One weekday morning in Winston-Salem, John Champlin zips into a parking lot near a busy intersection. He doesn’t even have to check the address. He knows he’s in the right place. Anybody driving past could easily miss this white-walled building barely larger than a two-car garage. But not Champlin. He’s come to this cozy spot countless times. He sees it as part of his culinary mission.
Champlin has driven end to end in North Carolina, through all 100 counties. He’s crisscrossed the country, hitting 43 of 50 states, as far south as Miami and as far north as Denali Borough, Alaska. Over the past 11 years, he’s traveled alone, with friends and family, and even with his dog, Sydney, in search of hidden gems, like this unassuming spot in Winston-Salem, to find the best hot dogs in America.
And this little building, a former bakery long known as P.B.’s Takeout, serves some of his favorites in North Carolina.
He has a name for his adventures into what he calls “Weiner World”: Tour de Frank. Champlin’s Instagram account, @tourdefrank, has more than 1,600 followers, loads of photos, and a bit of commentary about every place he’s visited. He locates these spots through tips and online research, and he uses skills honed while earning his MBA to help keep track of what he finds…