Sumo Dog in Koreatown Welcomes Jeremy Fall's Latest Creation
[Reads description out loud]
Bacon-wrapped pork sausage, with peanut butter mole, sambal-sesame salsa, pickled papaya, and wasabi furikake, topped with cilantro on a potato roll.
[Pauses]
“Peanut butter?”
I rubbed my eyes like a cartoon character in hopes that I was seeing things. With my contact lenses un-blurred and well adjusted, the words were still there: peanut butter. Who would put peanut butter on a hot dog, willingly, even if it were as a mole? Even if I were being held hostage and my captors gave me the choice of my form of torture, cutting off a toe or forcing me to eat peanut butter on a hot dog, I wouldn’t hesitate. In that scary of a situation I would only have one question, “Which toe?” Hopefully it would be the pinky toe because everyone knows that one is just for decoration.
Although the addition of peanut butter didn’t win me over when reading the description, one name served as a caveat to the whole scenario: Jeremy Fall. The celebrity restaurateur and mastermind behind the infectious dishes served late night at Nighthawk: Breakfast Bar in Venice was now serving the limited time hot dog, the J-Fall ($9), at Sumo Dog in Koreatown and it came with peanut butter. As much as it confused every part of my brain, I slowly became intrigued. It didn’t take long after recalling the food he serves for me to be swayed into taking a trip to Sumo Dog in Koreatown and ordering the item.
With a bit of apprehension wrapped with anxiety, I stared at the J-Fall now sitting in my hand. Before I knew it, the warm scent began to make its way across my face and entice me to take a bite. As much as I wanted to resist, the sight of the piping hot bacon only persuaded my face closer. As my guard was slowly taken down, I dove into the hot dog unsure of what was to come. As my mouth inched near to it each synapse in my brain quickly sparked with the warning, “Danielle, there’s meat on that peanut butter!” Or should that be said the other way around? Regardless, my levels of resistance were fading and I could now longer stop myself from myself. What I quickly found was a single hot dog that was more impressive and surprising than I gave it credit.
A few bites in and I realized I overreacted just a smidge.
The hot dog, contrary to my initial belief, was delicious. Fall was able to team up with Sumo Dog to put a creative spin on the American classic. What is ordinary at any sporting event has unique attributes and flavor notes here thanks to Fall. The soft roll and snap of the sausage are basic expectations of a hot dog, but Fall amplifies it with his culinary creativity. The rich accents of the salsa, furikake, and papaya take your tastes buds on an almost international journey through influences of Thailand and Indonesia. Throwing in the mole with a Mexican flare ended up being my favorite component. Instead of it coming across heavy and overwhelming like it would on a sandwich while you’re watching Big Bad Beetleborgs in middle school, the peanut butter mole gave an almost informal introduction to the dog that blended well as a unifier to its associating ingredients. It was noticeable without being overbearing and it was flavorful without being ostentatious. Ultimately, it was a smart and delicious move!
As much as I resisted the incorporation of peanut butter to a hot dog, I am pleased I was wrong about it. I’m glad I went against my initial judgement and gave the dog a try because it was such a pleasant surprise that I wanted another. Finishing off the one in my hand, I stared at the team behind the counter hoping they would start another, make a mistake, and have to give it to me. “I don’t care if it fell on the floor, I’ll eat it!” Ok, that didn’t happen but I thought the hell out of it. Instead, I simply licked the wrapping until it was clean imagining the hot dog the entire time. It was official, I was hooked.
The J-Fall will be available at Sumo Dog in Koreatown from March 15th to March 28th, 2018 so I highly suggest you try it before it’s gone!
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Address: 4208, 516 S. Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90020
Phone: (213) 375-7755
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday – 11:30am to 12:00am and Closed on Monday
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