The first 12 people to arrive at the 1165 Merrill St. restaurant at 2 p.m. will get to participate in the "Monster Dog Creation Contest," tasked with creating the "wildest, scariest dog from a selection of toppings and a bun," a press release for the event reads. Entry is $10.
Three "celebrity judges" -- Ogden; Gentry Magazine Founder and Executive Editor Elsie Floriani; and Menlo Park Mayor Catherine Carlton -- will evaluate the entries at about 2:45 p.m.
The prize? The winning dog will go on the restaurant's menu for a month.
Bradley's Funky Franks opened in late September in the former Crepes Cafe place, just next-door to Bradley's Fine Diner on Merrill Street. Ogden, a James Beard award-winning chef with decades of experience, opened Bradley's Fine Diner in November 2014.
Bradley's Funky Franks serves gourmet hot dogs plus hand-spun milkshakes and several craft beers. Customers can build their own hot dog for $6, choosing from beef, bratwurst, spicy Italian, chicken or vegan plus three complimentary toppings (including traditional ones like sauerkraut, ketchup and mustard as well as Siracha mayo, chopped bacon, fried egg, caramelized onions and kale slaw).
Signature, pre-created dogs include the "Oh My Dog" with bacon, coleslaw and grain mustard ($7); the "Gooey Dog" with chili, cheddar cheese and caramelized onions ($7.25); and the "Morning Dog" -- bacon-wrapped with a fried egg on top, served all day.
Sides include French fries, chili fries, tater tots, fried pickles, onion rings and more.
Milkshakes are $6; flavors include vanilla, dark chocolate, strawberry, marshmallow fluff and coffee-nutella.
View the full menu here.
Ogden is not the first in the area to take on the gourmet hot-dog scene. Chez Franc had a short stint on California Avenue in Palo Alto, closing its doors after lowering its prices and only several months of business.
