Tradition — and foot-long hot dogs — alive and well at Burlington’s Easterbrook’s
My dear sweet dad used to handle the BBQ with great zeal if not great skill. Most everything came off the grill blackened, yet I often find myself craving a charred red hot. I've not bothered to replicate the experience at home. Technically I only crave one hot dog and have no interest in being burdened with leftover mismatched wieners and buns.
Instead, I headed for that longstanding home of (unburnt) 12" hot dogs - Easterbrook's. The journey is rewarded with classic food and once you begin to chat with the owners - great stories!
Blake Easterbrook is the current top dog" at the eatery, great-grandson of Mabel Easterbrook who began the enterprise in 1926 as a tea house which, by 1930, evolved into a hot dog eatery. Blake describes her as a smart businesswoman and he's always had the place in his blood. Having completed his business degree, Blake was happy to assume leadership after his father, Ray, retired. Mabel ran the business for 17 years through a depression and two wars. Blake's grandmother, Irene, took over for 30 years and his father had the longest run so far of 42 years.
For years they have used hot dogs from Schneider's - another longstanding business established in 1890. Choose from 22 hot dog options, some spicy, some not and many with fun names. I went with the Hound Dog - topped with melted aged cheddar and peameal bacon. My guest chose the Reuben Dog - topped with melted cheese, mustard and sauerkraut. They were both flavour bombs triggering taste memories. Easterbrook's make their own chili con carne which is featured in several hot dogs. How the dogs are prepared is, according to Ray, a secret but some fans have told me that this year they are tasting better than ever.
Ray said his grandmother was always on the lookout for how to improve business, so she would likely give a thumbs up on efforts to serve changing tastes. Easterbrook's offers veggie dogs and sausages, homemade no-filler burgers, and recently added grilled chicken to the menu. For kiddies, there are pogos and chicken nuggets. From a menu of six choices, we also ordered a Cheddar Burger - a smash burger with all the trimmings that didn't disappoint.
Homemade gravy tops fries or enjoy the chili fries or onion rings, but save room for dessert. We neglected to do that but will return for scooped ice cream (regular, sugar or waffle cones), milkshakes, floats and sundaes.
Their picnic tables are now accessible, or one can settle under the shade in the Royal Botanical Gardens parking lot. Because of current pandemic rules, in limited numbers you enter to place your order. While there, take in some of the decor. Blake says they still have the original booths from the 1930s so if you carved your name in one, return to check it out. The bar and stools are quintessential retro as are the arcade games. (Yes the duck-shooting game is still there.) Don't leave without looking up. Is your business card still on display? Note the business cards from the days when there were no postal codes or area codes on phone numbers.
Blake is tickled to see grandparents bringing their grandchildren, keeping up a tradition. He loves the stories of first dates and celebrating events and milestones.
Don't be surprised if there's a line-up (things move along quickly). On Mother's Day, I noticed a lineup though wasn't entirely surprised since I'd heard it was their busiest day of the year. Blake warned" me that his father had a quirky sense of humour and it was evident when I asked Ray about the Mother's Day phenomenon. Ray's cheeky - but accurate - response was that it's the busiest day because everyone enjoys having a hot dog after visiting their mother - in one of the two neighbouring cemeteries.
The engaging history of the Easterbrook's could fill a book. There was the ancestor from England who contributed so much to his community near Milton that the town was named after him - Brookville. Four Easterbrook brothers all bought farms along Plains Road almost beside each other. The current eatery is on property that was originally a 15-acre tract of land that stretched all the way down to the lake. There was a time when anyone wishing to avoid the lift bridge on their way to Toronto would make take Highway 2 which passed right by the eatery. Wind the hands of time back to the 1800s when Plains Road was a toll road and guess who the toll keepers were? William and Mary Easterbrook - collecting 10 cents for every loaded vehicle. And that's only some of the Easterbrook story.
Don't be surprised to see a post box in front of Easterbrook's. They once ran a post office out of the eatery. I'm betting that people dropping by to pick up their mail were a captive audience unable to resist the temptation of a 12-inch.
The Easterbrook's expressed thanks to their patrons. They are everything to us and without them, we'd be gone. We encourage them to support all local small businesses - the backbone of the country."
Diane Galambos is a food writer who shares stories and recipes at her blog kitchenbliss.ca. Follow her on Instagram https://instagram.com/kitchenblissca
Easterbrook's
694 Spring Garden Rd., Burlington
905-527-9679
instagram.com/easterbrookshotdogs/
Hours: Summer - Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
What I paid: Reuben Dog $5.50; Hound Dog $6.20; Fries and Gravy $3.75; Cheddar Burger $6.05