Where to celebrate July's food holidays in Flagstaff

Right in the heat of the summer comes a variety of food holidays with such varied tastes. July is National baked Bean Month, Bison Month, Culinary Arts Month, Grilling Month, Hot Dog Month and Ice Cream Month. It’s also home to the following food holidays…

July 6: National Fried Chicken Day

Get some finger lickin in on Fried Chicken Day at Louie’s Chicken Shack (2116 E Rte 66). They made their own unique batter that makes for juicy chicken strips. Mmm mmm good.

July 9: National Sugar Cookie Day

Sugar Mama’s (116 S San Francisco) has your sugar cookie fix for today. They make a mean sugar cookie with royal icing. Perfect for an afternoon snack break along with a cup of coffee to really get your energy levels going.

July 10: National Pina Colada Day

If you like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain, this day falls at the perfect time for Arizona residents, usually in monsoon season this time of the year. Refresh as you watch the rain sprinkle down from the patio at Picazzo’s (1300 South Milton) with a tropical tasty pina colada in hand. They’re not technically on the menu there, but you can order one anyway made with their organic liquor.

July 13: National French Fries Day

Without any hesitation whatsoever, head to the best spot in Flag for fries: Diablo Burger (120 N Leroux St). Theirs are scrumptiously cooked and tossed with Herbs de Provence for the perfect aromatic presentation for your nose, mouth and tummy.

July 20: National Hot Dog Day, National Ice Cream Soda Day and Fortune Cookie Day

Hope you’re hungry today with all these food holidays. Start off with a plump juicy dog with your favorite condiments from Primo’s (113 S San Francisco). Then head over to the Galaxy Diner (931 W Rte 66) for an old fashioned Ice Cream Soda (Go for the Brown Cow). For dinner, get your Chinese on at Golden Dragon (2730 East Lakin Drive) and finish up your meal with a fortune cookie.

July 24: National Tequila Day
With over two dozen tequilas in house, Plaza Bonita (1551 South Milton) is the place to go for a tequila taste testing party tonight. Whether you’re looking for silver, reposado, anejo or gold, they have the full spectrum of price points for all tequila lovers to enjoy including top shelf favorites like Don Julio, Tres Generaciones and others.

July 27: National Crème Brulee Day
Celebrate this sweet holidays with a desert stopover at Jospehine’s (503 North Humphreys). They make some of the best crème brulee around. Their creamy sweet cup of heaven tastes even better with a cup of coffee out under the stars on their relaxing patio.

July 24: National Lasagna Day

Celebrate lasagna day a little early and head to Frank’s Daily Bread (1490 Riordan Ranch Rd) on Wednesdays when lasagna with meat sauce is the lunch special of the day. For $7 you get a big slice of lasagna, side salad, garlic bread and a drink. It’s the only day lasagna is available there.

July 30: National Cheesecake Day

Beautiful Leaf Bakery (2028 North 4th Street) makes over a dozen varieties of cheesecake from their most popular traditional and strawberry cheesecakes to unique blends like Black Forest, Peanut Butter, Mint Chocolate, Lemon, German Chocolate, White Chocolate Raspberry, and many others. Plus, they’ll make any other flavor you desire. All are available in 3-9” sizes.

Check out more food holidays happening in July from TheNibble.com.

(Note: This article was written, also by me, for Flagstaff Live!)

Where to celebrate June food holidays in Flagstaff, AZ

June is the time for fun in the sun… and apparently a sweet tooth. This month is filled with celebrations of sugary tweets from National Candy Month to 25 days of the month that celebrate everything from hazelnut cake and rocky road ice cream to gingerbread and peanut butter cookies. And yet, there’s still room for other food celebrations. Here’s a look at a few of the 45 food holidays celebrated in June and where to sing their praises in Flagstaff…

June 3: National Egg Day

National Egg Day calls for a trip to La Bellavia (18 S. Beaver). This breakfast joint serves up egg-cellent trout and eggs, steak and eggs, egg burritos, eggs benedict, omelets, chorizo scramble, quiche, fiesta eggs, Italian eggs, vegetable garden eggs and Eggs Bellavia.

June 4: National Cheese Day

New Jersey Pizza (2224 E Cedar Ave) is the place to head for National Cheese Day. They make their very own fresh pulled mozzarella, which you can buy at their eatery or at the Flagstaff Farmer’s Market on Sundays (which starts soon). It also tastes heavenly melted on their ever so delish pizzas.

