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Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Chow Snacks! Opens in Ballard

Posted by Megan Seling on Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at 11:20 AM

Snacks! officially opened in Ballard yesterday, in the back of the small parking lot next to King's Hardware on Ballard Ave. The name says it all—Snacks! has every kind of treat you could possibly be craving to beat the midday heat or sop up all the late-night liquor.

The store was opened by Dante Rivera, of the beloved hotdog cart Dante's Inferno Hotdogs. Besides stocking everything from milk and cookies to wine and beer, Snacks! is also serving up Dante's dogs, with all the fixings (and they've even got a walk-up hot dog window for quicker service).

Inside, the store's inventory includes a lot of basics—drinks, cookies, chips, cereal, candy, some quick dinner items, and even Pepto Bismol and Tums, should you get a little carried away. But they'll be constantly adding new items, including a better selection of beer and wine (and possibly microbrews), as well as goods from the Ballard Farmer's Market vendors (they're already offering Zane and Zack's sauces and Honey! I'm Home Catering treats). And if they still don't have something to quiet your cravings? Then you're welcome to jot down whatever your heart desires on their big "Wish List" hanging on the door.

AND HERE IS THE BEST PART: Snacks! is home to Dante's latest invention, the Chilly Dog, which is a surprisingly delicious treat that involves ice cream and a hot dog bun. They start with a lightly toasted, soft bun. Then they add a thick layer of smooth peanut butter via a peanut butter gun (PEANUT BUTTER GUN!). Next, they layer on a fat stripe of soft serve ice cream (chocolate, vanilla, or swirl), and top it off with a generous drizzle of strawberry jelly. Seems weird, right? It's DELICIOUS! The bun gets all chewy and sweet as the peanut butter and ice cream melt into it. And the cool, creamy soft serve against the toasty warm bread is absolute heaven. They also have a chocolate and peanut butter version.

But if you're not brave enough to try it, stick with the Otter Pops. They've got those too.

Snacks! is open Mon-Thurs 10 am-8 pm, Fri-Sat 10 am-2:30 am, and Sunday 10 am-5 pm.

Comments (26) RSS

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The idea of anything beyond a hot dog in a hot dog bun makes me want to hurl. At least they've got otter pops.

Posted by STJA on June 16, 2009 at 11:28 AM

welcome to your new home, stoners.

Posted by spoiler alert on June 16, 2009 at 11:33 AM

alright, that's it, I'm moving to ballard

Posted by Super Jesse on June 16, 2009 at 11:42 AM

I have a fantasy that fruits and vegetables will one day be marketed with clever packaging, cartoon characters and zany commercials. Perhaps then we can get people to start being orgasmic about healthy food.

Hey chefs & foodies...making something delicious with lots of cream and butter and oil and starch and cheese is easy. Let me see you create a dish that is orgasmic and only 500 calories.

That would take skillz.

Posted by Timothy on June 16, 2009 at 11:47 AM

I guess I need to do my drinking in Ballard.

Posted by keshmeshi on June 16, 2009 at 11:49 AM

If I had a peanut butter gun I'd shoot myself everyday

Posted by cuckoo for cocoa puffs on June 16, 2009 at 11:51 AM

Ballard: Come for the drinks, stay for the snacks.

Posted by schmacky on June 16, 2009 at 11:54 AM

@4 I love nectarines. Maybe I'll write nectarines on the wish list! Fruit is absolutely a snack, and having bananas to go with the milk and cereal they sell would be smart. They're open to all suggestions, let them hear you!

Posted by Megan Seling on June 16, 2009 at 11:56 AM

How is this any different than a convenience store? Fail.

Posted by JTContinental on June 16, 2009 at 11:56 AM

Ice cream on a bun is really popular in many asian countries.

Posted by E_laine on June 16, 2009 at 11:59 AM

*Snack* is quite possibly the worst word in the English language.

Posted by kid icarus

on June 16, 2009 at 12:13 PM

@9 Because the Stranger, in its wisdom, has now declared it to be a trendy hot spot. They don't do that for just any convenience store, you know.

Posted by Hernandez

on June 16, 2009 at 12:16 PM

The tweeness of a hipster 7-11 makes my teeth ache.

Posted by michael strangeways

on June 16, 2009 at 12:19 PM

Peanut butter and soft serve sounds delicious.

Posted by Greg on June 16, 2009 at 12:25 PM

@12 I know. Don't you hate it when local papers provide info on locally-owned stores?

Posted by sisser on June 16, 2009 at 12:28 PM

Oh! And props to Dante for opening the first ever convenience boutique!

Posted by sisser on June 16, 2009 at 12:30 PM

@9 (and @12) Which 7-11 is carrying other locally made goods? Molly Moon's ice cream, Honey I'm Home Catering desserts, Zane & Zack's sauces... and they'll soon be stocking even more of those kinds of items along with local beers and wines. Plus, they serve Dante's hotdogs instead of some crap that's been spinning on a heater for who knows how long.

It's better than a 7-11, my friends.

Posted by Megan Seling on June 16, 2009 at 12:39 PM

I hate this but I love soft serve.

Posted by Torn on June 16, 2009 at 1:15 PM

@11 you mean the best word in the language. next to onomatopoeia.

Posted by Josh Bomb

on June 16, 2009 at 1:37 PM

Wrong, Mr. Bomb. Snack is wack.

Posted by kid icarus

on June 16, 2009 at 2:01 PM

"Until you invent a lunch gun, I would like a failure pile in a sadness bowl"
-Patton Oswalt

Posted by vinylsaurus

on June 16, 2009 at 2:03 PM

@ STJA: Unless I'm mistaken, lobster rolls are served in hot dog buns, and they are delicious.

Posted by My Other Car's the Tardis on June 16, 2009 at 2:09 PM

How come Otter Pops make you cough? It happens every time, with every flavor. And not just to me. I seriously want to know why. Anyone?

Posted by jen on June 16, 2009 at 2:15 PM

Dante has been working on that place forever. I'm glad it's finally open.

If you live on or near Ballard Ave (or are just drinking there), your convenience store options are somewhat, er, inconvenient - the 7-11s on Market and on Leary Way, and that dollar store on Market which doesn't stay open that late. If you need a pack of smokes or some gum (or soft serve), this is going to be a godsend.

Posted by potatoesobrien

on June 16, 2009 at 4:36 PM

I cant wait to check it out..I love dante's dogs!

Posted by randi on June 17, 2009 at 2:06 PM

this is the best idea... after last call at kings you can fun inside and buy beer, smokes, condoms... the late night pack to a good time. go support ballard!

Posted by jakehall on June 26, 2009 at 4:01 PM