REVIEWS

Matt's Hot Dogs are the Real Thing

by Renae Breider and Sheila Sleet, Citizen staff reporters
- taken from the Northshore Citizen Food Section ('Matt's hot dogs are the real thing') May 15, 1996

At first we weren't sure about the assignment to review Matt's Famous Chili Dogs, a recently established hot dog stand at Country Village.

After all, hot dogs, macaroni and cheese and Kool-Aid were all great when we were younger, but our tastes have moved on. And, then there are all those nasty rumors about hot dog ingredients.

We even recruited our photographer and editor to taste test, just in case we couldn't stomach the dogs.

But when we brought the loot back to the office, we, doubters in the beginning, gorged ourselves on the amazingly good hot dogs.

Along with other office staff, we gobbled up every last crumb of our chili dogs, Chicago-style dogs and tamales.

Matt's hot dogs, which are made of lean brisket and contain no fillers, were a cut above the hot dogs we remembered from our childhoods. The stand's namesake, the chili dog, is considered Matt's most popular item.

Served with a natural casing and smothered in a mild meat sauce, the hot dog is said to "snap" when you bit into it. The dog was great, but like many of the stand's offerings, it's not for an obsessively tidy eater.

The stand also offers a hot dog loaded with mustard, onions, sweet relish, tomato, dill pickle and celery salt - Chicago style. We were impressed with this colorful hot dog before we even took our first bite.

The Chicago-style dog can be made with a regular hot dog, a slightly spicy Polish sausage, or a "hot, but not homicidal" fire dog.

Although hot dogs and tamales aren't often found on the same menu, they are at Matt's. Matt's famous tamale includes ground beef surrounded by a corn meal masa, and is topped with sauce, onions, cheese and tomato.

Even our ravenous photographer couldn't finish two of the generously proportioned tamales.

The most expensive item on the menu is the tamale at $2.75, and the hot dogs range from $2 to $2.60, a bargain considering the quality of the ingredients used.

Matt's hot dog stand is an unexpected find at Country Village - most businesses offer gifts and crafts or sit down dining.

Although there are outdoor picnic tables outside of the stand, there is no inside dining. This means dining al fresco is dependent on the weather, and dining inside means ordering to go.

Owner and Bothell resident Matt Jones is a serious hot dog restaurateur. His meats are delivered from both New York and Chicago, where Jones believes the highest quality hot dog meats are found.

We enjoyed the owner's tongue-in-cheek humor. Along with several discount coupons, the menu promises "buy 100 (chili dogs) and get a small drink with a lot of ice for half price."

Judging by the office's reaction to Matt's dogs, we just might be able to take him up on the offer.

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