Where to eat vegan hot dogs around Tampa Bay for the 4th of July

Something about the 4th of July weekend makes me want a hot dog real bad.

• I'm not alone: Tampa is one of the top national markets for hot dog and dinner sausage sales, according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council.

While it seems there's nothing more patriotic than slapping some meat on the grill, you'd be surprised how delightful meat-free hot dogs can be — and there's plenty of delicious options around Tampa Bay.

• A good hot dog is ultra-processed and doesn't resemble real meat anyway, so why not?

Where to go: You can always get a veggie dog at Mel's in Tampa.

• On Saturday, Nah Dogs pop-up cart — my favorite! — will be serving its "Stop Scaring My Dog" topped with baked beans, coleslaw, macaroni salad and Carolina BBQ sauce at Valhalla Bakery in St. Pete from noon-3pm.

Do try this at home: My favorite brands for grilling are Lightlife Jumbo Smart Dogs and Field Roast Smoked Frankfurters.

Go deeper: The Axios Re:Cap podcast talked to Ethan Brown, founder and CEO of Beyond Meat, to learn more about changing consumer tastes and what it means for the future of meat.