Big Dog a finalist for Best of Western Washington

Spirits were high and the 12s were out in force in Monroe on Friday, as Evening Magazine stopped by to inform Big Dog's Hot Dog Joint owner Jerry "Big DogGÇ¥ Dixon that his Seahawks-themed "HawkdogGÇ¥ truck is a finalist in the Best Food Truck category of KING 5's Best of Western Washington competition.-á

Evening Magazine will announce the winners on Monday, Nov. 16.-á

KING 5 Evening Magazine correspondent Michael King and photojournalist Erica Hintergardt spent more than an hour at Big Dog's on Friday afternoon, learning about the truck's history and sampling the Seahawks-themed delicacies. Dixon is known for his inventive and nontraditional hotdog toppings, including crushed potato chips, cream cheese and jalapenos. His catchy logo, "Biggest Wiener Around,GÇ¥ is familiar throughout Snohomish County.

Seahawks fans came by to show their support, including Nick Goins, also known as the Seahawks Rooster, and members of the Hawk Wheels Car Club. Hawk Wheels showed off several award-winning Seahawks-themed vehicles, including the Pinky Hawkadero, the Beetle of Boom and the Crotch Lockett. The cars and motorcycle sported custom paint jobs, Seahawks logos, lights and horns.

Marianne Martinez-Evans' car, Pinky Hawkadero, recently won the fan-choice small car award at a Hawktober festival held in Kent.

"There's not a thing about this car that's not custom,GÇ¥ Martinez-Evans said. "I'm kind of a custom chick.GÇ¥

Dixon talked to Evening Magazine about the origins of Big Dog's Hot Dog Joint, which started as a small mobile hot dog stand in Sultan early last year. Dixon's fianc+¬e, Jan Woolery, served as his cashier during the grand opening celebration on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. Six months later, he decided he wanted to be closer to home, so he moved his business to Monroe, traded in the small stand for a mobile truck and embraced the Seahawks theme. Woolery's best friend, Gretchen Unick House, serves as Dixon's right-hand woman on the Hawkdog truck.

Dixon told Evening Magazine the vehicle was a Qdoba mobile taco truck when he purchased it.

"When I got it, it was completely wrapped up in Qdoba wrap,GÇ¥ Dixon said. "I started to peel it off on a sunny day and it was Seahawk blue, and I was like, "I know what I'm doing.' GÇ¥

After that, he said, they completely ran with the Seahawks theme. So far, the truck has been signed by Momma Lynch and Mama Sherman, and visited by Dave Krieg, Norm Johnson and Seahawks superfan Lorin "Big LoGÇ¥ Sandretzky. -á -á -á -á

"I think we're probably one of the most picture-taken and honked-at food trucks,GÇ¥ Dixon said. "We've had one or two people that give us a different type of salute; they're probably "Niners fans. Everywhere we go, people love our truck and I have fun doing it; it's a blast.GÇ¥

Dixon explained his menu, which features daring and offbeat flavor profiles, complete with Seahawk-themed names like the Sea-dog, the Blitz, the Sherman and the Wilson.

"The Wilson's our biggest seller,GÇ¥ Dixon said. "It has Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce, cheddar cheese sauce, crumbled bacon and the French-fried onions; the type you put on a green bean casserole.GÇ¥

To Dixon, it's about more than just selling hotdogs; he also uses the truck to give back to his community. He's heavily involved in local events, including National Night Out, Relay for Life, Bark for Life and the Monroe Fair Days Parade, and has used his business to spearhead different fundraising initiatives. In March 2014, he gave a portion of his profits to the family of Trey Lauren, a young Monroe boy who was battling flesh-eating bacteria.

Dixon brought his truck to a neighborhood in the Farm at Woods Creek this July, to help support a family who lost their home in a fire. The family had 10 houseguests visiting from China, all of whom Dixon fed for free. An impromptu community gathering took place as neighbors came to the truck to purchase hotdogs and show their support.

He donated a portion of the proceeds to help the family get back on its feet.

In 2014, Big Dog's earned a spot in Evening Magazine's top 10, and this year, he's a finalist for the number one position.

For more information on Big Dog's Hot Dog joint, visit www.facebook.com/BigDogsTacos/?fref=ts.

For more information about Evening Magazine's Best of Western Washington contest, visit http://best.king5.com/.