Dog Fight One Town Two Pedigree Dogs

Dog Fight One Town Two Pedigree Dogs

I don't live in Troy, NY but I sure love the two top dog and sausage producers that remain there. Helmbolds has been a regional favorite for many years, but so has the Troy Pork Store.
Which is better and truly the top area dog? Of course, I had to find out for myself. This is how the dog fight began and turned into a sausage fight as well.

Both are famous for their depression era teeny tiny dogs on teeny tiny buns. For this dog fight judge, both are a total bore and will not even get into the arena. I like historical food probably more than most, but I will not go out of my way to buy authentic Civil War hardtack.

Both dogs are interesting and have great reputations, but my recent taste tests do declare a clear winner. Troy Pork Store takes it all in every category. Both companies feature natural casing dogs, but Helmbolds has an odd habit of putting different sized dogs into the same package. They get many demerits for this. If you put dogs into a package, they should be at least somewhat standard in size. Troy Pork Store products as they are crafted products do differ in size as well, but only very slightly.

Taste and texture test: Troy Pork Store wins here as well, especially on texture. They are natural casing but the casing is light with just enough snap. Helmbolds seems to have a heavier casing and perhaps a bit more snap, but I think the casing is too thick and is a clear choking hazard. More points deducted. Taste on both is muted, some might say bland, but this is Upstate NY and this is how we like them. They are Troy dogs, not NYC dogs. On taste, I give Troy Pork Store a slight edge. They have been around since 1918 and do an Old World taste that has not seemed to have changed.

In my opinion, the clear winner in this dog fight is Troy Pork Store. Of course other opinions and differing opinions are welcome. I would like to hear what you think.

FYI, etc.:

http://www.troyporkstore.com/


http://helmbolds.com/

MiamiDon,

Thanks for the links, I should have included them. Both outfits are local icons and both products are excellent examples of Old World integrity.

Even in the web sites, I think Troy Pork Store gets the nod. Helmbolds seems to be resting on its reputation and making very little effort to market itself in the modern world. Helmbolds is the top dog in the supermarkets around here, but the packaging is absolutely horrid. The dogs are not standard sizes. In a single pound or so package, you will get perhaps two dogs that will fill a standard bun. The other dogs will be the pups, sometimes half the size, sometimes a third of the size. What the heck are they thinking of?

The battle is not over, however. We have had a good stretch of weather here in River City. Perfect for letting out the dogs as well as the brats and brots. I have tested and tasted both. Results will be released soon. Stay tuned for the brat and brot fight results.