June 5: National Gingerbread Day

Celebrate this day of sweet delight with dessert at Beaver Street Brewery (11 S Beaver). Their Apple Ginger Stout Cake is made with apples, spices and their R&R Oatmeal Stout and comes topped with caramel sauce and whipped cream. It is a creative twist on traditional gingerbread and one of THE very best desserts made in Flagstaff.

June 10: National Black Cow (aka root beer float) Day

For all things diner-ific, including Black Cows, the Galaxy Diner (931 W Route 66) is a must stop. This retro diner takes you back in time with their ice cream sodas, malts and milkshakes.

June 17: Eat All Your Veggies Day

You won’t have any trouble celebrating this day of good for you goodness at the 1899 Grill (307 W. Dupont Ave, across from the High Country Conference Center and Drury Inn and Suites). Start your dinner off with a bowl of the pepper and gouda soup followed by the spaghetti squash that’s sautéed in olive oil and garlic and tossed with fresh pomodoro sauce and basil.

June 18: International Picnic Day

Grab hot dogs - go for the Chicago-style Easy Dog classic- from Primo’s (113 S San Francisco), burgers from Mama Burger (12 E. Route 66) or sandwiches –try The New Yorker or The Paisan- from Stage Left Sub Shop (on Beaver St between Aspen and Route 66) and head up to the Snowbowl for the perfect summer picnic spot.

June 22: National Onion Rings Day

Drive a few miles south of town for some of the best onion rings you’ve ever had the pleasure of devouring at Mountainaire Tavern (110 Mountainaire Rd). This dive does it right with homemade beer battered rings. You can also get beer battered fried mushrooms, zucchini, cauliflower or broccoli. All served with ranch. Now you can tell mom you're eating your veggies every day! (So maybe come here on June 17^th too!)

For a full list of the 45 June food holidays, go to TheNibble.com. 

This article was originally written for Flagstaff Live! by me!

Flagstaff's Best Hot Dogs

Hot Diggity Dogs
By Angele Sionna

It’s hot dog season! While it may more commonly be referred to as summer, the beautiful weather that is upon is means it’s time for treating ourselves to those tasty franks that satisfy without breaking the bank. If you don’t have time to grill up a dog on any given work lunch hour, then check out the goods at Flagstaff’s top hot dog stops.

Primo’s Hot Dogs
113 S San Francisco St

Primo’s Hot Dogs, just south of the tracks downtown. Boasting Chicago-style dogs, Primo’s is a true hole in the wall joint. The door boasts seating for 1,000, four at a time, i.e. they have four seats lining the wall on the right. That’s it.
Here their standard dog is known as the Easy Dog. The bright green relish contrasted nicely with the crispy, diced white onion... with a little vivid red and yellow of the ketchup and mustard ever so slightly poking thru. The ingredients were fresh. The dog itself was plump, juicy, and flavorful. The perfect proportion of toppings, bun, and dog. And vegetarians take note, Primo’s doesn’t want you to miss out on its goodness. They serve veggie dogs with any toppings for about the same price. In all, Primo’s has 14 types of hot dogs and sausages plus meat lover’s sandwiches and nachos.

Mountain Top Dogs
113 E. Birch

Mountain Top Dogs is a true hot dog stand at the corner of Birch and San Francisco. Only open when the weather’s good and run by the owner, Mountain Top Dogs is in a great location for tourists and business folks for lunch. At Mountain Top Dogs, the hot dogs are flame grilled right in front of you and it’s the only place on this list where you add your own toppings.
The dog was a little less flavorful and not as thick as the ones at Primo’s, but the smoky flavor that comes from the grilling makes up for it. The condiments were standard, just like the ones you’d have at a back yard cookout at home. But you can taste the personal touch and care of the owner in every bite.
Mountain Top Dog has a handful of dog and sausage choices ranging a standard hot dog up to their claim to fame: a hand-wrapped and grilled bacon quarter pound dog.

Route 66 Dog Haus
1302 E. Route 66

The Route 66 Dog Haus is a Flagstaff classic. Right on Route 66 with cars whizzing by their can’t-miss-it red A-frame building, you can walk up and place your order or drive thru. And I do mean drive thru - cars pull up to the window in the center of the building. A novelty that catches kids eyes. Seating is limited to a few cement tables with umbrellas. Their menu includes sides like fries and is much more expansive than the other hot dog joints.
The Dog Haus dog itself was overloaded with ingredients and oozing as I opened the wrapper. The bun was super-soaked and soggy. It did not have the beauty of the Primo’s dog or the flame-broiled smell of Mountain Top but when I took a bite I was pleasantly surprised. There was too much of the overly sweet onions and relish though, ironically making this drive-thru joint the only place where the dog isn’t driver friendly.

