Thanks to those of you who came out in 16 degree weather to help us test new truck recipes last Tuesday. For those of you who missed out on soup, chili, poutine, and more, you have another chance this Monday, December 20, at noon.  If you’re one of the first fifteen people to show up, your lunch is on us!

Tune into Fox News tomorrow night at 9. Franktuary will be featured in topic 7 of the below documentary!

“Please tune in to the FOX NEWS CHANNEL this FRIDAY at 9 PM ET to see Politicians’ Top 10 Promises GONE WRONG with John Stossel

Politicians make promises, and brag about the results of their work, the “seen” benefits, but they ignore the unintended consequences—the “unseen” harm– of their laws. Politicians PROMISED that…

10… CASH FOR CLUNKERS would save the auto industry. Instead, it increased the costs of USED cars (the ones that poor people buy), decreased charitable donations, and just moved auto sales from other months into July and August.

9… increasing the MINIMUM WAGE would guarantee everyone better pay, but it ended up killing jobs.

8…TITLE IX would end discrimination against women in sports, but instead it has taken sports away from both men AND women.

7… Big projects like STADIUMS, ARENAS, and CONFERENCE CENTERS will create jobs. Instead, they steal money from the local grocery store.

6… Politicians manipulate the TAX CODE to “save small farmers,” and “save the environment,” but instead create an explosion of ALPACAS, give rich people like Stossel free GOLF CARTs.

5…CREDIT CARD REFORM would save us from horrible bank fees, but “reform” led to higher credit card interest rates and less credit for the poor, which drove them to worse forms of credit.

4…the HEALTHCARE bill would give us cheaper more comprehensive healthcare, but instead it’s causing insurance companies to stop offering health insurance altogether.

3…ETHANOL would relieve our dependence on foreign oil AND save the environment, but instead it’s increased the cost of food, done MORE damage to the environment, and to taxpayers.

2… Politicians said more HOME OWNERSHIP was good for America, but their subsidies created a bubble that made life worse.

And tune in for the #1 PROMISE GONE WRONG.”

* Be one of the first 15 people in line and your meal is FREE!
* 2700 Jane Street, parking lot of Hot Metal Bridge church
* Noon to 1:30 pm
___

ALL OUR BEEF IS LOCAL, GRASS-FED, ORGANIC!

Beef Chili

- 12 oz bowl…$5
- over fries…$7
- add cheese…+$.75

Vegetarian Soup of the Day: BLACK BEAN ROASTED RED PEPPER

- 12 oz bowl…$4.50
- over fries…$6.50
- add cheese…+$.75

All-Beef Franks

- Texan: chili, cheese, jalapenos…$4
- New Yorker: kraut, onion sauce, brown mustard…$4

Carrot Dog

- with Secret Sauce…$3.50
- New Yorker: kraut, onion sauce, brown mustard…$4

Penguin Poutine – Quebec fries topped with cheese curds and brown gravy

- Large…$7.50
- Small…$4.50

Hot Punch of the Day: HONEY CRANBERRY SPICE – Bring your own mug, get $.25 OFF!
- 12 oz…$3

That’s the subject of an email I just received from my business partner. It pertains to Franktuary’s first ever company Christmas party. However, I think my business partner should run for mayor as part of a new political party by the same name.

Have you heard? We have hot cider. For a limited time only. If you are feeling frigid this is your antidote. Hurry, before it’s too late. One day the cider will be gone and you will be cold all winter long. This is a fate you do not want. Unless, of course, you are Jadis, the dethroned ruler of Narnia and former Empress of the Lone Islands. And if that’s the case we’d prefer not to have you as a customer.

Not only that, but my first word was “hot.” Why wouldn’t you want to purchase hot cider from someone who has been speaking about half of the beverage since he began speaking? Paris Hilton was following me when she made the word popular. For those of you wondering, I cannot verify when “cider” became a part of my lexicon. However, my guess is I was using the word correctly before Paris, even if she was born three months earlier than me.

Everyone at Franktuary wishes you a very happy Thanksgiving. We will be closed Thursday and Friday of this week, and will resume our regular hours on Monday November 29.

Since we won’t be feeding you over the holiday, here’s some food for thought instead. Every year Pittsburgh Magazine announces the winners of “40 Under 40″. These are folks, under 40 years of age, who are making noteworthy contributions to the Pittsburgh region. As you might have guessed, 40 people are honored annually.

All well and good, but the concept might be growing stale. After all, every year only a very small percentage of the total group of candidates transition from one side of 40 to the other. Wouldn’t it be invigorating if next year the magazine transitioned to “1 Under 1″?? Then you’d have a bunch of crazy new mothers competing to prove that they birthed the “Baby of the Year”. The extracurricular activities would start in the womb.

If my advice is taken, the worn out “40 Under 40″ concept transforms from regional-magazine-tradition to national-television-reality-based-TV-series-potential overnight. And if the ratings tank, Pittsburgh can give “80 Over 80″ a shot in 2012.

Or then again, maybe we should all just be thankful for the great people in our lives, personally make sure they know they’re appreciated, and let that be enough.

Well, folks, you may have heard that there’s a Nathan’s opening near Point Park University.  In fact, on Monday the company is pulling out all the stops during a grand opening celebration and selling hot dogs for only 5 cents from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm.  The low price tag honors the chain’s heritage, as the original Nathan’s hot dog stand on Coney Island sold its dogs for 5 cents when it opened in 1916.

Let me tell you, I have mixed feelings about this event.  Having grown up in the New York area, Nathan’s Famous seriously influenced my career choice.  Without it there may not be a Franktuary today.  But here’s the thing, I’ve been to a handful of Nathan’s outlets in my lifetime and only one really measures up to its own standard.  That, of course, is the original store on Coney Island.  It’s fabulous.  If you appreciate a good frankfurter and ever have the chance to go there, do it.  Every other Nathan’s I’ve visited simply isn’t as good.  I can’t prove it, but I’m convinced they use a different frank at their flagship store than anywhere else.

Don’t take my word for it, though.  Go to Nathan’s of Pittsburgh on Monday, score a great deal, and see for yourself.  To be totally candid, when it comes to taste and texture the classic frank we serve at Franktuary is likely closer to what Nathan’s serves from Coney Island than what Nathan’s is serving in Pittsburgh.  Last I checked Nathan’s does not offer a veggie dog and it certainly offers nothing in remotely the same league as our Locavore (the healthiest, most earth-friendly, frank you will ever find).  So, by all means, visit Nathan’s this Monday.  We’re confident you’ll be back our way.

The trouble with voting is that you don’t always get what you want.  Sometimes, maybe too often, the only options you have are ones you don’t want.

Fear not, loyal citizen.  Franktuary is here to make sure you get something positive out of your voting experience in 2010, regardless of the political outcome.  If you bring in proof of having voted you’ll save 10% off your order any time this week.  Just like that, your vote matters more than you thought!

Why are we doing this?  Perhaps because we care about the electoral process.  Perhaps because we want to celebrate/commiserate today’s outcome with you.  Perhaps because it’s getting cold and we still want your business.  Perhaps because we think everyone should be given at least one election day promise that won’t be broken.  Perhaps simply because we like you.  Franktuary isn’t telling.

It’s November, and that means it’s time to wish everyone a Happy Franksgiving.  All month long we’re offering a delicious frankfurter bejeweled with your choice of mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberries, and turkey bits.  This seasonal creation can be yours for $3.75 as a classic frank, $4.00 as a veggie dog, and $6.00 as a Locavore.  On top of that, we’ll be rolling back the prices during the week of Thanksgiving.  Stay tuned for details!

Hello friends-