What was conceived as a joke between two brothers and their best friend became a must-stop in the Black Hills.
Brothers Michael and Jimmy Chidiac and friend, Ross Cargo, opened The Prairie Dog with one simple vision: To serve hot dogs in an unparalleled and exciting way.
“At the time, Ross and I were talking about the Black Hills and what people never saw up here since we’re from Texas,” explained Michael. “We realized that we never saw food trucks and then we thought maybe we should sell hot dogs, because let’s be honest, no one has ever seen a hotdog food truck.”
In the beginning years of the business, the mobile food truck traveled through various cities.
During The Prairie Dogs’ second season, the general manager at the time of Miner Brewing Company visited the food truck, fell in love with the food, and approached the brothers with the opportunity to bring their truck to specific dates, like concerts and bingo.
At the time, The Prairie Dog was set on a piece of property in Custer, but there was one thing holding the owners back.
“We weren’t allowed to move the trailer according to the variance consistently, but we no longer wanted to move back and forth. We wanted to be in a permanent location,” said Michael.
As the second season was drawing to a close, Michael and Jimmy reached out to Miner, proposing a seasonal partnership and residency on their brewery campus.
“We were put in contact with Matt Keck, one of the owners, and he told us he would love to have us for special events and then we asked what his thoughts were on us being there permanently,” said Michael.
After several communications Matt said, ‘Absolutely.’
The Chidiac brothers composed a proposal of expectations and potential gain, the three shook hands, and The Prairie Dog found its home in the summer of 2022.
“The Prairie Dog has positively impacted both Miner Brewing and Prairie Berry Winery by bringing its loyal customer base along with their business,” shared Elliot Anderson, Miner Brewing Co.’s taproom manager. “It’s created the opportunity for both businesses’ customer base to try something new while still enjoying a familiar meal or beverage.”
“We love Miner Brewery, and our hope would be to add another trailer to their property with another product.” -Michael Chidiac
The Prairie Dog food truck’s menu features an array of creative and delicious hot dog creations, each crafted with fresh, local, and high- quality ingredients.
From the classic Miner’s Mischief with its savory and complex flavors to the Rushmore Rattler, topped with a bit of heat, there’s something for everyone.
Every hot dog is carefully created to satisfy every customers’ palates, with each layer from the bun to the curated topping, taking them on a journey of flavor with every bite.
When biting into the Miner’s Mischief hot dog, customers will experience a combination of mustard, onions, and a homemade sauce containing 23 different ingredients to introduce a simple, yet sophisticated flavor.
The Rushmore Rattler is dressed in a homemade medley of fresh jalapeño, green onions, garlic, and other fresh ingredients. To ensure the heat doesn’t overpower the palate, the bottom of the bun is lined with hand-shredded yellow cheddar cheese.
More at The Prairie Dog
BISON EXCLUSIVES
» The Yankee
1⁄4 lb Free-Range bison burger dressed with American cheese, chopped onions, brown mustard, and shrouded in Miner’s Mischief sauce.
ARTISAN HOT DOGS
» Settler’s Claim
Topped with a line of brown mustard, smothered with buttery, garlic sauerkraut.
HOAGIES
» The Pioneer
Topped with a line of brown mustard, smothered with buttery, garlic sauerkraut.
SIDES
» The Prairie Bolo Salad
Bowtie pasta with a smattering of mayo sprinkled with red peppers, green onions, and celery.
» Bourbon Beans
Made with real Bourbon, maple syrup, and European center-cut bacon.
SWEET ENDING
» Phillip’s Stake
Freshly-baked, decadent triple chocolate chip cookie.
“If we’re going to put something on the menu, it has got to be something that no one else is doing and that we’re going to be the best at doing it, and it drives Jimmy crazy,” laughed Michael.
“It drives me crazy in a good way because Michael will beat it and beat it, and just when we both agree that it’s perfect, he comes up with something else,” Jimmy added with a chuckle.
For every new menu creation, Michael and Jimmy test them on new and existing customers.
“Everything we do has a taste test. We don’t do this in a vacuum,” said Jimmy. “It’s friends, family, customers, everyone tries it. We’re very mindful that it’s not just what we like, but seeing what other people’s thoughts are.”
The Prairie Dog not only sells hot dogs but also handcrafted sandwiches, which have become popular sellers.
The must-try is The General Custer, a bison Philly cheesesteak. The duo designed the culinary treat after experimenting with different cheeses, onions, and pepper combinations in order to integrate the flavors nicely.
“The General Custer is a very popular option among the brewing team,” stated Elliot. “Throw in an East River IPA and you have yourself a delicious summer meal.”
The Chidiac brothers locally source their bison meat from Wild Idea, located in Rapid City. All fruits and vegetables are purchased from the farmers’ market, but their bread and buns are top secret.
“WHEN WE DO OUR TASTE TESTS, WE DO THEM BLIND, SO OUR CUSTOMERS ARE QUITE LITERALLY PICKING WHAT THEY THINK IS BEST.” -Jimmy chidiac
“It’s so secret where we get the bread that I don’t even bring the boxes to work,” shared Michael. “We will not serve our products on any other bread.”
Also included in the thought-out menu are homemade side dishes, adding flavor complements to each hot dog and sandwich.
A signature is The Gold Rush, air-fried tater tots dressed with Miner’s Mischief’s sauce, shredded white cheddar cheese, crowned with a fried egg, and garnished with the jalapeño medley.
“The main duo this past season was the General Custer and The Gold Rush,” shared Jimmy.
Customers are able to enjoy their hot dogs, sandwiches, and sides with a chilled glass of beer from Miner Brewing Company. The varying beers couple nicely with the variety of meats and cheeses The Prairie Dog menu has to offer, says Elliot.
“The beers that pair well with their dishes are East River IPA, Scarlett Red Ale, and West River Pale Ale,” he shared.
Prairie Dog’s commitment to quality extends beyond its hot dogs and hoagies to its packaging.
Every order is wrapped in eco-friendly food boxes and paired with functional and purposeful utensils.
“We could have easily slapped our food onto a paper plate or stuffed it into a Styrofoam container, but we wanted to be different and treat orders carefully,” said Michael.
The Chidiac brothers work on three centered pillars: Quality, speed, and price.
Every topping is made in-house, providing the best quality ingredients and control. Their internal systems are optimized to have orders ready in 15 minutes or less. At The Prairie Dog, Michael and Jimmy ensure that their customers will always feel like they received a fair deal.
Jimmy and Michael share that after all, it’s their customers and their experiences that count.
