Snacks of the damned!!!

"...the beauteous things which heaven bears..."
Dante Alighieri
The Inferno, Canto XXXIV

Dante Rivera's new Ballard bodega, Snacks, is only about 2 weeks old, but one can already see that it will soon be packed with all manner of beauteous things.

On our frequent trips to the Ballard Farmers' Market (previous entries here), we often stop at Dante's Inferno Dogs. They use Boar's Head meats, and have all of the proper options for toppings (including celery salt, which makes Chicago expatriates happy!).



When we found out about his new venture, we knew we had to stop in as soon as possible - rumor had it that in addition to the dogs, one could find treats both salty and sweet, beer, wine, and various sundries. We at Root are often inspired to need just the kind of provisions found there.

Dante is the nicest fella, and he may also be a genius - his Chilly Dog is a masterpiece of summertime goodness! The Chilly Dog is a toasted hot dog bun, topped with soft serve, creamy peanut butter, jam (we chose strawberry, which was fantastic). It's completely delicious, and the peanut butter is applied with a giant contraption that appears to be a modified caulking gun.



It's definitely a work in progress - he's got great stuff on the shelves (including pints of Molly Moon's ice creams, and wonderful little Rice Krispie treats w/Nutella in the middle!!!), but it's a little sparse at the moment, as they're working out all of the kooky distribution and delivery details. But we're early adopters, and we don't mind a bit. Plus, it'll be fun to see as new goodies start rolling in.

Highly recommended.