Recently it was suggested to me that Franktuary begin offering a frankfurter with pulled pork on top of it. Maybe some pickles too.

Anyone out there have thoughts about this concept? I’d like to hear ‘em!

Not long ago I visited a fabulous little hot dog place in Brooklyn called Willie’s Dawgs. Why? Because they serve a grass-fed frankfurter, something Franktuary would like to incorporate into its own menu.

So there I was in New York City. Can you guess what the topic of conversation was at the table next to me? A place in Pittsburgh called Franktuary. For the record, the people next to me were strangers, though that’s not the case anymore!

Among other things, 2009 has brought soft pretzels to Franktuary. These aren’t just any soft pretzels, either. They’re coming direct from the Southside’s famous Pretzel Shop. Be excited, friends. We’re working hard to continue to improve our menu for you!

Franktuary is reintroducing a breakfast menu in 2009. Can you believe it?? More details coming soon.

But don’t worry, Franktuary is still located in the heart of downtown on Oliver Avenue. We’ve got some exciting plans on the horizon, and part of that bigger picture necessitates creating space for someone who can do my old job better than me. What I mean by that is Franktuary now has on its staff not one but two individuals with culinary degrees! With this change, and for a handful of personal reasons, I find myself looking for employment back home in the New York area.

So, as you might imagine, more details will spring forth from this very space… over time. These titillating tidbits, about changes coming to Franktuary as well as the eventual success of my job search, may alter the very fabric of your life. If that doesn’t occur, I’ll settle for a positive impact on your stomach. After all, I expect you’ll find my yet-to-be-determined new occupation both succulent and delicious. Not to mention the food at Franktuary. You’ll find it most succulent and delicious also.

Well, as you wait for more mouthwatering morsels in the form of frankcentric blogging, come on downtown to try one of our already-improved pierogies. I know I’ll be back to visit regularly. If you’re reading this blog in Pittsburgh you have no excuse to visit Franktuary less frequently than someone more than 350 miles away! Okay, you got me, you’ve got to pay for parking in the Golden Triangle, but other than that…

Franktuary introduces its newest menu additions, the Barackwurst and the Hillbasa.

In a nod to Pennsylvania’s upcoming Democratic presidential primary the restaurant is offering two politically themed menu items as an innovative way of predicting the results of the actual vote, which will be held on April 22, 2008. On a weekly basis Franktuary will announce its poll results, based on the ratio of respective sausages sold, through the website sausagepoll.com.

The Barackwurst, featuring an array of patriotic condiments, is a half-link of knockwurst and a half-link of bratwurst served on two New England top-split rolls. Red grape tomatoes, creamy white horseradish sauce, and crumbled blue corn tortilla chips are drizzled over the two different wursts that have come together to support one cause.

The Hillbasa is a kielbasa split length-wise and served with nearly identical condiments, also on two top-split rolls. “Quite honestly,” reports Franktuary co-owner Tim Tobitsch, “the two products are strikingly similar. However, the Hillbasa does come with a mandated side of Bill pickles, while rumors persist that the Barackwurst is served with a side of whatever one hopes.” When asked about the overwhelming demand that may be created by the novelty menu items Tobitsch quipped, “We’re a very small restaurant, but better we sell out than the politicians.”

Both the Barackwurst and Hillbasa are presented with a running-mate (side order) and Pennsylvania Punch, a locally produced soft-drink from the Natrona Bottling Company, for $7.00. Customers can purchase a Rocky Road to the White House Cherry Sundae for an additional $5.00. Customers who wish to be patriotic while abstaining from meat may replace wursts or kielbasa with two veggie dogs.

At a later date, Franktuary promises to introduce another politically themed frankfurter, the Hot McCainine, to be served with a side of Bush’s Baked Beans. When asked whom it advocates as the United States’ next President, Franktuary refused to play favorites, citing allegiance only to America.

Natrona Bottling Company delivered our first order of soda today. Bottled just last week, literally! Come try a Mint Julep today.

In other news, Franktuary is now featured in a webcom. It’s called Something To Be Desired. What webcom means is that you don’t need a TV to watch TV anymore! Give it a shot.

Lately I have been developing “intricate” graphs on scrap paper. They’re very enlightening when it comes to such things as life and/or the food-service industry. I think sometime soon I might scan what I have developed, thanks to Pixma, and share on this blog.

Ironic, isn’t it, that the “Soup Nazi,” of Seinfeld fame, would open a restaurant in downtown Pittsburgh on the very same week that Franktuary begins serving homemade soups. And in the week preceding the S(o)uperBowl, no less. I smell a conspiracy, or maybe that’s just the distinctive odor of lobster bisque wafting down Smithfield Street. It’s hard to tell.

Here’s a riddle for you!

How can one be in Pittsburgh, but out of Pittsburgh at the same time?

When Franktuary is out of pierogies (which hopefully won’t happen often), of course!

That’s right, Franktuary is pleased to announce the addition of “The Pittsburgh” to it’s family of franks. Come on down and give it a whirl! With luck, we won’t be out.

And so it is, 2008. Franktuary is once again open after a brief holiday respite.

Unfortunately, while we were gone a refrigerator broke. So, instead of kicking off the new year with menu additions we are kicking off the year with a limited menu, extensive inventory purging, and waiting for maintenance men.

In other news Coca-Cola has yet to remove the soda fountain. That has actually worked out well since for the time being we have no room to refrigerate the additional soups which are supposed to be served where the fountain currently stands. And, to wrap things up, this website has just now become accessible for updating for the first time since last year! Why? Why not.

Happy New Year!