Hot Dogs...Love 'em or Hate 'em?

Hello All,
Screenbear, I haven't had the other dogs you suggest, but will try to find them.
Here in the Valley of Virginia, I was lucky to discover Nathan's. I think Hebrew National will
be the easiest for me to find. But I will seek all of them.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Take Care,
Fieldthistle

Searching for "Hot Dogs" is how I happened upon Roadfood. Needless to say, I love to wrap my fist around those long, pink, meaty things (hot dogs, that is). HA - I slay me!

We like hot dogs and our favorites are, in order of preference, Boar's Head, Hebrew National and Nathan's. I'm sure there are other very good ones out there but we don't go looking for them as we don't eat them all that often. Like them for a quick lunch, or with sourkraut and mashed potatoes for a quick dinner. If given my druthers, I'd druther have something other than hot dogs.

Donna

I think hot dogs have their regional place. If I was traveling I wouldn't ask for a great hot dog place in say, Texas or Minnesota for example. I do love NYC Kosher dogs with Sauerkraut since I grew up on them as well as their close counterparts in Connecticut and New Jersey. I really enjoyed my first Chicago Style Dog when I had a layover in Chicago almost 6 months back. In addition I'm also a fan of the Rhode Island Weiners, Buffalo Red Hots at Teds as well as Detroit and Cincinnati Coneys. So yes, I love Hot Dogs.

I know that the Nathan's franchise places are not as good as the orignial, but I had Nathan's this weekend along I-95 at a rest stop. I understand the dog wasn't cooked correctly, but even getting past that, I still was unimpressed with the dog itself. Even with cooked onions. In fact, the onions had better flavor.

I've had Nathans at Coney Island, Airports, Malls, etc, like them all. But then again, I like 7-11 hot dogs also, guess I just do not know any better.

John

I'm fascinated by all the hot dog variations, some regional, some idiosyncratic. Since December, I've been working on a magazine piece about hot dogs in my part of Appalachia, and I've been amazed at the differing styles I've found: the spicing of the chili, the way the onions are cut, the type of bun, the way the bun is heated, whether condiments are placed under or over the meat, the meat composition of the wiener, how the meat itself is heated--well, you all know the variables. At one place in Asheville, North Carolina, when I asked for mustard, chili, onions, I was asked: "Do you want white, yellow, or red onions, and do you want them sauteed?" That's sort of indicative of where Asheville's headed.

Fred Sauceman

Although Nathan's is not my favorite, they are handy in the Atlanta airport.

I enjoyed Saucemans remarks on the Ashville hot dogs with the variation of onions. Knoxville hs no real good hot dog places that I am aware of.

I wish the neon green relish was available in Knoxville. I guess it is a Wisconsin, Illinois thing.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

I Love Them......

The best are Hummell dogs made by Blackies in CT...

They don't come any better - although without the relish Blackies and Guida's run neck and neck...

I like grilled with toasted bun like at a cook out. Too often I settle for those wet steamed things. Chicago Dogs are great too.

quote:

Originally posted by sauceman

I'm fascinated by all the hot dog variations, some regional, some idiosyncratic. Since December, I've been working on a magazine piece about hot dogs in my part of Appalachia, and I've been amazed at the differing styles I've found: the spicing of the chili, the way the onions are cut, the type of bun, the way the bun is heated, whether condiments are placed under or over the meat, the meat composition of the wiener, how the meat itself is heated--well, you all know the variables. At one place in Asheville, North Carolina, when I asked for mustard, chili, onions, I was asked: "Do you want white, yellow, or red onions, and do you want them sauteed?" That's sort of indicative of where Asheville's headed.

Fred Sauceman

Speaking of the buns. Can't we just have split top (or New England style as I know them) hot dog buns instead of the ones cut on the side? They are much better in design. They're like, German engineering good. They stay standing up on the plate, which means the toppings stay in the bun, the hot dog stays in the bun. It's far more ergonomic. No need turn the hot dog upright, since it is already in it's full upright position.

The flavor of the hot dog bun is only affected by it's ingredients, not whether the split is on top or on the side. So, let's do away with the side cut regular hot dog bun, and just use the German-like engineered, more ergonomic New England split top bun. Thus keeping the hot dog from rolling over to the potato salad.

Me? I go on binges with 'em. I'll get some from a local meat store and just get after it for a week or so. Mustard and onions for moi. If I have any slaw, I'll give that a go (was turned on to that when I lived in North Carolina).

My 'druthers are over a camp fire on an oak twig with the wife and a cold barley soda.

quote:

Originally posted by jchiszar

My 'druthers are over a camp fire on an oak twig with the wife and a cold barley soda.

