How do they make Hot Dogs where you live?

[DonCoquixote]

http://www.seriouseats.com/2008/07/america-regional-hot-dog-styles-coneys-half-smokes-reds-whites.html

This started because of another thread, but as I used to sell Hot Dogs, I was curious, namely because I never realized there were so many variants on the hot dog. It is not politics, I know, but it is American, as we have adopted Hot Dogs as an American food, yet have variants, which might say something about us.

[Cal Carpenter]

1. Coneys

Southeast Michigan.

It's generally the only time I ever eat hot dogs anymore - at a nice little coney diner, maybe a few times a year.. Mmmmmmmmmmmm.... delicious. Albeit rather gluttonous

[last1standing]

8. I've taken people from across the globe to Lafayette for their first coney.

Nearly without exception the reaction has gone from utter disgust to culinary amazement. Not always in the same day but rarely has anyone not asked to go back during a later visit.

Two with everything, fries and a rootbeer for me, thanks.

[loli phabay]

2. first arrive after someone hits deer with their minivan, probuably lost tourist

Remove coats said tourists have put on deer to keep it warm, shoot deer to humanely euthanize said deer. Call buddy with truck to come get it. Watch as it disappears into his garage, pick up deer sausage, jerky and steaks couple of days later.

[ancianita]

3. It's one of our many local Chicago secrets -- Hot Doug's.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Doug%27s

[Curmudgeoness]

4. There are two competing popular hot dogs here.

One would be the coneys (chili, mustard, onions). The other is a hot dog with sauerkraut.

Odd that they say coneys are "Midwest", but we are in PA.

[Sheldon Cooper]

46. Coney Island dogs in Indiana, PA and New Castle too.

And two hots with everything from the Hot Dog Shop in Butler. Yummy. It's 6:00 AM and I'm hungry for a hot dog!

[John1956PA]

56. There is a "Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe" chain which started 50 years ago in New Brighton, PA.

The chain now has eleven restaurants locations. One is located at 112 Alameda Plaza, Butler, PA.

The chain is popular for its "chili dogs" and for its hot dogs with "everything" (i. e., chili, mustard, and onions).

[Sheldon Cooper]

70. I've had those, too!

They're good.

[Curmudgeoness]

71. I used to go to New Castle often for Coney Island.

We have some good hot dog shops closer to home for me now, so I don't go all the way to New Castle now.....unless I am in the mood for Pagley's pasta.

[PoliticAverse]

5. How they are really made...

[Oscarmonster13]

10. oh god

there's no WAY I am watching that! The still shot is enough to make you

ewwwww!


But to answer the OP, I like my hot dogs from Kasper's in Oakland, CA...used to go there as a kid. steamed buns, the dog actually 'popped' when you bit it...they were SOOOOOO good! ketchup, mustard and maybe a couple tomato slices...

[DesertFlower]

6. when i lived in NYC i loved the hot dogs

from the street vendors with mustard and sauerkraut. also the street vendors had the best falafals.

now i buy hebrew national reduced fat and cook them at home. sometimes i broil them -- other times i steam them in sauerkraut.

[PoliticAverse]

13. Also loved them with the mustard and sauerkraut usually, occasionally with onions

instead of the sauerkraut. And a knish!

[DesertFlower]

25. also loved nathan's hot dogs. sometimes

we'd drive to coney island just for hot dogs. then one opened near times square -- a few blocks from where i worked.

[smokey nj]

49. Dirty water dogs - YUM!!

[alphafemale]

53. There are these short little cheddar wurst sausages.

I forget the brand.

Serve those up with some kraut browned onion and brown mustard.

yum

[alphafemale]

55. Broiled until they just start to pucker up and sing.

Then mustard and onion.

People who put ketchup on a hotdog should be publicly mocked.

[catnhatnh]

7. My brother and I had a stand in southern New Hampshire...

Top seller was bacon/chili/cheese. Maple Leaf natural casing wrapped with bacon, deep fried, and topped with a meat chili sauce and cheddar cheese. Some do use celery salt up here...

[Blue_In_AK]

9. Most of the street vendors up here

sell reindeer sausages, but they're only out in the summertime. You can get whatever you want on them.

[trackfan]

11. Los Angeles - the Bacon Wrapped Hot Dog,

which, I think, originated in Mexico, actually. The street vendors here sell them, and they're darn good, slathered with onions and peppers.

