Dogged pursuit of spicier classic
THE HUMBLE hot dog is not traditionally known for its explosive flavours but a Surfers Paradise restaurant has been busy reinventing the family favourite.
The Shiraz Moderna Upmarket Persian Take Away shop on Cavill Ave has added a Persian twist to the humble ’dogs, loading them up with authentic Persian- recipe sausages and vegetables before slathering them in smoky melted cheese and a secret sauce.
Co-owner Erfan Jalilian said the reason behind the exotic twist was to feed the Coast’s appetite for multicultural food.
“We thought the market was filled with the same food, Italian, Mexican, burgers,” he said.
“What we’re lacking are Persian food and spices, like ... turmeric, cumin, saffron, and herbs like mint.”
He said the hot dogs each had a unique ingredient, such as the Tickle a Pickle’s Persian-style pickles that were more salty than sweet.
“We tried to just add a bit of soul to our food,” Mr Jalilian said. “So far we’ve had very good feedback.”
There are three hot dogs available: the Tickle a Pickle, the Silk Road Explorer and Ta-Bull-Dog.