THE BALLOON MAN

Hot Dog on a Stick makes debut at Silver Dollar Fair in Chico, CA

Kevin Vang (left) takes orders as Zack Donetskov (right) dips hot dogs at the Hot Dog on a Stick stand at the Silver Dollar Fair in Chico on Thursday.(Jason Halley/Staff Photo)

By KATY SWEENY - Staff Writer

Posted: 05/28/2011

CHICO, CALIFORNIA -- Three generations of Durham residents bit into their freshly made dinners Thursday night, the first time the original Hot Dog on a Stick stand satiated corn-dog fans at the Silver Dollar Fair. The Pendley family plus grandma Sharon Robinson said the stand drew them in on opening day. They watched as workers in striped uniforms dipped the hot dogs into batter, then oil, and served them hot.
"They taste so good," Spencer Pendley said. "They're sweet. They're crunchy. They're hot. And it's on a stick."
Bella Pendley, 7, said she liked both the crunchy outside and spongy inside of the treat.

Spencer Pendley pumps ketchup for Bella Pendley, 7, while Sharon Robinson looks on at the Hot Dog...
Manager Michael Bloodsaw of Encinitas said the business is like a family.
The son of founder Dave Barham brought Hot Dog on a Stick to Chico's fair for the first time this year.
Gary Barham said he remembers his dad perfecting the batter in the garage in their Hollywood Hills home when he was a child, aiming to make it taste like cornbread and come out golden brown.
Barham credits his dad for popularizing corn dogs, he said.
The elder Barham learned they could make more money at county fairs than with one stand on the beach. They started working fairs in the mid-'50s. Now his son thinks fairs are the most fun.
The company started opening stands in malls in the '70s. Those stands still serve the fresh food across the country.
Lexi Smoots of Paradise said there's something about watching her food freshly made.
"That one right there," Smoots
said, pointing to another food stand. "You don't know if it just came out of a box from the freezer. I didn't go there because I wanted a hand-dipped one." Ralph Wilkerson of Gridley was the first person on opening day to get a Hot Dog on a Stick.
"They're the best," Wilkerson said. "It's the ultimate fair food."
He said he will never go back to premade corn dogs. Wilkerson is on the board of the Butte County Fair and said he wants the stand at the county event.
Fair manager Scott Stoller said though corn dogs are a staple of the fair, people love Hot Dog on a Stick's freshly made dogs and lemonade.
"It's one of the most nostalgic food stands out there," Stoller said.
Stoller's favorite is the stand's cheese on a stick, like a mozzarella stick but with American cheese, he said.
"I'll probably have one every day," Stoller said. "They're not good for me but they're so delicious."
Barham said he likes the adventure of bringing the stand to Chico.
"I hear it's a good little fair," Barham said. "If it works out, I would definitely like to stay here."