If you are from Maryland chances are you’ve heard of Ann’s Dari-Creme. It’s a “lovely” little place in Glen Burnie right off of route 2 south of Baltimore. My parents used to take me to Ann’s when we lived an hour away in my youth! One day my friends at Ball Park asked me to come up with a new Ball Park hotdog recipe. Seemed like a fun idea but I decided to take it one step further. Rather than come up with something new why not recreate a classic? A local classic, that is. Here’s how to make a grilled version of the Ann’s foot long double dog.
There is one thing you need to know if you go to Ann’s. You don’t get ketchup on your hotdog. There is a sign on the wall that says that a loaded hotdog consists of chili, mustard and onions. That’s it. I would never have the nerve to ask for anything more, or less. Ann’s uses a type of sub roll rather than a classic hotdog roll. Any type of soft sub roll with cornmeal or flour still on the bottom is ideal. Dice some white onions, get some hotdog chili, and some mustard.
We all know how to grill hotdogs, right? Simple medium heat is all you need. Grill those dogs directly over the coals. I use a small aluminum tin to hold and heat the cooked hotdog chili sauce.
You have to keep your roll warm, so I wrapped it in foil and tossed it on the grill.
For the assembly take two hotdogs and put them on the sub roll, drizzle some mustard and add the onions. Load the doubledog with chili sauce and there you have it. This was really tasty and was one of the best chili dogs I’ve ever had. This has tailgate potential for sure. Most people do simple hotdogs but doing a “doubledog” is a wonderful tailgate idea.
Now what good is a copycat recipe if you don’t go and compare it to the real thing!?? No one ever said blogging is easy! I got myself in the car and drove 10 min down the street to Ann’s. The place looks identical to what I remember when I had my first hotdog there about 25 years ago.
Every time I see Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives on the Food Network I wonder why they haven’t been to Ann’s yet. Ann’s is classic and would fit perfectly on that show.
In “Soup Nazi” like style I walk to the counter and carefully order, “Full Doubledog with everything… and fries.” Then I move to the right. The lady behind the counter glared at me for about 2 seconds and then started taking orders from all the people behind me. This lady must have one heck of a memory because she took about 6 orders after me, turned around and started working and within 10 minutes a small bag with my double dog and fries magically appeared. I paid, tipped and left.
The whole car ride home was a magical experience with the inside of my car taking in all the odors of the Ann’s foot long hotdog. My wife will be thrilled I’m sure.
The moment of truth: Ann’s kicked my hotdog’s ass. Wow! What an amazing hotdog. Their chili sauce was better than mine, their roll was better than mine and the overall experience was better with Ann’s. One crucial thing that Ann’s does differently is that they fry their hotdogs. I wasn’t about to set up my fryer and toss my Ball Parks in. I figured I’d grill them. Let’s just say that frying a hotdog is pretty amazing!
I was very hard on my copycat Ann’s Footlong Double Dog recipe in this post but the truth is that Ann’s is just unique and nothing can compare. The taste and smell are ingrained into my head and not even Bobby Flay could beat them. Hmm, I’d like to see that actually. Anyway, I’m fully aware that 99% of Grilling24x7 readers will never even be 100 miles away from Ann’s. If you don’t think you’ll ever make it to Ann’s give this copycat double dog recipe a try! Just make sure you follow the rules: two hot dogs, chili sauce, onions and mustard only! Nothing more!
Chris Coffelt
This certainly brought back memories to me as well. I grew in in Glen Burnie, went to Glen Burnie High School. I used to ride my mini bike through the power lines in Southgate, cross over the highway and a short trail ride later I was eating at Anne’s. I wish I had one right now.
Louise cullmeber
Very best chili dog there is!!! I am from Annapolis originally and when we go back from FL we get them and have gone tow Winchester on Severn, overlooking the river and have a picnic. We order a dozen, as they give you a “bakers” dozen when buying 12. We freeze the rest for a ride back to FL to share with the family . Yum Yum and Yum!!! No Bobby Flay couldn’t improve the hot dog because of his love for making everything HOT. It is the greatest on it’s own..
Sue Jewell
I lived a few doors down from Ann’s when I was in junior high school. Everyone loved Ms. Ann. Her famous footlongs were 30 cents each back then. They also had the best chocolate malted shakes, too. Even though they do not serve malted shakes any more, their chocolate shakes are still the best. The smell of Ann’s Dari Creme as you drive by or stop in bring back such great memories of when I lived in Glen Burnie. Even with today’s prices, the cost of a meal for your family will not break the bank.
Shirley Schneider
In the 50’s, remember my dad delivering oil to Miss Ann’s. On snow days he would pick me up at school and we would go to Miss Ann’s for a delivery. I think she sold kerosene at the store, not sure. Remember Miss Ann very well. A lady dressed in that crisp white uniform, whipping up a bunch of dogs and hamburgers. She and her husband were so kind to me and my dad. My dad always got me a hot chocolate and him, a coffee. Was a wonderful time. Thanks for the memory.
Suzanne Orem
There is one flaw in your copycat instructions, the hotdogs at Ann’s are cooked in peanut oil, not grilled at all.
Suzanne Orem
All of Ann’s footlongs are cooked in peanut oil
JAMES TILGHMAN
I AM FROM BALTIMORE ORIGINALLY AND NOW LIVE IN JACKSONVILLE, FL MY PARENTS ARE FROM QUEEN ANNE AND ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTIES. I REMEMBER CROSSING THE BAY ON THE FERRY MY DAD WOULD TAKE US TO GET A FOOT LONG AND IT WAS THE TREAT OF TREATS. I HAD MINE WITH A STRAWBERRY SHAKE AND FRIES. TOOK MY WIFE THERE AS SHE WAS FROM JAX. POOR GIRL NEVER KNEW WHAT HIT HER. SHE TOLD ME LATER THAT SHE WAS NOT A HOT DOG FAN. THAT WAS UNTIL WE WENT TO ANN’S. MY SIBLINGS AND I RAISED OUR KIDS ON THESE DOGS. STILL LOVE THEM TO THIS DAY.
Earl Gregory
I grew up in Glenburnie, “class of 58”. Going to Anne’s since they opened in 53, I moved to Florida in 2003 and only thing I have missed from Maryland are Anne’s foot longs and good crab cakes.
Culinary Lion
those might be my two favorite foods, Crab cakes and hot dogs!!!
Dale
Anyone have a recipe for the chili sauce?
Culinary Lion
I dont but I’ll look into it
Suzi
FYI: The hot dogs are cooked in peanut oil, not grilled.
Tracy Warfield
It’s 2020, almost 70 yrs of Ann’s being around and they still do it the same, yay!! I Absolutely love their hotdogs with that delicious chili. I would LOVE to have the recipe. I’d still go there, but it would be great to have. They still take several orders (10 or so and not just a few dogs) we’re talking subs, fries, shakes, many different toppings on the other subs etc and NEVER write it down and NEVER mess up an order. I always smile in amazement. They can do all of that and fast food can’t even get their own food right without any changes to the order. 70 more years Ann’s! I’ll be there for hopefully at least 20 more.
frances doak
In 1957 in greenwood Mississippi I eat at a place where serve foot long with saurkrat and red sauce.does anybody have such a recipe
Cindy
My parents used to drive us to Ann’s every few weeks for dinner from Annapolis after my father just got home from work in Baltimore. Not sure Why He didn’t stop on the way home. Anyway, my sister and I loved those nights!! Favorite dinner and our mother was a good cook. As others have said, I too have moved to FL and Ann’s is one of the things I most miss about MD.