Geneva, N.Y. — About six years ago, Christopher Bates was named the best young sommelier in the world.
Two years later, he and his wife, Isabel Bogadtke, took over a seasonal hot dog stand outside of Dundee, a village of less than 2,000 people on the western side of Seneca Lake.
FLX Wienery, a restaurant focusing on hot dogs and hamburgers, was a clear step forward for this culinary couple. The restaurant opened in 2014 and was just the beginning of the dining side of FLX Hospitality, a growing family of food, beer and winery outlets run by Bates and Bogadtke.