Words by Samantha Harman
www.filthyhotdog.co.uk
North Laine Brewhouse pub, East Street Tap Brighton, now houses Filthy Dog in their upstairs space, but just how filthy are those dogs? Our editor went to find out.
The rise of the humble hot dog is something of a surprise. Gone are the days when you can only buy them from (sometimes questionable) daytime vendors while worrying about their contents. It’s safe to say the dog is enjoying a moment on the culinary scene and that’s exactly why I was chomping at the bit to try Filthy Dog at East Street Tap in Brighton, by former fine dining chef Issac. Hot dogs made by a fine dining chef, that can only be good, right?
I made my way down to EST where Filthy Dog resides in the upstairs area. We sat and perused the menu and were blown away by how many UberEats orders were flying out of the kitchen while we waited. This boded well.
We ordered a chilli dog, a cheese dog, some cheese fries, some mac and cheese (spot the theme) and for healthiness sake some of the homemade slaw.
The absolute star of the show for me are the cheese fries. I have searched long and hard for the cheese fries of dreams and at last I have found them. Classic French fries smothered in signature Filthy Dog cheddar sauce (warm), 24-month aged Parmesan and crispy onions. This side dish is the ultimate comfort food, in fact I loved them so much I ordered more the following night through Uber.
Now, onto the main dish. If you are expecting a thick hot dog sausage, you will be disappointed. The sausages are similar in circumference to a chipolata, but are very tasty. Clearly good quality ingredients have been used to make them, but I feel you may want to double up as there are many mouthfuls of delightful fluffy hot dog bun and a generous amount of toppings to get through. For me, it just needed more sausage which is the key player in a hot dog. FYI, you can add an extra sausage for £3…
If you are a fan of mac and cheese then this is also one for the hit list. Tender macaroni is topped with the aforementioned Parmesan and warm, oozy cheese sauce topped off with crunchy croutons. The dish passed the stringy cheese test while also delivering on flavour.
Final dish, the slaw. It was crunchy and fresh and gave respite from the carb/cheese fest. Featuring white cabbage, pickled apple and toasted caraway seeds, this dish isn’t heavy on mayonnaise either.
I’d definitely recommend visiting, or ordering in – the cheese fries are a symphony of gorgeousness that cannot be passed by. There are also vegan and gluten free options meaning no one leaves hungry.
