Welcome to Day Game Dogs: Windmill Red Bank

After last night's embarrassing 14-3 defeat, the New York Mets need to turn around today to keep the title of worst 1st place team for the 2nd consecutive April.  I couldn't think of a better way to turn the team around than to eat a #daygamedog during their 1pm game today.  I just know the combination of trans fat meats and overprocessed vegetable toppings are just the motivation elite athletes need while playing a World Series favorite Philidelphia Phillie team.  If they have a terrible showing today, #daygamedog blog series will be canceled.  (They are on a shorter leash than Jason Vargas.) You'll be surprised to know that there is quite the hot dog market in Red Bank.  Today I will begin this series with a Jersey Shore classic, The Windmill. 

WindMill got its start in 1963 in Long Branch, and you couldn't possibly miss the windmill-shaped building on Ocean Ave.  Did you know that hot dog styles are regional? DC rocks the half-smoke and Michigan sports the Coney dog. I'll be sure to explore these further when I finally get around to my epic "30 Baseball Stadium Trip." Well, at WindMill, they are called "Jersey Shore flat-grilled dogs."  Other notable New Jersey-style hot dogs include Italian hot dogs, Texas wieners (lol), and rippers*.  Of course, all claim to be the favorite of Bruce Springsteen, but which one is my favorite?  Let's find out. (There are only 9 more Mets day games during the week and as soon as they lose one, it's over, so we may actually not find out.) 

WindMill uses Sabrett (based in NJ) hot dogs which have an iconic crunch when biting into them. WindMill rocks a very boardwalk vibe to all of their locations, so don't go in expecting gourmet.  They do have a free topping bar so don't be shy. (I might have gone overboard with the hot relish but we are not soft on this blog.)  Overall, I would say this is a solid, average hot dog. #LGM 

6.6/10

*The famous Ripper is at Rutt's Hut in Clifton, NJ, which will appear on my "64 NJ Defining Foods" series inspired by this article. I have some history with that place and can't wait to share it so stay tuned!