[Codeine]

66. Coming out of the LA Convention Center a few weeks ago

I was amazed at the sheer number of bacon dog vendors -- they were literally everywhere you turned on the sidewalks. And every cart was doing brisk business. I guess a bunch of hungry comic book nerds represent a natural customer base for bacon-wrapped anything.

[frazzled]

12. Chicago hot dogs come in one particular way

and must be put together in a particular order. Anything else is not a true Chicago hot dog.

It starts with a steamed poppyseed bun, into which a Vienna Beef hot dog is nestled. Then toppings are added in the following order, with no variations: yellow mustard, bright green relish, fresh chopped onions, red tomato wedges, a kosher-style pickle spear, a couple of spicy sport peppers and finally, a dash of celery salt.





These are the only condiments permitted. NO KETCHUP! Ketchup is anathema.

[DonCoquixote]

14. I have enjoyed C dogs

But I have to confess, even I, former Hot Dog Vendor, am amazed at the technical detail. It's not fast food, it's engineering!

[PoliticAverse]

15. Interesting, seems more like a whole meal than a hot dog. n/t

[lunasun]

30. No ketchup and that relish is best when unaturally green !!

[Sheldon Cooper]

45. It's funny that Chicagoans would put a tossed salad on top of their hot dog, and then

get all huffy over a squirt of ketchup. Makes no sense.

[octoberlib]

16. I prefer mustard and sauerkraut.

Here, in NC , they put coleslaw on every damn thing. My favorite hot dog is the Dirty Jerz( Sauerkraut, Pickle Relish, Diced Onions, Deli Mustard)at JJ's Red Hots.

[DonCoquixote]

18. so you guys are the slaw dogs

That explains it, as Florida just got a chain called Thornton's...they explaiend they like slaw where they come from, which is why they offer it...

[octoberlib]

23. Yep. Slaw on hamburgers too.

I was raised in the mid west and had never heard of such a thing. It isn't bad , I just prefer sauerkraut.

[pipoman]

17. coneys but actually, in the plains states a hot dog

is a hot dog...regions are more sausage driven here..A lot of cultural sausages. I grew up in a swede community..they did potato sausage and another sort of bland sausage, I can't remember..I am now a chef in a Low German, Swiss, and Russian Mennonite community..they have adopted a smokey "German sausage"..small grocery stores and ethnic meat markets become well known for their German sausage..

[DonCoquixote]

20. MMMM

We have some mennonites here in Florida, so I would probably be familiar with some of the sausages, and my familar I mean eat them. I used to hate the idea of eating Deer, and I still do, considering I used to see deer at my house in PA. But I unwittingly ate a Venison sausage, made in a german style, and I am ashamed to admit it was delicious, though I would never order it again for fear that it was the relative of some of my old friends the deer.

[solarhydrocan]

19. The best hot dog is a tofu pup

grill 'em till they're almost black. Most regular hot dog eaters can't tell the difference.

Ingredients

Water, soy protein isolate, soy oil, organic spray dried tofu (organic dehulled soybeans, calcium sulfate), contains 2% or less natural flavors (from vegetable sources), beet powder, yeast extract, sunflower oil, natural smoke flavor, salt, paprika oleoresin, vegetable gums, tomato pulp.

Mmm good, and good for you!

Lightlife also makes a meat free hamburger that is to die for.
http://www.lightlife.com/Vegan-Food-Vegetarian-Diet/Vegetarian-Burgers/Vegetarian-Grilling-Burgers

[DonCoquixote]

21. I do like Tofu

though I cannot imagine how it could make a good dog. Now I have seen Tofu made to taste like Ricotta cheese, but a hot dog?

[solarhydrocan]

26. Try one!

If you don't like it take the remaining package back and say it smells funny. Free test.

Seriously, these tofu pups are really good. Some Lightlife products are fantastic and some are kind of so so. Tofu pups are beyond fantastic. I've been eating them for more than a decade.

A blind taste test both surprised and angered friends. LOL

[Codeine]

68. Soybeans are magic.

Food scientists can do remarkable things with soy proteins -- delicious soy hotdogs are one of the best.

[RebelOne]

24. I have seen Lightlife products in my local Kroger,

but I have not seen the Tofu pups.

[Codeine]

67. Try the Tofurky kielbasas grilled and slathered in mustard.

Amazing.

