 |
Hot Dog Safari
May 7, 2016
The 26th annual Phantom Gourmet Hot Dog Safari will take place on Saturday, May 7, 2016 at Lansdowne Street next to Fenway Park. The Safari is an all-you-can-eat hot dog event, with other foods available, and provides a lot of kid-friendly family entertainment. Beverages are not included in the entrance price. Proceeds from the Hot Dog Safari benefit the Joey Fund which is helping to find a cure for cystic fibrosis. Tickets are $10 in advance online, or $15 at the event if not sold out. Kids 12 or younger are admitted free.
It is expected that 30,000 people will attend this year's Safari, with as many as 150,000 hot dogs consumed. There will be ice cream and other treats available. Some of the vendors that donate their time and products for this event include: Harrow's Chicken Pies, Chop Suey Dogs, Fuddrucker's (Fudd Dogs), Boston Salad & Prepared Foods (NY Style Beef Dogs), Richardson's Dairy Fresh Ice Cream, Gold Medal Bakery, The Sausage Guy, Windy City Dogs & More (Chicago Dogs), Friendly's Ice Cream, and Krave Jerky.
Children's entertainment in previous safaris include blow-up air-filled amusements such as a moon walk trampoline, green monster obstacle course, basketball hoops, and a large slide. There may be a vendor providing temporary tattoos. In 2016, the New England Revolution Soccor team Rev Girls are scheduled to provide entertainment. Lots of ice cream and cotton candy will be provided for the kids.
Why is it called the Hot Dog Safari? The original event took place in 1989 and was hosted by local sports personality Eddie Andelman. Participants toured around in buses in search of the best hot dogs in Boston, almost like a caravan or safari and hence the name. After nineteen years, the Safari was taken over by Phantom Gourmet, which is a venture started by Andelman's sons. Phantom Gourmet does secret reviews of local restaurants and produces a TV show with the results. The show often showcases the most decadent, high-calorie, and gluttonous foods conceivable. Phantom Gourmet also hosts a food festival each year on Lansdowne Street next to Fenway Park.
Funds from the Hot Dog Safari benefit The Joey Fund to help find a cure for cystic fibrosis. CF is caused by a defective gene which makes the body produce abnormally thick and sticky mucus. This mucus builds up in the breathing passages of the lungs, and in the pancreas which is the organ that helps the body to break down and absorb food. The congestion of mucus causes life-threatening lung infections and serious digestion problems. Most children are diagnosed by age two. A small number are not diagnosed until age 18 or older, and these people usually have a milder form of the disease. Both parents must carry the defective gene for the disease to be passed down to an offspring.
Family-fun with lots of food will prevail at the Hot Dog Safari, and the event also supports a great cause!
Contact Information & Address:
Phantom Gourmet Hot Dog Safari
Lansdowne Street, Boston, MA 02215
hotdogsafari.phantomgourmet.com
