Five SF Restaurants Throw a Hot Dog Party for Democracy

Summer may be over, but the hot dog trend is still on a tear, because not only does Fort Point have a hot dog menu! And not only has Trick Dog started selling hot dogs to the sidewalk! But, because, Scandinavian destination Kantine and swanky Cal-Chinese spot Mister Jiu’s are hosting their very own hot dog party, too. And this time, with the general election less than a month away, the dogs are getting political.

This particular hot dog social is called Dawgs for Democracy, a special, two day event that stars best-in-show dogs from five local restaurants. On Sunday, October 11, the dogs will be barking at Mister Jiu’s, taking over a charming adjacent alley at Waverley Place. Then on Monday, October 12, the pack is running over to Kantine, and stretching out on the wide sidewalk of upper Market Street.

Kantine

Mister Jiu’s

“I’ve done some hot dog pop-ups in the past, and they were always a smashing success,” Kantine’s Nichole Accettola tells Eater SF. She started brainstorming with Brandon Jew (Mister Jiu’s) about how they could do something positive during shelter-in-place. The idea evolved into a multi-restaurant festival, with the proceeds are going to Dine for Democracy, a local nonprofit that supports five different grassroots organizations, led by youth and communities of color, working to get out the vote before the looming election.

Accettola is quick to say that the event and the organization it hopes to fund aren’t affiliated with any political party. But she also says she’s been inspired by Zuni Cafe, and how openly they’ve talked politics, challenging the boundaries of how restaurants should use their platforms, particularly during this tumultuous year.

In terms of toppings, she says, “some could be Chinese inspired, and some could be Scandinavian, and we could really make something fun. Hot dogs carry over to so many different cultures … and you can customize them in endless ways. They’re a big crowd pleaser. So we thought, why not? Dogs for democracy.”

There are four dogs each day, one per participating restaurant. Here’s the lineup:

• Yo Tambien Cantina: Choripán Venezualan-style dog, pickled jalapeño and cucumber relish, pickled red onions, cabbage slaw, cilantro, crumbled queso fresco (Sunday only)
• The Progress: Double-smoked pork dog, kimchi, bonito-rosemary mayo, togarashi milk bun (Monday only)
• Lion Dance Cafe: Shaobing five-spice yuba dog, Chinese hot mustard, pickled peppers, herbs, peanut-chili crunch, sesame bun
• Mister Jiu’s: Xinjiang-spiced lamb dog, hot chiles, sweet peppers, cumin flatbread
• Kantine: Trout dog, seaweed remoulade, crispy onions, fermented potato bun

Kantine is known for its Scandinavian-style baked goods, so it also couldn’t resist putting out a “dream” coconut cake, a homey yellow cake topped with thickly caramelized coconut. And the Progress will be bringing their soothing peanut milk, which they say inspires world peace. The events will also serve cool canned wine from Scribe and Brock and local craft beer from Moonlight.

If hot dogs are a presidential candidate you can get behind, preorders are available through Tock for Sunday at Mister Jiu’s and Monday at Kantine, timed on the hour, to space out the party flow.