Grilled Flavor Is Top Dog at Toasty Buns

There's no better dog than a grilled dog. Toasty Buns food truck owner Ryan Grandmont has made it his mission to bring the tradition of grilled hot dogs – and toasted buns – back to the hungry customers of Keene. Grandmont opened Toasty Buns more than a year ago in April of 2023 and says the business was originally a pushcart that he bought as a hobby. After serving customers from the cart for a summer, he upgraded to a food truck last fall and has moved to his current spot on Railroad Street in downtown Keene. "It's street food," he said of his menu of hot dogs, nachos, and fresh-squeezed lemonade. "People love it." What sets Toasty Buns apart, he says, is that his all-beef hot dogs are grilled, and the buns are a New England-style roll that is buttered on a wheel and then griddled on the flat top. The dogs can be ordered "naked" for customers to top themselves with the traditional condiments of ketchup, mustard and relish, or they can be ordered with extra toppings such as chili, cheese, bacon, jalapenos, fried onions and sauerkraut. Similarly, the nachos can also be ordered with just cheese, or loaded up with chili, jalapenos or bacon. Grandmont strives to keep prices affordable so everyone can enjoy the food. His fresh-squeezed lemonade, which comes in multiple flavors and is served in quart containers, also has a huge following, he said. The lemonade will phase out soon for fall, though, and be replaced by a more seasonal beverage like apple cider or cocoa. The side gig has become a way of life for Grandmont, his wife and his three kids, who regularly help out in the truck. He's looking to add a second location to the business in the upcoming months in Massachusetts that will be run by his son. "What started out as a hobby became popular," he said. "The first year we were just winging it. We bought a lot of extra stuff and learned some lessons." After ending a decades-long career in IT due to health challenges, the truck has been a perfect fit for Grandmont's needs for a flexible schedule. He sets up on Railroad Street on Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and then often participates in downtown events or travels to other local event locations over the weekend. While he loves the energy of downtown and chatting with his regulars, he says business can be finicky and difficult to predict., as well as very weather dependent. The events tend to be more profitable, and he enjoys supporting the efforts of nonprofits, like setting up at the Feeding Tiny Tummies Fall Festival at Cheshire Fair on Oct. 12, which happens to also be the same day as Keene Pumpkin Festival. It'll be a busy day, he said, but they'll do both events. "We go to anything we're invited to," he laughed. "We've made friends with a lot of the local businesses now and we're invited to more and more events. We're very busy." The loyal following that he's been able to build in a short time is rewarding, he said. "Everyone seems happy to see the hot dog guy and I love it," he said. "The best compliment is when someone comes back for seconds." Hungry customers will be able to line up for their own taste of Toasty Buns at The Keene Sentinel's 225th Anniversary: A Community Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 7, at Alumni Field during the evening's celebrity softball game. Other food trucks at the game will include Kona Ice and Winnie's Wagon. Several additional food trucks will be present in Downtown Keene during the daytime portion of the anniversary event, which kicks off at 10 a.m. Serving up delicious fare downtown will be Fatman's Table, The Smoothie Bus, Kona Ice, Groovy Grill, Randy's Concessions, Winnie's Wagon, Soel Sistas, Alyssa Winot and Wicked Pizza. The food trucks will be located in the county parking lot behind Lindy's Diner. For more information and event location updates, find Toasty Buns on Facebook or contact 603-400-3310 or toastybunsofkeene@gmail.com.