contact Info: 95 King St. E., 647-748-2033, craftdogs.com
Owners: Craig Smith, Brian Morin and Kathleen McGinn (Beerbistro)
The Food: Handmade hot dogs with organic hormone-, antibiotic- and preservative-free ingredients. The French fries are cooked in beef and duck fat and the condiments, like smoked ketchup and smoked-pepper mayo, are made in-house.
The Drinks: Fountain sodas, including cocoa root beer and peach gingerale, craft beers and something called the Pie Shake, which, apparently, is a vanilla milkshake blended to order with a slice of homemade pie.
The Place: The mustard- and ketchup-coloured walls are plastered with graffiti and pop art. Chalkboards advertise the Ontario farms that provide the ingredients.
The Numbers: • 200 dogs cooked everyday • 180 years the heritage building has stood at 75 King St. East • 3–4 hours to make the house-smoked condiments • 3 years to find the space—the owners bid on 12 different spots but were edged out by big chains every time • 1 in-house smoker
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