[pinboy3niner]

22. We have ours shipped in

[PoliticAverse]

29. The things you can order on the Internet these days... n/t

[pinboy3niner]

33. Of course, you have to harvest them first

[tammywammy]

27. Hebrew National.

I'll eat them any way, except with sauerkraut. I detest sauerkraut. But chili dog, Chicago dog, mustard/relish/cheddar, bacon & grilled onions, and anything else they can think of.

During Oktoberfest I had an awesome bratwurst with brown mustard, crispy bacon and grilled onions.

[Tom Ripley]

39. +1000 for Hebrew Nationals

[MADem]

51. Yep, they're kosher, they're halal, they cost more, but you know there aren't

a lot of eyeballs and assholes up in that mix!

I don't do hotdogs a lot, but when I do, I spend the money and go for the HN ones!

[Kali]

28. estilo sonora!

Get a beef hot dog and wrap it like a mummy with bacon. Mesquite bacon is good.
Fry it on a griddle until the bacon gets crisp. Some people like to fry the bacon a little first and then wrap it around the hot dog and then fry them both in the bacon grease.
Take a hot dog bun or bolillo roll that has been slit to make a pocket in the middle. If you want you can toast them a little or, in the case of the bolillo roll, steam it for a minute to make it soft. Work with what you have on hand or what you feel like.
Put mayo, mustard and ketchup on the bun and insert the bacon-wrapped dog. If you want to squirt the mayo on top, like they do at the stands, mix it with a little lemon juice or water to thin it out. Put it into a squeeze bottle or sandwich bag with a corner cut off and squeeze it on top when you are done, along with the mustard and ketchup.
Add warm pinto beans, cheese (shredded Mexican cotijo cheese, cheddar, whatever), chopped tomatoes, chopped onions, sliced or blended jalapenos or some type of jalapeno/green chili salsa.
“Just stick whatever you want on there, and whatever amount, to make it taste good.” (You hear this talking to many Mexican cooks)

http://tucsoncitizen.com/tucsontales/2009/12/10/tucsons-sonoran-hot-dog-like-a-chili-dog-on-steroids-wrecipe/

[MADem]

52. I would eat that!

My daddy used to make something like that, only he would put cheese on the dog, then bacon.

Sinful.

[LeftyMom]

31. The OG foodies of Northern California would not be caught dead eating a hot dog.

Not even at the ballpark. Scratch that, ESPECIALLY not at the ball park (because Doyer fans like them- therefore, like The Wave and beach balls they are strictly verboten.)

[PoliticAverse]

34. they would if it were renamed, on artisan bread and cost 5x as much... n/t

[LeftyMom]

35. Organic artisinal sausages? Yes. They'd eat the hell out of that. But a hot dog? Hell no.

Feed them to your kids and somebody's likely to call CPS.

[Gormy Cuss]

32. I grew up in Maine and thought REAL hot dogs had a red casing.

They were made by Jordan's or Kirschner's

[jpak]

57. Kayem still makes them and they are redder than that photo

Yum!

[Gormy Cuss]

65. Also thought that "all beef" hotdogs were weird.

Plenty of pork in those red dogs.

[Agschmid]

36. Boiled!

[Tom Ripley]

37. Regional preferences are why there are no powerhouse national hot dog chains

[DonCoquixote]

73. I agree

Though in California they have Weinerschnitzel, which frankly has some of the worst dogs in the world. Sonic does not do a bad dog; they even do Chicago style ones.

And whatver you do, New Orleans has a LOT of great food, even street food. Get a Po Boy, get a Muffeletta but do not buy a "lucky dog". This franchise uses Lykes, the wrost dogs, and they overkill it with relish. These things are not even good to absorb the liquor after a night of drinking.

[demosincebirth]

38. They scrape the cutting boards.

[sakabatou]

40. I don't know since the only kosher dogs are Hebrew National

You can't find them anywhere but in stores.

[Initech]

41. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm... Pinks.

[ScreamingMeemie]

42. Texas can't do hot dogs. The only great hot dog is a Detroit Coney Dog.

I miss them.

[TexasProgresive]

48. James' Coney Island in downtown Houston

was quite good and then the worst thing that can happen to an eatery-they became a chain- quality sank like the Titanic. For a while the original was still good. Perhaps they got it together but I doubt it. You can't franchise quality.

