Regional Takes on an American Classic...

[TMurphy]

The "Best Town for BBQ" thread starting turning into an interesting discussion on the different foods found in different parts of the country. I enjoy reading about what people in other parts of the country (and world) consider their local specialties; the stuff you just can't get as good anywhere else. I know around here, it's Italian food (including pizza*), and diners. But as I was thinking about it, I came to realize that there is one food that is very unique. It is both a national staple, found in every region of the US, and very localized. We've all had 'em, but we all expect them to be prepared a certain way, the way they do it where you live/grew up.

I'm talking, of course, about the hot dog.

Here in the northern NJ/NYC area there are (to me), really only two ways to have a hot dog. The first is something I've only encountered in North Jersey, and that is the deep fried hot dog, found at places like Hiram's, Rutt's Hut, and the sadly departed Callahan's.





(the hot dog on the right in the second photo is covered in Rutt's Hut's awesome mustard relish...an absolute must if you're there!)

The second, and far more famous way, can be found on almost every street corner in NYC...the dirty water dog. Drop 'em in hot water, and just let 'em cook. Really, really hard to beat.

How do you eat 'em?? What's the best way, as far as you know, to prepare a hot dog??


*I mean no disrespect to the folks in Chicago. Deep dish pizza and thin crust pizza are two seperate things in my opinion. My reference to the NYC metro area being the best place for pizza was referring exclusively to thin, NY-style pizza.

[The Jackson]

When they are made with salmon and have a trendy Flash website interface

http://www.franktitude.com/" target="_blank

[ken k]

Lehigh Valley in eastern PA has Yocco's hot dogs. Founded by Lee Iacocca's grand father.

Great Coney style dog complete with secret sauce, onions and mustard and you gotta get the pierogies!!!

http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overvie ... RefID=3370" target="_blank


ken k

[ASTuba]

Here in Rochester, the local way to eat a hot dog is on what is known as a Garbage Plate. It generally features two hot dogs, served on a bed of french fries and macaroni salad, covered with Meat Sauce (Think similar to Cincinnati chili), mustard and raw chopped onions. They're great after a hard night of drinking, not that I've ever done that. Most every place in Rochester has these, but the original is Nick Tahou's.

[k001k47]

I don't know what they're called specifically... but "perros calientes" are wrapped in bacon and topped with tomato, onion, and mayo in some stands here. I think "chile" or salsa is also added but I'm not sure... I haven't had one in a while. In fact, this makes me want to go and order one.

[Todd S. Malicoate]

To answer the original question:

How do you eat 'em?? What's the best way, as far as you know, to prepare a hot dog??

Grilled over open coals...slowly, on the cooler end of the grill (leave the hotter middle part for the burgers).

...the dirty water dog. Drop 'em in hot water, and just let 'em cook. Really, really hard to beat.

Ugh. Allow me to express my respectful disagreement.

[MartyNeilan]

Here's another shoutout for Rutt's Hutt.

[eupher61]

at any MLB ballpark...

[Evil Ronnie]

My heart will always belong to the classic east coast/Detroit/Greek style Coney dog, but since moving here eight years ago, I've become very fond of the classic Chicago style hot dog, with all the trimmings: mustard, neon green relish, tomato, pickle, sport peppers, sometimes cucumber, celery salt, and occasionally lettuce.

http://www.viennabeef.com/culture/chgodoghistory.asp" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

[TMurphy]

A question:

Why is the particular style of hot dog found in Detroit called a "Coney"?? To my understanding, it's short for "Coney-Island Style," but you won't find a hot dog like that in Coney Island (the only thing you'll find there is the original Nathan's).

[Evil Ronnie]

From Wikipedia:

Coney Island hot dog (also Coney dog) refers to two different kinds of hot dogs.

In some areas, it is a hot dog made from beef with casing, topped with an all meat chili, diced yellow onion and yellow mustard. This type of dog was primarily developed in Detroit, Michigan, and served there and in the "heartland" states; that is, the non-coastal states of the U.S.

In other areas, most notably central and western New York, a Coney is a white hot dog, a stronger and more spicey variety of the traditional pork hot dog. These are sometimes also referred to as "white hots." In the Syracuse area, some people pronounce it "cooneys;" Heid's Restaurant of nearby Liverpool, New York is famous for its coneys. Coney dogs of this variety are usually served bare or with mustard. [1]

Ironically, "Coney Island hot dog" describes a product that is unknown in its namesake, Coney Island, New York, where hot dogs (usually called "franks" from frankfurter) are traditionally made only from beef and served plain or with sauerkraut on a bun without other adornment except the availability of mustard, which at Nathan's was applied by the customer. The only reason for the name is the generic hot dog's origins in Coney Island, where it said to have been invented by Charles Feltman in 1867, [2] who put a Vienna sausage in a roll and called it "Coney Island Red Hots." Some people, unsure of its ingredients, called it a hot dog.

