The Sonoran Hot Dog

I can think of several analogies that describe the phenomena of anticipation--long waiting--desire--hope--expectancy. I have been waiting for a sonoran hot dog since I was in Tucson with the Watsons when they moved at the end of July. Their friend, Josh, described this delectable hot dog--doesn't that sound like an oxymoron? For some reason unknown to me, we never fed me one while I was here, though Jaren had one. So, I've waited. Then Gillz comes for just one weekend and teases us, taunts us, with her picture of the sonoran hot dog. So, I've been waiting and anticipating. Seeing her picture, both Jen and Jimmy have drooled. Finally, last night, my time came. Was it as good as desired?

What do you think? What do you think? This hot dog is wrapped in bacon, smothered with beans, cheese, tomatoes, onions, mustard and mayo and served in a really soft, freshly-baked roll. Charity thinks the roll is like a potato roll. I detected a slight amount of heat that gently initiates the palate for what is to come. Please know that I prefer to ease into my food; I'm the one who takes 10 minutes to eat a fine chocolate because I want the flavors and textures to caress my tongue and taste buds before swallowing. So my first taste was just a nibble of the bun; just a tantalizing nibble.

Baby Emilia was fussy on the ride to El Guero Canelo so we debated whether we would eat in the car or go inside. To my delight, out was in. The eatery is an open air establishment and though we were sitting in the car, we were still a part of the environment. An open window afforded us access to the sounds and smells as though we were seated at one of the picnic tables.

As you can see, a roasted chile that none of us gringos can identify is served with the dog. You can also see that none of us ate them. Jaren explained there is a Spanish word that means "overcome with chiles." Thus, a quasi salad bar provides fresh cucumber to cleanse and soothe the palate.
So was it everything I'd hoped for. As with most anticipated events, it was different than I had imagined. I'm not a fan of heat so intense it overpowers the flavor. This dog growled subtly and then bit, but more a playful bite than a flesh-ripping tear. I could identify the meat, the beans, the cheese, the onions, the mustard, the smooth mayo. I could taste them individually and in total. It was moist; it was succulent; it was warm; it was more than the sum of its parts--synergistic. It made my taste buds pop. It slopped out of its bun to provide some entertaining licking. It was supreme.
Oh, sonoran; oh, somoran.