Odd Dawgz Satisfies Lust for Savory Dog

Capitalizing on America’s longstanding lust for a savory dog, Tad and Shirley Halladay have opened their gourmet hot dog takeout joint, Odd Dawgz, next to Sisters Market in downtown Sisters.

Serving up an old-fashioned menu of hot-off-the-grill quarter-pound, all-beef franks and seasoned Polish sausages with all the fixins’ is sure to lure mobs of hungry summer diners.   They’ve appropriately branded their classic cuisine as “Hot Dogs With An Attitude,” and are glad to be a part of the local dining scene.

To accompany these meaty masterpieces, the Halladays have concocted a simple menu that includes natural kettle chips, icy beverages and famous Sugar Mama’s Sugar Shop Cookies.

“We moved to Sweet Home about six years from California,” said Tad.  “I was a deputy sheriff in Stockton, California for my whole career and retired back in 2007.  We relocated to Oregon where we first bought a condo out on Foster Lake.  We really like it over there but love Sisters too and travel back and forth to the Bend and Sisters area and had always wanted to open something over here.”

The Halladays currently commute three days a week from Sweet Home then stay the other four days at a nearby friend’s house.

Tad’s wife Shirley is the baking specialist in the family with her Sugar Mama’s Sugar Shop Cookies, cooking up warm batches for community events, fairs and functions with their daughter, Misty.   On a cloudy afternoon this week, Shirley’s trays were loaded with three different flavors hot from the oven: Chocolate-chip macadamia nut, oatmeal raisin and peanut butter.

They chose Sisters for their new business venture because they like the community’s hometown appeal and the walking traffic it provides.

“We saw there were no gourmet hot dog places in Sisters we could find.  So it’s a great place for us.  The people are just nice and friendly here.  Plus, there are lots of town events and realized this would be a perfect location to test-market our product this summer.”

Not out to completely reinvent the beloved frankfurter, Odd Dawgz does have a few tempting tricks up its culinary sleeve.

“Our basic menu we serve is Polish dogs and all-beef hot dogs on our home-baked buns,” Tad explained.  “We have three hot mustards to choose from: a brown, a Dijon and a milder, basic yellow.  Then we slather on the special dog sauce that has a sweet, smoky flavor.  For toppings, we have onions, sauerkraut, banana peppers, jalapeno peppers, peach-mango salsa, dill pickle spears and we’re going to be introducing grilled onions shortly.  We carry natural sea salt kettle chips and barbecue kettle chips with all your favorite Pepsi products to wash it down with. “

So what exactly is the secret behind Odd Dawgz mouthwatering hot dogs?  It’s all in the grillin’.

“Well, we split them in a diamond pattern and that creates more surface area for caramelization when we grill them.  Then we add gourmet sauces and smoky barbecue sauce livened up to our taste.”

Tad is convinced once Sisters gets a flavorful bite of these soon-to-be-legendary dogs, the satisfied smiles will be evident.

“There’s gonna be a crowd once the weather gets warmer and summer finally kicks in, that’s for sure,” he jokes.  “Wait and see.   We want to be able to handle customers quickly so we kept the menu as simple as possible.  We’re not a New York dog, we’re not a Chicago dog, we’re a Sisters dog.  Shirley and I are very excited to be here and are looking forward to a fun, fantastic summer.”

Odd Dawgz is located in the heart of downtown Sisters off Cascade Avenue right beside Sisters Market.  They’re open every day except Sunday, unless major events like the Sisters Quilt Show, Sisters Folk Festival or Rodeo Weekend are running, when the dogs will be sizzling on Sundays as well.

Currently, store hours are 11am-6:30pm with extended evening hours to be determined once summer hits.  For more info find them on Facebook or call 209-595-9655.