In many locations, a "Coney Island hot dog" includes "coney sauce," which is generally a beanless chili. This variation of the "Coney Island hot dog" is thought to have been invented in the state of Michigan by various claimants (including Todoroff's [3] in Jackson, Michigan or American Coney Island[4] in Detroit). The first coney island in Michigan was Lafayette Coney Island followed 2 years later by American Coney island next door.

[TMurphy]

I still prefer the cased dogs at Nathan's on Coney Island with chili, onions and mustard. Mmm, dogs that crunch!

I have only been there once, and it was just last summer (2007). While the Nathan's dogs were everything you'd expect them to be (natural casing dogs are the very best, it's a shame all Nathan's don't serve them), the rest of my Coney Island experience left much to be desired. I was not impressed, and won't be returning there any time soon. I didn't even ride the Cyclone, as it was about $7 per ride, and that just seemed excessive. Given the almost 2 hour travel time to get thereby train, I'd rather go to the Jersey Shore...though I cannot get Nathan's there.

Ronnie...I've read the Wikipedia article, and although it provides interesting info, it doesn't really express why the Michigan "Coney," with chili, onions and mustard, is a Coney. Tasty, no doubt.

Still, I think I'd prefer a ripper with ketchup and relish.

[ASTuba]

I went for the first time last night to Rutt's Hut, and now know what is so wonderful about the Ripper. My God, what a hot dog!!!! I just woke up about 20 minutes ago, and I'm already wanting another one, maybe two..... alright 5!

[Tuba Guy]

I used to live in NY (born there, lived there for a while). Nathan's hot dogs are awesome...I remember always getting excited when we got to go to our local Nathans...I even used to sleep in a shirt that I got after they remodeled the store (it was an XL Barq's Root Beer shirt...I still have it, and it's at least 15 years later, I think)
If you want the best hot dogs ever, though, go to Hiram's. It's in Fort Lee, NJ. Best hot dogs ever. That's always the highlight of whenever I get to go back to the east coast.

[OldsRecording]

Ever been to Maine?

redhotdogs180180.jpg

Jordan's 'Red Snappers". There's just something about that weird red food coloring that adds to the flavor.

[TMurphy]

If you want the best hot dogs ever, though, go to Hiram's. It's in Fort Lee, NJ. Best hot dogs ever. That's always the highlight of whenever I get to go back to the east coast.

Hiram's rocks. That's why I mentioned it in the first post of the thread.

It's a shame, though, that Callahan's, which was across the street from Hiram's for over 50 years, closed down a few years ago. I guess Hiram's won the hot dog war...

[djwesp]

Nebraskans are obsessed with Fairbury Hot dogs. Named after the town in Nebraska they are manufactured at.

Quite frankly they are disgusting! So much red dye in them, they actually drench and turn the hot dog bun red.

When I marched corps, and everytime I'm in the area of Allentown, PA, I MUST GO TO YOCCO'S! Yocco's dogs aren't too fancy, just good stuff and I always get a large Pierogies!


GOTTA LOVE YOCCO sauce

[Dan Schultz]

Back in my high school days (damn... that's been a long time ago!), I worked for a summer at Abe Shotz's 'Stopover Diner' here in Evansville, Indiana. He had an interesting way of preparing a hot dog. He started with one of those huge natural casing franks. He used a knife to make small cuts all over the weenie so when it was put into the deep fryer, it almost formed a circle and had raised 'crispy' welts all over it. The called it something like a 'Frillie Dillie'. It remotely resembled a donut called 'cruller'. One of the best dogs I ever tasted and I've never seen anything like it again.

[Tuba Guy]

If you want the best hot dogs ever, though, go to Hiram's. It's in Fort Lee, NJ. Best hot dogs ever. That's always the highlight of whenever I get to go back to the east coast.

Hiram's rocks. That's why I mentioned it in the first post of the thread.

It's a shame, though, that Callahan's, which was across the street from Hiram's for over 50 years, closed down a few years ago. I guess Hiram's won the hot dog war...

It wasn't a war, Callahan's was no competition.
It was funny, once my family was there and it was a subway series. Something happened and their manager got thrown out...but we couldn't start cheering because it was a Mets area...ah, good times...I miss living back there, haha

[tubatooter1940]

A tourist couple from overseas had heard much about the American hot dog.
As soon as they arrived in New York, they stopped at the first street hot dog vender they found and ordered two hot dogs and were served two hot, steamy ones.
The man said to his wife, "I'm not sure I want to eat this. What part of the dog did you get?"