DINING: Livin’ large at the Longhorn

  The Longhorn Casino, 5288 Boulder Highway, has introduced a 1 1/2-pound, 22-inch Vienna hot dog.
  Larry Kunz, the casino's food-and-beverage director, said the monster dog continues a Longhorn tradition. About 10 years ago, he said, a 1-pound “monsterburger” was introduced for Halloween. By popular request, he said, the burger became a permanent part of the casino's menu. Anyone who finishes one (including garnish and fries) gets a certificate attesting to the fact. Kunz said he occasionally encounters parents who come in, “rolling their eyes,” reporting that their kid is begging for a chance to earn a certificate. Currently, he said, the casino sells 225 of the big burgers, at $9.99 for the whole plate.
  It was the success of the burger, he said, that prompted a vendor to see if the Longhorn was interested in the new hot dog. He recruited Great Buns Bakery to make special buns and had to order special plates to accommodate it. If the dog proves successful as well, he said it will become a permanent part of the menu. Like the burger, it comes with fries and sells for $9.99.