Reading this history from James' web site I see that my prejudice is bolstered. It is my belief that any eatery run by Greeks no matter what they serve is of highest quality. I did not know that James' Coney Island was founded and run by a pair of Greek brothers for years.
http://www.jamesconeyisland.com/history.php#&panel1-7

The regular dog at James' was mustard, dog, chile sauce and chopped onions. I still miss sitting at those school desks eating dogs with my buds.

There was another coney island by the Alabama Theater on Shepherd- It was much bigger than James' we used to frequent it on weekends after taking in a movie or buying records at this great record store- can't remember the name.

Ah! At 63 I guess it's OK for me to sink into delicious nostalgia.

[longship]

43. "Get yer Red Hots!" at Tiger Stadium.

I grew up in Detroit where the art of the Coney Island hot dog came to its culmination at the Lafayette on Woodward Ave. downtown. But at Tiger Stadium they had the Red Hot.

Pitched in the stands by a burly guy -- he had to be to carry his hot water filled gizmo up and down the stands -- with the immortal "Get yer Red Hots!!!" You had a choice of two condiments, mustard and/or onions. Any good Tiger fan knew the only option really was mustard AND onions.

The funny thing happened when somebody asked about ketchup. The vendor would crankily remind the customer that ketchup was available at the concession stand behind the stands; these are Red Hots, with mustard and onions. The customer would never ask for ketchup again, I assure you. But he would learn to appreciate the simple elegance of a good hot dog smothered in mustard and freshly chopped zippy onions.

And they called them "Red Hots".

How about those Tigers?

[dipsydoodle]

44. Not sure about hot but these two look pretty cool

[Laelth]

47. Middle Georgia is home to a unique franchise called "Nu-Way."

We've had Nu-Way since 1916. It's a Greek chili dog, and it's excellent.

http://www.nu-wayweiners.com/ (beware music on homepage)



Oprah likes to visit Nu-Way when she comes to town.



-Laelth

[Sheri]

64. nu-way is unique.

i like the special, red hot-dogs. mr. sheri likes the chili burgers, but it's all the onion in it that makes it so good.

[rucky]

50. on rollers. at gas stations :(

w're culturally void here in OH, when it comes to hotdogs. Skyline coneys don't count.

In New Mexico, we would roll them in a tortilla with some green chile and cheddar.

[marmar]

54. Only one way for Detroiters......

....... Lafayette Coney Island-style

[randome]

58. With loving care in a little mousy sweatshop.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]A ton of bricks, a ton of feathers. It's still gonna hurt.[/center][/font][hr]

[DinahMoeHum]

59. Split and grilled, at Walter's. . .

Went to high school right across the road from them, and within walking distance from my family home.


http://www.waltershotdogs.com/index_flash.html

[MineralMan]

60. Kinda like this:

[MineralMan]

61. Nathan's Famous Longer than the Bun

Whole wheat bun.
Boil or grill hot dogs.
In bun, put, in this order:

Finely diced raw white onion (about a tablespoon) Do not use sweet onion.
Dill pickle relish (sparingly)
Brown mustard (plenty)
Finely grated cheddar cheese. (to cover other ingredients)

When hot dogs are cooked, add to top of ingredients in bun while very hot. Press sausage down into ingredients. Wait for 30 seconds for cheese to melt.

Consume with extreme greed.

[GladRagDahl]

62. Hot Dogs at Cafe George V (Paris)

It's not where I live, but I always get a kick out of the American style hot dogs I got in Paris. (American style was the description I got from our waiter). What came was two German brats on a hollowed out baguette, topped with ementaler cheese and toasted. Ketchup, mayo and fries were served on the side.

[blueamy66]

63. Ted's from Buffalo NY

Best dogs ever.

Chargrilled....whites, foot longs, red hots...

Ted's opened a store in Tempe AZ and the line snakes out the door.

[Freddie]

69. Yocco's Hot Dogs, Allentown PA

A longish thin dog cooked well-browned on the grill, served in a steamed bun with chili sauce, cheese, onions and mustard. They're even good naked. Must have the crinkle-cut fries, fried in peanut oil. Mmmm...
"Yocco" is the local pronunciation of Iacocca, the business was founded by Lee Iacocca's family.

[bluestate10]

72. In my part of the country there are artisan versions of hot dogs being made and sold. nt