The Chip-Acabra – Eric Lockwood
Eric Lockwood’s ‘The Chip-Acabra’ Squares off Against ‘Joemama’s Picnic by Joe R A Spot on JJ’s Red Hots Winter Specials Menu, Bragging Rights and a $150 Amazon Gift Card on the Line Saturday-Sunday, January 3-4
Charlotte, NC
Just when you thought the holidays were history, JJ’s Red Hots is staging a ‘Comfort and Joy’ Death Match, the result of a tie in its 2nd Annual ’12 Days of Hot Dogs’ contest.
Beginning this Saturday, January 3 thru Sunday, January 4, the Charlotte-based Hot Dog King will let its two finalists have two more Hot Dog days and the winner earns a spot on JJ’s “Winter Specials” menu, a $150 Amazon Gift Card and, of course, bragging rights.
The finalists, each of whom sold 66 Hot Dogs on his dedicated day, and their respective Hot Dog creations are:
The Chip-Acabra by Eric Lockwood
Borracho Beans, Fire-Grilled Salsa, Pickled Jalape?os, Tortilla Strips, Cilantro Lime Crema, Shaved Mexican Chocolate
Joemama’s Picnic by Joe Reeves
Collards, Diced Onion, Cole Slaw, Pork Rinds, Crystal Hot Sauce, Mac & Cheese
Joemama’s Picnic – Joe Reeves
“It’s really no competition. I’m certain of victory,” said Lockwood, the 32-year old Music Director at School of Rock in Charlotte. “The idea of creating food is a passion of mine and winning would be a personal achievement to me. I’ve never won anything like this but I feel my Red Hot is a solid contender.”
During 12 Days of Hot Dogs, JJ’s challenged its fans to submit their most creative Hot Dog. After evaluating hundreds of submissions and judging on dog toppings and dog name creativity, the management team of JJ’s selected 12 and each finalist was given one day to promote and sell his or her Hot Dog. The creations by Lockwood and Reeves were the clear stars. And rather than naming them co-winners, JJ’s decided to challenge them again, this time to a Death Match.
JJ’s, which has swept all of Charlotte’s Best Hot Dog awards in 2014, has always encouraged fan-based recipes as part of its popular Dog of the Week program, which features specially designed and priced Hot Dogs, beginning each Monday. The promotion has been covered widely by the brand’s hometown Charlotte media and was even the subject of a .
“This holiday promotion has been an absolute blast and we just couldn’t let it end this way,” said JJ’s founder Jonathan Luther. “A ‘tie’ just isn’t JJ’s style. A Death Match and one outright winner just feel better. We are very excited for our two finalists and JJ’s guests, who this weekend will ultimately decide one true champion while the other Hot Dog … well … dies.”
About JJ’s Red Hots
JJ’s Red Hots is the premier purveyor of “hand-crafted” char-grilled hot dogs and sausages in the Charlotte metropolitan area and the campus of Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. The restaurant concept is built on solid, hardworking values and is modeled after venerable establishments like Ted’s in Buffalo, NY, Gene and Jude’s in Chicago, and many others. Still, JJ’s is a true American original featuring house-made, scratch prepared sides and toppings served alongside time tested, revered American brands like Tabasco, Weber’s Mustard, Martin’s Rolls, Coca-Cola and Mt. Olive Pickles. Perhaps most proudly, JJ’s Red Hots serves smokehouse hot dogs from Sahlen’s Meat Packing Company in Buffalo, NY. Sahlen’s is a 143 year-old company that remains family owned and operated, and makes, in our opinion, the best hot dogs in the world.
Derek Farley
for JJ’s Red Hots
704-941-7353
Restaurant Franchise OpportunitiesImage and text by Gabrielle. This post is sponsored by .
Hello, Friends. Can you believe I partnered with McDonald’s for this post? Not the typical Design Mom sponsor, right? And before you jump ship all at once, know that when my ad network asked me about working with McDonald’s, my initial response was: no thank you. But I later reconsidered, because once I learned more about what McDonald’s is trying to do, I confess, I was intrigued. And also because I felt hypocritical — I felt like I was pretending I’m never a McDonald’s customer, when actually, from time-to-time, I am.
knows they have a bad rap with moms, and they’re attempting to see if they can upgrade their reputation by making some concrete changes — like being really transparent about the farms , and being incredibly open about their . I don’t know if they’ll be able to reach their #WinningMomsOver goals, but I do have honest opinions about McDonald’s, and they promised me I could speak openly. So here I am. Laying it all out on the table.