Hot Dog Express
1566 S Riordan Ranch St

Newcomer to the hot dog scene is Hot Dog Express. They’re located in the little red and yellow shack surrounded by cheery picnic tables and umbrellas in the west end of the Bookman’s parking lot on the southwest side of town.
Here the choices are walk up or drive up. You can smell the hot dogs cooking on the grill as you do either. That’s such a great smell! Hot Dog Express offers up everything from standard dogs to more fanciful options like the gianormous Cujo dog or the spicy Jalapeño Express hot dog. The dogs comes served in a fresh and flavorful bright yellow bun and loaded with a fair amount of toppings. They also have combos with a soda and chips to make the most of your lunch money. And if you want a little picnicy feel to lunch, consider adding a side of their cilantro slaw or potato salad. For the kid inside, top it off with one of their slushies for dessert.

(Note: This article was origninally published in Flagstaff Live! - written by me too!)

The Search for Flagstaff’s Top Dog

By Angele Sionna

Hot Dogs Tested:
Primo’s Hot Dogs, 113 S San Francisco St
Mountain Top Dogs, 113 E. Birch (Hot Dog Stand on Northwest corner of Birch and San Francisco)
Route 66 Dog Haus, 1302 E. Route 66

The Food (taste/flavor/quality of food & drinks)
Primo’s Hot Dogs >>>>> = always great, unique, and flavorful no matter where you're from
Mountain Top Dogs >>> = good, but not great
Route 66 Dog Haus >> = mixed bag, can be good but can be bad, can’t count on it

The Atmosphere (environment, wait staff, comfortableness)
Primo’s Hot Dogs xxxxx= you'll love it
Mountain Top Dogs xxxxx= you'll love it
Route 66 Dog Haus x= if the food's good enough, still worth going, otherwise forget it

Price (what to generally expect to pay per person per entree)
Primo’s Hot Dogs = $ (Under $10)
Mountain Top Dogs = $ (Under $10)
Route 66 Dog Haus = $ (Under $10)

Value (what you get for your money)
Primo’s = ***** superb - lots of quality/taste for what you pay
Mountain Top Dogs = **** worth it - you won’t be disappointed with what you get for your money
Route 66 Dog Haus = *** fair -you get what you pay for, not in a bad way

With empty stomachs and a brown bag filled with two sodas, a water, and Poore Brother’s chips, my daughter, husband, and I loaded into the car on a mission: find the best dog in town. The stops on this two-mile road trip: Primo’s Hot Dogs, Mountain Top Dogs, and Route 66 Dog Haus. All three are known as the best in Flagstaff. But we wanted to know which was superior. To even the playing field, we opted to order the same “standard” all-beef hot dog at each location topped with mustard, ketchup, relish, and onions.

First up: Primo’s Hot Dogs, just south of the tracks downtown. Boasting Chicago-style dogs. Our hopes were really high. We used to live in Chicago and ate many a dog there. It would be hard to satisfy us.
Primo’s is a true hole in the wall joint. The door boasts seating for 1,000, four at a time. When you walk inside, you see what they mean. Four wooden bar stools line the wall on the right, a big menu board on the left.

I walked up to the counter and ordered the Easy Dog (mustard, relish, and onions) plus ketchup for $3 plus tax. It looked good. The bright green relish contrasted nicely with the crispy, diced white onion... with a little vivid red and yellow of the ketchup and mustard ever so slightly poking thru. It was pretty. So much so that it could be mistaken for a fake dog. But not too pretty to dive right in.

The ingredients were fresh. You could tell the bread was made today. The dog itself was plump, juicy, and flavorful. Just as it should be. Not soggy or dripping. The perfect proportion of toppings, bun, and dog. It exceeded the high expectations of our taste buds.

