Bill Cianci's (Mostly) Burger Reviews: The Beach Haven Fishery: The Picnic Dog

Where: Beach Haven Fishery, Long Beach Island, NJ

What: The Picnic Dog

Build: 1/4 lb Schickhaus griddle frank, white cheddar cheese, 6 slices bologna, fried white onion, sliced tomato, mayo, mustard, fried pickles, toasted potato roll.

Comment: My weekly trip to the BHF was again, a culinary fiesta. It's been a while since the lunch special sandwich came from the culinary genius of Chef Jude and today he delivered in a big way. This hot dog is called the "picnic dog' because it delivers all the best flavors of a picnic in one sandwich. I can't put my finger on which ingredient was best, or most predominant, but there was nothing overpowering and at the same time, none of the flavors were in the background, they were all just there at the same time making my taste buds go nuts all at once. This is one of those sandwiches that has just the right ingredients and consequently makes the sandwich take on an entirely different flavor than you'd expect. It all started with splitting the dog down the middle without cutting all the way through, creating a pocket for the cheese. Then the dog was wrapped Texas Tommy style, only instead of using bacon, Chef Jude used bologna. Genius. After careful wrapping with toothpicks to hold it all together, this tubular meat rocket resembling something in need of a circumcision, was thrust into the deep fryer (of course). While the dog was cooking, a large potato hot dog roll was toasted, then lathered with mayo and 3 slices of fresh tomato and some fried white onion. The dog was placed on top and covered with fried pickles that Chef Jude diced. The top got a traditional squirt of mustard and the rest was history. Hands down a 10/10. One bite and the cheese seemed to ooze from everywhere. The fried onion contrasted with the fresh tomato and mayo on the bottom of the roll yet they complimented each other perfectly and while the meat took on a creaminess from the cheese, the fried bologna was crispy and full of flavor. The deep fried battered pickles tasted like some crazy crouton relish and all these flavors were hitting me at the same time.... sensory overload my friends.... again, you need to get to the BHF. There is amazing stuff going on there. Tomorrow's special is a surf and turf burger... that's all chef Pat would tell me about it....