Uncle Bill's Gourmet Corn Dogs

[Melanie Wong]

The Thursday evening farmers market in Windsor (Sonoma County) features a number of booths offering prepared foods. The longest line seemed to be for the hand-dipped corn dogs by Uncle Bill. With Carrie's post about the vendor in Sonoma fresh in mind, I was drawn to this stand like a moth to a flame.

Image of Uncle Bill's stand -
http://static.flickr.com/74/228835889_e9d0a2f5b4_b.jpg

Regular corn dogs are $3. I watched them being readied for dipping and frying, that is, stabbed on a wooden stick and noted that Foster Farms chicken franks are used. There's also a Cajun corn dog for $4 that's made with a Farmlands hot link. I ordered the more novel Cajun dog, which has an even bigger girth, as shown below.

Image of Cajun corn dog -
http://static.flickr.com/88/228835885_4174c4d4c6_b.jpg

The thick corn batter fries up to a crunchy, golden brown. The mild French's mustard was just tangy enough to offset the richness. Each time I bit into the soft and medium spicy sausage, the release of hot red grease soaked into the corn-y exterior. For once the front of my t-shirt didn't show any evidence of my latest (guilty) pleasure.

Highly recommended.

Uncle Bill's Gourmet Corn Dogs
P.O. Box 3
El Verano, CA
707.996.1857

Carrie's corn dog post (Napa Road & Eighth in Sonoma) -
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...

[extramsg]

That's obscene! (I love it.)

If you ever get a chance, I'd like to see a cross section of the dog.

[chezchristine]

Thanks Melanie!

I was the one who did the original post. Hopefully I will be able to get out there one day. Any idea where he is year round?

[Melanie Wong]

Hey there, glad you're back Stateside.

I didn't have a chance to ask about his whereabouts, it was way too busy! El Verano is in the Sonoma Valley, so I wondered if this might be the same guy that Carrie recommended. At least you have a phone number to follow-up, and please let us know what you find out.

[Cynsa]

Uncle Bill's Gourmet Corn Dogs are also at the Sonoma Farmer's Market on Tuesday evenings:
tel. [phone]
Sonoma Plaza on the Square Sonoma, CA

with jazz:
Free monthly concerts appearing in the Plaza at the Tuesday Farmers' Market on the second Tuesday each month from July through September.

[Melanie Wong]

Ah, thanks, then I may have had a corn dog from these very folks several years ago on a Tuesday night. I remember being handed a corn dog from under the heat lamp initially. While it may not have been there that long, since there wasn't a huge line like in Windsor, I had no way of knowing. I asked for one to be dipped and fried to order, and the man had no problem doing so for me.

[Cynsa]

No doubt. We're there for the Tuesday jazz...and like horses at the starting gate, waiting for the Market bell to ring...in line at Uncle Bill's for a hot-from-the-fryer corn dog. And, the lines do get very, very...long! I think they've been at the Sonoma Tuesday Night Farmers' Market for years - before Windsor had its market up and running.
-When the line is daunting and I am too impatient to stand...I'll browse the vendor stands and plop down for the music...then return to the corn dog line as it wanes; or wait for a lucky break (like on the Hwy 101 commute "between" waves of traffic backups for that window of opportunity).
The dogs never seem to be "sitting" that long and the fryer turnover is swift. I heard others request light/dark frys and I am amazed at the accommodation — that's customer service!
It's the only corndog that has convinced me that it's healthful to eat. Don't you just love that slight sweetness in the crusty cornmeal coating with tart yellow mustard, wrapping that juicy dog?

[Melanie Wong]

Oh yeah, I actively dislike French's mustard, but the slight tang is just the right note with the sweet, greasiness of these corn dogs. I should also mention that you can get a small plastic cup to hold the condiments if you're a dipper.

[westridge99]

I just called Uncle Bill's.
I'm sorry to report that he no longer has that stand at Napa and 8th Street (Avenue), as reported in Carrie's post.
He does sell at the Windsor and Sonoma Farmers Markets.
He also sells the dogs at various festivals in the North Bay such as the Gravenstein Apple Festival.

[heyrobyne]

Hello Melainie:

I fell in love with their corn dog at the Windsor Farmers Market. I just left them a voice message but was wondering if you happen to know they they attend any other farmers markets? And if is where they go? Do you also happen to know if they have a store?

Thanks,.... I guess since you made the first post you are now considered the resident expert....

Regards,

Robyne

[wolfe]

Thanks,.... I guess since you made the first post you are now considered the resident expert....
For too many places to count, thank you Melanie.

[Melanie Wong]

Reminder that Uncle Bill's is back at the Thursday night Windsor Farmers Market along with a free concert. The Cajun dog is up to $5 now and the line is long.