Craven Dawgs & Ting Reemerges in Norwalk w/ Jamaican Inspired Hot Dogs + Burgers

Darlene and John just celebrated 20 years of marriage this year. The growing popularity of their food trailer will result in a delayed anniversary celebration. “We had plans and wanted to do something, but we were out here working,” Darlene says. “We went home and slept!”

Swing by the Norwalk Town Green on any given day, and you’ll see at least one food truck parked out there. If you meandered over there this summer, you may have noticed a silver trailer that’s about as big as your smallest clothes closet. It’s also where you’ll find Darlene and John Banks slinging Jamaican…hot dogs and burgers?!

Don’t worry, I’ll explain that part in due time.

But are they new? Not really. And they also sort of are.

As Darlene (aka, Chef Darlene B) tells it, Craven Dawgs & Ting was a brand over a decade ago before they pulled their trailer into Norwalk.

“We started about 10 and a half or 11 years ago over by Bridgeport Hospital,” she says. “It was perfect for us at the time. We were right outside (the hospital). They were about to remodel. I mean, we didn’t know that at the time, but that’s probably why they let us stay there!”

John chimes in jokingly, “They knew they were gonna kick us outta there when it came time!”

When construction on the hospital began, Craven Dawgs was left without a space for their trailer and they didn’t feel comfortable going elsewhere, stating is was tough to find another city in Fairfield County that allowed trailers at that particular time.

And despite some fanfare—they were on several web shows, and they made it on Holy & Hungry with Sherri Shepherd on The Cooking Channel—they grew discouraged and put Craven Dawgs on the shelf.

Fast forward to July of 2023. Craven Dawgs is back out there and making waves once again—just ask our friend, The Vulgar Chef, as this was one of his stops on his “The Great Glizzy Tour” adventure.

“We put it on the shelf for 11 years,” Darlene explains. “We did a lot of things in that time. Working for others, working for myself, did a little catering, teaching cooking classes, things like that. It wasn’t until April or May this year when I felt like the holy spirit was telling me to come back out. I was disappointed in myself because I wanted to get out earlier in the season, but I couldn’t seem to get it done until July. We’ve been getting a lot of rave reviews and encouragement and it’s awesome.”

So, what are those rave reviews about exactly?

Well, Craven Dawgs, in short, is all about hot dogs and burgers with Jamaican inspired toppings.

“OCHO RIOS”

“The Don Dada” is a beef hot dog with a snappy natural casing (Darlene won’t divulge which dogs she uses, and we respect that!) with sweet plantains stuffed in the bun and topped with their own homemade jerk chili. Some of their other dogs are the “Ocho Rios” (jerk chili, sweet plantains, chopped onion, spicy mango mustard), the “Junction” (jerk chili, sweet & spicy onions, curry potato salad), and the “Kingston” (homemade baked mac & cheese, sweet & spicy onions, jerk chili) that Darlene says is becoming one of the more popular dogs along with the “Ocho Rios.”

How Darlene came up with the idea to do a menu of hot dogs and smash burgers has to do with being Jamaican that was raised in the states.

“This isn’t at all typical of Jamaican fast food,” she says. “It’s me on a plate. Being Jamaican-American, you’re always being told that you’re not quite Jamaican and you’re not quite American. It’s like, where do I fit? I can cook Jamaican food, but do I really wanna come out here and do that? People would be like, ‘What part of Jamaica are you from?’ Well, I’m not. I was born in Canada and grew up in America. I wouldn’t be able to do the explanation and all of that. What can I do that represents who I am? Hot dogs and burgers. And I love sweet plantains. The sweetness of the plantains against the briny, saltiness of the hot dog, and the spicy, sweetness of our chili.”

Spicy beef patty on cocoa bread. I’m weak.

Those who are looking for something full-on Jamaican—along with your one or two Craven Dawgs, of course—should stop by Wednesdays and Fridays when flaky homemade beef patties (on cocoa bread if you want it) are available.

As far as the future, John mentioned that they hope to be out there into the winter as long as it’s not too cold, and when asked about expansion to a possible storefront, he says, “You think about it, but a trailer or truck can do well as well. Maybe a truck.”

For now, grab your Craven Dawgs, smash burgers (that I’m certainly going back to try), and patties Tuesday through Saturday, 11 – 4.

8 Park Street; Norwalk
203.604.7378; cravendawgs.com
Instagram: @cravendawgs