Weiner Takes All

Soul Dog in Poughkeepsie

by Ann Braybrooks and photographs by Amber S. Clark, December 27, 2006

According to Jenny and Adam Teague, the proprietors of Poughkeepsie’s Soul Dog eatery, everybody loves a hot dog—and everybody should be able to feast on one. No one should be denied the gastronomic pleasure of a good dog, they say, including people with food allergies or dietary restrictions. For those who can chow down on anything, great. The menu at Soul Dog features all-beef, chicken, and veggie hot dogs. The usual white buns are available. The list of toppings is long, from the standard ketchup, mustard, relish, and sauerkraut to the more unusual roasted poblano pepper salsa and chipotle cream. In addition to hot dogs, there are other items: sloppy joe sandwiches (made with ground turkey), two to three different kinds of chili, various soups, and hand-cut fries seasoned with different rubs (including barbecue, Cajun, and Jamaican jerk). A person without any food restrictions can stroll off the city’s Main Street and into a hip and cozy cafe to have a casual meal at a paper-covered table (with crayons provided) with eclectic music (classic Jamaican ska, Natalie Merchant, Sinatra) playing in the background. But so can folks who are allergic to dairy or soy, are gluten-intolerant, or have celiac disease. The latter can order their dog on a gluten-free (GF) bun baked on the premises, as well as a GF beer, brewed in Milwaukee without malted barley or any gluten-containing products. Non-GF beers are available, too—such as Sam Adams, Brooklyn Pennant, and Killian’s—but Lakefront Brewery’s New Grist is a boon for adults with celiac. The proprietors opened Soul Dog out of frustration and need, along with a desire to help others with similar food challenges. The Teagues liked to eat out, but their dietary restrictions prevented them from dining at most restaurants. Jenny and Adam have three children, two of which have celiac disease, an inherited autoimmune disease in which the lining of the small intestine is damaged from eating gluten and other proteins found in wheat, barley, rye, and, in some cases, oats. While one out of 133 Americans may be affected by celiac disease, only a small percentage of people living with the illness have been diagnosed. The Hudson Valley Celiac Support Group, which held its first meetings at Soul Dog in fall 2005, has grown so large that it now meets at Vassar Hospital at 6:30pm on the third Tuesday of every month.