Welcome to
Brandi's Worlds Famous
Hot Dog
Brandi's Worlds Famous
Hot Dog
1377 Church Street Ext NE
Marietta, GA 30060
Cobb County
770-422-3681
Re:Betty's W.F.H.D's now Brandi’s W.F.H.D's
"Courtesy of Scott Sapp"
aka GA Guru
aka Chili Dog King Cock-a-boo-boo of Georgia
Come to find out Betty moved on bout three years back but the place hasn't changed all that much if at
all, ‘cepting the sign over the door which now welcomes patrons to Brandi’s W.F.H.D's. The building
looks like a bus stop lunch counter from the 1940's. I suspect it may have been. The building's that old
if it's a day. The street has encroached upon the site leaving the front window within arms reach of asphalt.
The big glass windows offer a street scene up close and personal. Across the busy Church Street road front
lies the main line of the Norfolk Southern railroad. It’s busy as ever as freight cars and grain toaters
rumble by easily within ear shot of Brandi’s front counter. What Domilese's is to the Lower Garden District
in New Orleans Brandi’s is to the lower middle class of Marietta 's square. The lunch counter forms a big U
open at he back with fryers, chili dog prep tables, and a huge chili station in the center. Three cook/waitresses
scurry around the center each trying not to notice those seated at the out lying three tables against the
front windows. Drinks are self serve with that good chewable pellet ice. Wife Ginny would have loved the
fountain drink service. It was at least 20 years old maybe older. A picture of Betty serving a dough boy
a chili dog hung on the wall behind the fountain dispenser. There was nothing new about this place. What
was here had been here, was bought to last a while, and had. I sat on a stool that I am sure some Gene Autry
fan had waxed nostalgic upon. If you listened carefully you could hear Roy Rogers yodel. He was the king of
the cowboys you know. A chili dog at Brandi’s comes one of two ways. The red cyclamate loaded wiener is
laid in a mustarded bun then topped with minced onions, a ladle of wet thin meaty chili topped, then
served. This is one action. All in one smooth action that is repeated before the customer countless times
while we gorged on seismic hot chili dogs. They are both stove hot and pepper hot. It’s not jalapeño but
red rooster hot. About 50 50 according to my calculations.
My lips were numb by the time we left. Momma only had one and will be well into her next life I am sure before she returns. Brother Bill had one with onion rings. He was non committable but had to be roasting along with me.
For the other variety of chili dog served at Brandi’s repeat the same motion as in the old reliable but take a spoon and smear a mayonnaise heavy inch of slaw atop the chili dog. Brandi must sell a lot of these as she never once stopped making them as we sat there eating lunch.
Another funny sidelight here is that across the counter from us under it and out of site sat the kitchen's
trash. All three ladies working in the kitchen kept throwing things into the can from all over their work
station. All aimed directly at me. I ducked a time or two. One time as my hands rose to protect my face
from a hand full of French fries headed my way in a hurry it provoked a hardy laugh from the other ladies
as they chuckled over me thinking that they were throwing at me. Hardy har har was about all I could offer
up as a defense as they continued right on chucking things in my direction as if had I not wanted the show
I would have sat else where. While we were eating a train ambled by on tracks near enough to help your
digestion along. A funny thing happened when it did. Large iron official rail road crossing gates with
flashing red lights lowered the gates blocking both the entrance and the exit to Brandi’s. These had been
installed a long time ago by the Southern railroad. I had never thought in my wildest dreams that they were
actually working. But they did and blocked all entrance or exit from Brandi’s as the train passed. It was
the most unique free accessory I have ever seen in a restaurant. Had I not seen it with my own eyes I’d have
never believed it. As we finished up and paid our tab Brandi showed the contest she was running to design a
new tee shirt for the place. I showed her the one Bill had brought me from Willie’s Wee Nee Wagon in Brunswick.
Suitably impressed she made a few notes. The chili was churning in my belly now. That stuff lit me up it was so
hot. I can't imagine eating a third chili dog here with out a cast iron stomach. It was real good though. Some
places chili dogs are like that. You just have to learn is all. It’s a respect kind of thing. I should have
known after the first but it's always that way. Like looking at the other half of one of those giant subway
sandwiches when you’re full from eating the first side. I always march right on through the other side too.
We had arrived at Brandi’s early, about 11:00. The place was filling up as we left twenty five minutes later. Any
place I can eat lunch in 25 minutes is my kind of place. It was fun watching them prepare chili dogs.
Almost as much fun as watching first this one then another walk through the door and order. One patron
would order three with slaw another would hold the onions. The largest order and customer I might add needed five.
I wanted to be sure we had gone before that fifth one hit home. That’s all that's on the menu though.
Hot dogs are it unless you want to count onion rings, chips and fries. It was a good fountain coke too.
I wonder if the chili recipe has changed much in the past 50 years? After lunch we rode out to Kennesaw
Mountain battlefield and sat on a cannon as the chili rumbled though us. I could have used that railroad
yard arm about then. Momma said she bet that was the first three dollar tip that girl had ever gotten. I
bet she wasn't far wrong either.
With the help of both Hot Dog Vendor (merchant) and the Hot Dog connoisseur.
This site will be the NUMBER 1 HOT DOG VENDOR DIRECTORY. Location
and getting the word out is the most difficult task.
With the help of volunteers to add to the list of vendors and decribe the great
spots to grab a quality Hot Dog.
THIS FORM
will give me information to list
vendors on the web. All hot dog carts, wagons, trucks, stands, etc. throughout
the country are welcome. Pictures of past and present hot dog businesses would
be returned if requested.
Email us your information - info@thegourmetchilidog.com
Please include business name, address, city/town,
county, state & website link.
The Gourmet Chili Dog
120 Brookline Avenue
Somerset, NJ 08873
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