Botsky’s

Danny Garrett Thursday, April 20, 2017 Comments Off on Botsky’s
Botsky’s

104 W Pujo St, Lake Charles • 337-491-1155

By Danny Garrett

I’m not sure you’ve ever wondered what the mammalian symbol imprinted on Botsky’s storefront and the restaurant’s merchandise represents. I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t. You were probably too busy enjoying one of their delicious hot dogs or hamburgers. If there were to be contemplation, it would be on the food, not elsewhere.

The symbol on Botsky’s koozies and t-shirts is a “jackalope.” The animal’s a mythical breed — half jackrabbit, half antelope.

The creator of Botsky’s, Michael Krajicek, thought it would be the perfect symbol for a hot dog restaurant, given the animal’s unique features.

Some might think a hot dog restaurant is a contradiction in terms. The hot dog’s connotation is entwined with street or ball park food. Many would argue hot dogs should stay there. Krajicek disagreed.

Botsky’s is now under new management by the trio of Matthew McGlathery, Israel Lowery and Andrew Green (1910), which feels the same way. For them, hot dogs can be specialties, paired well with Steen’s reduction sauce and “Cajunkraut,” and with a local Crying Eagle brew to wash it all down.

I considered the jackalope to be the perfect symbol for a vegetarian dining in at a hotdog restaurant. But that’s the wrong move. A vegetarian or vegan eating at Botsky’s needs to be normalized and stereotype-shattering, as members of this dietary group also reminisce of food served in the Astrodome, or — if they were lucky enough to travel that far — fare served on the Boardwalk at Coney Island.

Now that hot dogs are being transformed into specialty items, count them in.

Luckily, Botsky’s has thought of vegetarians. They haven’t been excluded from the process of enjoying a delicious dog with their fellow meat eaters.

Of course, the vegetarian’s meal is a little different — but in a good way. Botsky’s offers the Smoked Apple Sage hot dog for vegetarians, or, really, for anyone who wants to switch their meal to meatless for dietary or religious purposes. We’re still in the Lenten season, after all.

The hot dog combines apples and sage in a foundation of Yukon gold potatoes topped off with a hint of hickory smoke. The idea comes from Field Roast, a Washington state company, that specializes in vegan sausage. Botsky’s Smoked Apple Sage hot dog reminds me of another of Field Roast’s sausages — the Mexican Chipotle — a spicy blend of smoked Chipotle peppers, Chili de arbol peppers, chopped garlic and sweet onions — all seasoned with cumin and oregano.

Vegetarians shouldn’t feel out of place at Botsky’s in the first place. The original hot dogs were an amalgamation, a patchwork, of different meats — so vegetarians should feel right at home eating a diverse combination of vegetables and herbs in the shape of a link.

The great thing about the Smoked Apple Sage hot dog is that you don’t have to stop with the vegan link. You have your choice of bread — wheat or sourdough — and your choice of various vegetables and condiments to place on top. I’d say, go to town. Be creative.

There’s much to choose from. For the vegetables: onions, avocado, Cajunkraut, mushrooms, sweet relish and jalapeno. For the cheeses: swiss, cheddar, mozzarella, pepper jack and feta.

For the condiments, of course, you can choose your run-of-the-mill ketchup, mustard and mayo. But try mixing it up. Go with Creole mustard instead. Your condiments choice, at times, may be mood-dependent and hinge on what your taste buds crave at a given moment. Fortunately, there are still more choices when it comes to souping up your veggie dog: barbecue, sriracha, chipotle, teriyaki or Steen’s reduction sauce.

The other excellent quality about Botsky’s is that vegetarians can eat more than their veggie dog. A side of sweet potato fries pairs well with the dog; Botsky’s sweet potato fries are so fresh and lightly fried that you can still taste the sweetness of the original sweet potato.

Botsky’s carries many local brews, so you have more than a few beer choices that will combine well with your meal; these range from Crying Eagle to Ragin’ Cajuns and from LA-31 Biere Pale to Parish Canebrake. Don’t worry. Botsky’s has Abita, too. And if you’re searching for something non-alcoholic, Botsky’s has Abita Root Beer, which you, as an adult, or the kids can enjoy.

Finally, let’s say you’re at Botsky’s and you’re not in the mood for a hot dog. That’s fine. Vegetarians can also order the fried egg sandwich on sourdough bread. Well done or runny — with cheddar or with Swiss — you can’t go wrong with this comfort food. The sourdough bun is sweet and fluffy and slightly grilled; it’s a beautiful and tasty composition in line with the fresh and textured fried egg.

Botsky’s is located on 104 W. Pujo St. It’s open from 11 am-8 pm Monday-Saturday and 10:30 am-2 pm on Sunday. Stop in for a meal or order on Waitr.

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