Have a Dog, Meet a Hawk
Seattle, WA – Come and join us for a delicious wiener and meet a winner!! Darryl Tapp defensive end of the Seattle Seahawks will make a guest appearance at Capitol Hill’s new gourmet hot dog joint; Po Dog, on Friday (November 20th) from 3:30-5:00pm. Po Dog opened last week with much fan fare, offering unique toppings like an eggroll wrapped 100% all beef hot dog drizzled with a Wasabi aioli or a deep fried bacon wrapped dog covered in sautéed onions and chili paste. 10% of profits will be donated to the Darryl Tapp Foundation.
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Laura Olson, 25, the founder of Po Dog and first time restaurateur left the field of technology recruiting to open her 1100 sqft digs on Capitol Hill.
Why hot dogs? “I was watching employment tumble everyday at my job, seeing the effects of mass layoffs and increased downsizing” “(I was) always interested in food service after spending four years in a variety of positions in Las Vegas, I saw this downturn was sending people back to the basics in every since, what was more basic and more American than the hot dog. I spent most of my childhood moving around the country and world with my family, the one constant was hot dogs”
How did you come up with the unusual offerings? “even as people were slowing their spending and adjusting their leisure activities, quality was still paramount, I had to offer an excellent product created with the best ingredients “ Po Dog is here to provide a meal out of a hot dog, not just a snack. Our toppings may sound “strange” or even weird but they have tested flavor combinations that accent the hot dog eating experience”
What inspired the décor of your new “joint” on Capitol Hill? “I put my trust in my architects (Seattle firm Pb Elemental), I wanted something that was true to the neighborhood, the building (an old auto-repair shop) and simple but unusual like my wieners”
We have seen your ads; they are also not your standard. A little racy? “Our advertising has been very limited mostly social media. The ads themselves are all in fun, hot dogs are naturally going to become a butt of a joke (or wiener). We are offering fun foods in a fun environment so it seems fitting”
Po Dog is located at 1009 E Union Street, in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood.
High Res images and additional information available upon request
Dog Days-New Gourmet restaurant opens on Capitol Hill by first time Restaurateur
November 11th 2009, Press Release - While her friends and co-workers were being laid off left and right, Laura Olson, 25 decided to take a risky and unique path. She quit her job as a recruiter and began the full time planning of Seattle’s first gourmet hot dog joint, Po Dog. Working all hours of the day and night, Ms. Olson created a substantial business plan. Inspired by hot dog institutions like Pinks in L.A., Laura spent the first few months researching, tasting and thinking everything hot dog. Her next struggle was finding the capital required to open a business in the worst lending environment in recent history. She ran into road block after road block and turned down at every door. But she persevered and was finally able to interest investors and raise the capital required. She was ready to embark on her new venture.
First, she hired local modernists Pb elemental to design her space inside a vacant Auto Battery shop in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. The design of the 1100 sq ft interior and storefront in Capitol Hill (Seattle) is based on the desire to offer something as unique as the owner’s toppings (ranging from peanut butter and bananas to deep fried egg roll wrapped wasabi dogs) and a desire to leave everything in the open. A 30’ Caesaerstone counter is the centerpiece of the 16' wide restaurant, housing the open kitchen and bar area. The bar is clad in wainscoting and lined with white bar stools. Built-in mahogany plywood seating lines the back half of the restaurant along with Lyptus community tables. A twelve foot tall pixilated photograph of Olson’s pet pug hangs at the end of the tables watching over the customers as they eat. The original fir beams and concrete block wall were sandblasted and exposed to regain the original character. A series of framed 8'x4' mirrors line the western walls, reflecting the Thug Stripe wallpaper (a blend of colt 45's, bullets and floral print). A 4' wide vertical lift window allows Po Dog to open up to its patio in the summer as well as provides access for deliveries. Next, Laura planned Po Dog's menu with input from local culinary celebrity Josh Henderson, founder of Skillet street food.
After managing the construction of her space for four months, Laura is set to open this Saturday. November 14th. Her menu features twelve signature gourmet hot dogs all on Macrina brioche buns, including the Deep Fried Danger Dog (bacon wrapped, deep fried), Texas Dog (Tillamook cheddar cheese, homemade onion crisps and mesquite BBQ sauce), Wasabi Egg roll Dog (deep fried roll wrapped dog, covered in a wasabi aioli) and the Dub’T Dog (crushed potato chips and cheese sauce) to name a few.
See more of Po Dog @ www.podogs.com and www.elementalarchitecture.com
