I’m grateful that the network of opera professionals is a tight one, because it’s pretty rare that any of us go to a city where we haven’t already gotten the low-down about the best restaurants, bars and hangouts. These favorite haunts are often the stuff of legends at various summer festivals and opera houses. There are those who’ve been known to sample the menu of Bobcat Bite while at Santa Fe Opera, toss back a pint at Cross Keys at Aldeburgh Festival, or savor a pitcher of Pabst Blue Ribbon post-liederabend at Five Chairs while with the Tanglewood Music Festival.
This summer, I’m working with Wolf Trap Opera Company in the rolling hills of Northern Virginia, just outside of our nation’s capital. 
After a long morning of studying scores and Shakespeare, I decided to put culture on hold for an hour or so to experience the illustrious Vienna Inn. The food is simultaneously unremarkable and astounding, and I am both amused and intrigued by the place in history that this establishment holds in the lives of many colleagues and predecessors. I would be willing to bet the Vienna Inn is oblivious to the countless number of world-class musicians that have sat in these rickety booths to enjoy chili dogs and beers over the years. And, from the vibe in the place, I doubt they care.
But still, a coupla chili cheese dogs represented a rite of passage for me at lunch today, and it will add to the list of great destinations and warm memories that I feel fortunate to have collected thus far.
Oh, and trust me… the dogs tasted MUCH better than they look.
Ah, and as Herr Lausmann would remind us, the dogs are legendary for being crispy and chewy at the same time.