Having just had lunch, I was only going to drop into Ben’s to take a look at this institution that’s been around since 1958. But once inside, a waft of grilled meats convinced me to stay and have a “snack.” My friend recommended the chili half-smoke with everything. Even though I wasn’t clear on what a half-smoke was, I ordered it. From what I could tell, it was a sausage about two and a half times larger than a regular dog. I learned that it’s native to Washington, D.C., usually filled with pork and beef and spices, and served on a bun with mustard, onions and chili. (It’s often mistaken for kielbasa.) Regardless of all the controversy, the chili half-smoke at Ben’s was good! My friend and I were supposed to share it, but I ate about three-quarters before reluctantly handing it over.