World Dog: a taste of the world in a hotdog.

• Author: Cutler, Sarah
• Position: Digital

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Spicy chorizo sausage, Manchego cheese, pico de gallo and a tomatillo agave drizzle. It's called the Azteca and it is flavored specifically to bring a little taste of South America to your palate. One of the many other unique combinations at World Dog is the Greek--a Greek-style sausage, roma tomato, kalamata olive, Feta cheese and tzaziki.

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World Dog is a specialty dog and sausage cart at 2200 S. Highland Drive in Sugarhouse. Joe Ballato and his wife Brooke Campos opened the cart in July 2011. "We came up with the concept of World Dog being a hotdog and sausage cart having flavors from around the world," says Ballato.

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Ballato doesn't use just any sausage either. He contacted a local sausage maker to design specific and unique flavors. On the other end of the spectrum, World Dog also offers vegan options with the same amount of attention given to flavor. For example, the Taj is a tandoori marinated tofu dog with pickled cucumber ribbon and mango chutney.

According to Ballato the beauty of World Dog is the freedom to run specials, switch up the flavors and keep the menu fresh. For Oktoberfest, the cart added a chicken brat with bacon and apple-seared goat cheese. Another recent special was the Tokyo dog that contained wasabi mayonnaise and the Naughty dog containing macaroni and cheese with fresh bacon on top.

Don't forget the sides. World Dog makes a chocolate-covered frozen banana during the warm months. In the winter that is switched up with a tomato bisque. Last winter was mild for Utah and World Dog was out feeding the community...