Long gone are the days where hot dogs consist of only ketchup and mustard. What started as a special tradition has now become a favorite food for leisure eating at lunch, dinner or both. Hot dog connoisseurs all over Charlotte have created some of the most unique — yet strange — combinations of food to throw on top of this wiener-bun combo. From macaroni and cheese to cucumbers and onion rings, you can find the Q.C. loading just about anything on a hot dog.

We’ve all had the mid-day dessert craving where going outside into Charlotte’s heat and traffic is too dreadful to consider. But for one day, you’re in luck. To sweeten their reputation, Uber is utilizing its rideshare service to offer their customers a cool dessert at the touch of a button — on your smartphone.

Partnering with local ice cream trucks, Uber is celebrating National Ice Cream Day (which is Sunday) a little early by delivering ice cream in 144 cities, with Charlotte being one.

Today from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the company known for its hidden costs is offering you five treats for $25. On the menu are a variety of ice cream choices from Sticks and Cones, Mr. Cones and more.

Heads up, y'all: A little self-promotion.

In case you weren't around last week, JJ's Red Hots released Creative Loafing's signature hot dog, the Fear and Loafing. Fans of the Frank ate 241 Fear and Loafing dogs in one week - setting the record for most dogs of the week sold!

• Mert Jones

Missed out on this sweet and spicy deliciousness?! No worries. JJ's has inducted the Fear and Loafing dog into the Hall of Fame. Grab yours at JJ's!

The Fear & Loafing dog topped with bacon, crushed pineapple, Sriracha, seasoned house chips and cilantro. Best served while enjoying THIS VIDEO made by one of our staffers. Yes, one of our staff members owns a hot dog costume.

$3.99.
Available on the Hall of Fame menu
JJ's Red Hots in Dilworth
1514 East Blvd.
980-225-8880

JJ's Red Hots in Ballantyne
15105 John J Delaney Drive
980-335-0601

This week and this week only, taste the goodness that is Creative Loafing's signature hot dog, dubbed Fear and Loafing.

• Mert Jones
• CL marketing manager Nikki Wilson samples the Fear and Loafing.

The good folks at JJ's Red Hots - which recently placed 43rd on Fast Casual's "Top 100 Movers & Shakers" list - have crafted a dog to match the spirit of CL: spicy, tangy and a little sweet. Toppings on the Fear and Loafing include bacon, crushed pineapple, Sriracha, JJ's seasoned house chips and cilantro.

$3.99.
Available only through June 15.
JJ's Red Hots
1514 East Blvd.
980-225-8880.

Just over a month ago, Luna's Living Kitchen moved into a new and improved space in South End, directly across the street from its old location. Isn't it pretty? I was fortunate enough to be the first person to walk through the doors on opening day and am nearly (but not quite) ashamed to say that I have taken a second residence inside the new space. There are worse addictions in the world.

• Photo by Keia Mastrianni

Remember when Charlotte only had a handful of food trucks? Creative Loafing remembers.

Now, members of the Charlotte Food Truck Association, comprised of more than 50 local food trucks, plan to respond to a recent food truck proposal from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Department. They and representatives from the Institute for Justice and Action NC will attend a Citizen Advisory Group meeting tonight at 6 p.m. at the Government Center, 600 E. Fourth St.

• Mert Jones
• The Tin Kitchen was the food vendor of choice at CL's Birthday Bash at Birdsong Brewing on April 26.

Creative Loafing has an immediate opening for a blogger to contribute to Eat My Charlotte. We're looking for a local, deadline-capable writer who has a thorough understanding of the Queen City's food scene and can report on it with clarity and conciseness, insight and voice. Lots of voice.

There are tons of food blogs out there on the Internet - Eat My Charlotte aims to set itself apart by focusing on all that the local food scene has to offer yet doing so in a snarky, fun and critical way. Our blogger will be responsible for sharing local dining news and information on upcoming foodie events, as well as analyzing Charlotte's food culture. He or she must post one to three times a week.

We want to not only be involved in daily conversations about Charlotte on the Web - we want to be at the forefront of those conversations.

This is definitely not a full-time position, nor are we offering a competitive pay. What we are offering, however, is the opportunity to write for the coolest media outlet in the city. We're also offering a little fame.

Interested and qualified applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and three sample blog posts to: backtalk@creativeloafing.com.

5Church and Baku were just named in the top 100 places to eat in the U.S. by Open Table, a popular online resource for restaurant reviews and reservations. This isn't an arbitrary list by some snooty critic, either; the ranks were compiled by more than 5 million reviews by diners in all 50 states and D.C.

Of all these reviews, restaurants in only 21 states made the cut - two of these were right here in Charlotte. Check out the 2014 Diners' Choice Award Winners for the Top 100 Hot Spot Restaurants in America to see your local restaurants honored alongside the fairest of them all in California, New York, and more.

It's a proud day to be part of the Charlotte foodie scene.

• Photo courtesy of Tupelo Honey Charlotte Facebook

Beginning today through this Wednesday, Tupelo Honey Cafe will donate 20 percent of all restaurant proceeds to YWCA Central Carolinas in celebration of its 112th anniversary. Yep, the local chapter dedicated to empowering women has been forging a path for social justice since 1902.

Since Tupelo Honey (finally) filled the space in South End formerly occupied by Pewter Rose, its has set a clear intention to give back locally. It introduced its partnership to YWCA Central Carolinas during grand opening festivities and show continued support with community dinners for the residents of their Families Together program and Women in Transition program. In addition, Tupelo Honey Cafe will start nutritional programming and cooking demos for the YWCA Youth Learning Centers this spring.

Today through Wednesday, I can't think of a better time to grab a biscuit in the name of altruism. Tupelo Honey is located at 1820 South Blvd. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner starting at 8 a.m.