Here are my thoughts on McDonald’s in list format — it’s sort of a McDonald’s confessional:
- As I’ve , in France, it wasn’t unusual for us to eat at McDonald’s (see the reasons ), and the restaurants there are viewed differently than they are in the U.S.
- On family road trips, if we’re driving in the morning, McDonald’s breakfast is our preferred meal-on-the-go.
- I remember hearing about my friend Amber, who had a child who was having a hard time falling asleep, so at the spur of the moment, they jumped in the car late at night and went to McDonald’s. I loved hearing that! And I knew it must have made the best memories for that child. I vowed to copy her.
- During the last trimester of my pregnancies, I would consistently have cravings for Quarter Pounders with Cheese (hold the ketchup, please).
- When we lived in New York, one of my most stylish friends, Erin, would come pick up toddler Oscar and take him to McDonald’s with her own son, so I could have some quiet time with baby Betty. Oscar adored these trips to McDonalds! And I remember thinking at the time, that it was so refreshing that my friend openly and un-embarrassingly went to McDonald’s. And she was still cool! At the time, if I ate at McDonald’s, I felt like I had to keep it a secret.
- I think that feeling (of not wanting to admit of ever eating at McDonald’s) is kind of a national one — when my brother was recently traveling in Thailand, he stopped at a McDonald’s and his friend took a photo of him in line and posted it on Facebook with a caption: Caught red-handed!
Seeing someone you know at McDonald’s, or having yourself documented there, can be cause for blushing. My brother is actually quite the foodie, but sometimes McDonald’s is the best, quickest, easiest option.
- In my childhood memory, getting invited to a McDonald’s birthday party was like the crème de la crème of invitations.
- A few years ago, I remember learning about The Ronald McDonald House charities, and also learning about how many steady jobs McDonald’s provides around the world, and there was a moment where my opinion about the company took a big shift. It was this reminder to me that the world is rarely black & white.
- I’m not going to pretend I’ll ever be convinced that eating at McDonald’s is as good eating a home cooked meal made from whole ingredients. But as I mentioned, I do eat there occasionally, and over the years I’ve let the guilt go about eating there. Goodness knows, I can’t pretend I eat well all the time (I’m looking at you entire-bag-0f-sour-patch-kids I ate last night).
But now I’m curious. What’s your take? Do you ever eat at McDonald’s? Or would you ever admit it? : ) Do you feel like the reputation of McDonald’s can change? Is there anything McDonald’s could do that would shift your opinion, or have you sworn them off forever? Is there anyone out there reading my blog that has never eaten at McDonald’s? And lastly, if you don’t eat at McDonald’s, is there another fast food chain you favor? Or do you avoid fast food at all costs? I’d love to hear!
——
Update 9/16: Over ! Thank you everyone for sharing your thoughts, opinions, and points of view. I’ve read every single one — probably twice!
I’m going to close the comment section (though you can still ) because I have to move on to other posts and can’t dedicate the time needed to keep responding to comments. But if you’re dying to weigh in, feel free to
so I can read your thoughts.
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Back to School 2015
Well, hello back to school! Here's a collection of school-themed posts to celebrate this time of year and lend some inspiration.
Make something fun with .
A refresher post on . Use any paper you like — butcher paper, newsprint, even old maps!
Packing lunches? Need inspiration? Here are
— each one with photos and tips, plus packaging suggestions! That’s a whole month’s worth of school days. You’re set!
Free printable! . Four designs: A woman, a man, a fox and a cat.
Make Your Own . Easy tutorial!
Impress your teacher with .
Sweet , for your little reader.
Don't miss these adorable .
The easiest (and most fun!) .
What to put in your .
A guide to .
Here's a link to all of the
— an always needed gift.
Sometimes I write about education-related topics. Here's a link to posts about . And here's a link to posts about .
Here's to the best school year yet!
P.S. — For those of you in the mood to learn something just for you, .
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