And vegetarians take note, Primo’s doesn’t want you to miss out on its goodness. They serve smart brand veggie dogs with any toppings for about the same price. In all, Primo’s has 14 types of hot dogs and sausages plus meat lover’s sandwiches and nachos. Enough choices to make everyone in the family happy and perfect for grabbing and going on a picnic on your way to the Grand Canyon if you’re just passing thru town. If you’re a local, Primo’s satisfies taste buds into the wee hours. They have hours late enough to pick up after the bars close for the college kids at Northern Arizona University down the street.
Primo’s may be a hole in the wall, but at least it has walls. Mountain Top Dogs, however, does not. It’s a true hot dog stand at the corner of Birch and San Francisco downtown about half a mile up the street from Primo’s. Only open when the weather’s good and run by the owner, Mountain Top Dogs is in a great location for tourists and business folks for lunch. Across the street is the old courthouse with a nicely manicured lawn and benches. Perfect for grabbing a seat and munching down a dog, which is what we did.

At Mountain Top Dogs, the hot dogs are flame grilled right in front of you. It’s the only one of the three places we tried that cooked the dogs on an open flame. Nice touch. It’s also the only place where you add your own toppings. That’s something that makes this stop fun for the kids. We loaded up our dogs and plopped down under a tree in the grass across the street.

The dog was a little less flavorful and not as thick as the one we had a Primo’s minutes before, but we liked the smoky flavor that comes from the grilling. The condiments were standard, just like the ones you’d have at a back yard cookout at home. But you can taste the personal touch and care of the owner in every bite.

My daughter loved her dog and sitting in the grass to eat it. (Grass being something we don’t have a lot of up here in northern Arizona.) But it’s a good thing we had baby wipes in the car. Not surprisingly, she got enough mustard and ketchup all over herself to need six of them and we forgot to pick up napkins at the hot dog stand. Still, she finished the whole thing lickity-split... something that doesn’t happen often with this picky little eater.

Mountain Top Dog has a handful of dog and sausage choices ranging from $2 for a standard hot dog up to five for a hand bacon-wrapped and grilled quarter pound dog. A claim to fame for Mountain Top. And you can upgrade to a combo for a buck and a half more. The prices are definitely a plus for families!

On to our final stop. The Route 66 Dog Haus is about a mile and a half east of downtown. It’s a little outside of the tourist hub and in a louder location with lots of cars quickly whizzing by, but we’d read good things about this place. We were anxious try it out and had saved enough room to have one more dog split between us.

The Dog Haus is housed in a red A-frame building. It looks like it could be one of those old buildings that the Wienerschnitzel fast food chain uses. You can walk up and place your order or drive thru. And I do mean drive thru. Cars pull up to the window in the center of the building. A novelty that catches kids eyes. Seating is limited to a few cement tables with umbrellas. Though with it being on the busy Route 66, it’s not very inviting or safe for small children.

We chose to drive thru and had to wait ten minutes for about three cars to get their orders in front of us. Too long in my opinion. With gas costing what it does these days, I opted to turn the car off instead of idling for so long.

When it was our turn to order, the woman on the other end of the speaker seemed to know less about the menu then I did. I decided to try fries with our dog and wondered how much larger the large was. To that she replied, “The large has more fries.” Oh, thanks. No help there. I went for the small with our all beef hot dog and the same toppings as the other places. But I was already feeling iffy about this one.

When we finally got to the window. The cashier had the wrong total and was confused. When I asked how much the hot dog by itself cost, she said, “I don’t know we just raised the prices. I don’t eat hot dogs anyway.” Not reassuring. The total ended up being $4.03. The dog itself, according to the receipt, was $2.35 plus tax. We exchanged money for the food and drove off to eat in the parking lot to chow down.

We opened up the bag and the hot dog packaging, to find ingredients oozing all over the place. The bun was super-soaked and soggy. I was not expecting much when I bit in at this point. It did not have the beauty of the first dog or the flame-broiled smell of the second. I took a bite and was pleasantly surprised. It wasn’t as good as the first two, but it tasted much better than it looked. You could tell that this one was just thrown together by people who don’t take much pride in their work. There was too much of the overly sweet onions and relish... ironically making this drive-thru joint the only place where the dog isn’t driver friendly.

With the sogginess of our dog and down right bad service, the Dog Haus is now in our doghouse. We may go back to try their breakfast burritos, which are supposed to be great. But, we heard all that before. That’s for another time and another article.

Overall, the mini road trip to Flagstaff’s most acclaimed hot dog spots proved that Primo’s lived up to its name. It’s the priciest dog, but it’s also the best one. We’ll definitely be stopping back in next time we’re in the mood for a classic Chicago experience. Mountain Top Dogs comes in at a solid second in taste but it’s probably the best of the three places we tried to take the family for dogs.

For more photos from these hotdog joints, go HERE.