"cold barley soda"? A beer or ale, I assume; but would you elaborate, please?

I am with you Rick, I have had birch beer soda and barley wine beer but
"cold barley soda" I want to hear more.

Cold barley soda is simply beer. It's the drink of choice at our cabin!!

I love good beef hot dogs! (Vienna beef, Fairbury Stadium dogs, etc.)

quote:

Originally posted by jchiszar

Cold barley soda is simply beer. It's the drink of choice at our cabin!!

A good friend of mine lives in Minong and I have a place in Manitowish Waters.

CSD

I absolutely love 'em. Their my favorite junk food. Where I grew up in Ridgefield CT, we had a beloved hot dog cart, Chez Leonard, which actually is featured here on Roadfood. I still believe the best hot dogs come from that stand. Still, I'm not picky, I eat all kinds. If it was healthy to do so, I'd live off them.

Hotdogs - love them. Love them boiled, pan fried, grilled, with red slaw, with chili, with mustard, with ketsup, with relish, with or without a bun. Love them any way. I made a reciepe my family likes to call "rubber hotdogs. I slice hots dogs and pan fry them with onions, then add katsup and barbeque sauce and simmer. Usually serve with noodles (well, we love them!)

quote:

Originally posted by SassyGritsAL

I slice hots dogs and pan fry them with onions, then add katsup and barbeque sauce and simmer. Usually serve with noodles (well, we love them!)

We do the same, but add Bush's Best Baked Beans with Onion instead of noodles & so forth. Maybe cook the juice from the beans down a bit, add a little dry mustard & sweetener (brown sugar, molasses, Steen's cane syrup.)

Looking at your screen name: do you have a source for stone-ground grits? Would love to get some!

Rick, I have attached a web site which contains several sources. some of them may be close enough to you to warrant purchasing on line. Good luck.

Nothing like stone ground grits particularly if you like them which I do.

http://www.meadowsmills.com/Stone%20Ground%20Products.htm

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

One thing I loved about the South...it taught me that slaw isn't just a side item!

quote:

Originally posted by Scorereader

One thing I loved about the South...it taught me that slaw isn't just a side item!

"Ain't that the truth!" I love the red slaw they serve on hotdogs here in Huntsville, AL. You grate a small cabbage, grate an onion, add ketsup and vinegar. Yummy!

Good cole slaw is a art! I personally prefer the creamy coleslaw with some sugar, mayo, a tad of onion, pepper, a little vinegar, a touch a lemon or lime juice, a hit of jalapeno and let it get nice and cold in the frige for about 3-4 hours. Occasionally I add some non dairy creamer to it. Some folks add a small amount of carrotts to it.

Great by itself, with hot dogs or anything else.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

How on earth did I manage to miss this thread???? I love hot dogs! I grew up with hot dogs.. I love them anytime, night or day, bun or not... I remember running down to the corner store with some change in my hand.. not to buy candy but a pair of Farmer John Weiners from the deli case.... I remember my parents buying the 5 lb box and freezing it.. and eating them frozen.. they also used to buy some unknown brand of garlic dinner franks every so often.. those were heavenly! Some brands must be hot to be enjoyed, some can be cold.. I like shoving them into a potato roll with some cheese and bbq sauce.. ditto with the flour tortilla method.. My fave current brand is Nathan's.. a whole new level of dog than I was originally used to.. I also love all kinds of sausages (except Italian).. but that's another thread.

I can't believe that I'm sitting here in my home office, writing about hot dogs.

I grew up in the southern suburbs of Baltimore, MD. Anyone who has lived in the Brooklyn/Brooklyn Park/Glen Burnie area can tell you about a place called "Ann's Dari Creme", located about 12-15 miles south of Downtown Baltimore at the junctions of MD 2, MD 177 and MD 100. They built a mega-mall in the late 1980's, and tried to force Ann's to move... they had to build the mall behind Ann's.

About what I call the perfect hotdog... a footlong, deep fried and served on a 12" sub roll. Homemade chili, mustard and onions (either fried or grilled). An "Ann's" with everything!

I actually found a website that had a review on the restaurant --
HollyEats.com. Pictures of the hotdog, the restaurant and the menu price board. Made me kind of homesick, wishing I could hop in the car, drive 20 minutes, and go to Ann's for a footlong with everything. By the way, Ann's Dari Creme is true to it's name... they make the world's best real milkshake, too!

As I sit here in early May 2006 in Des Moines, IA, I know from Mapquest that I'm exactly 1029 miles from "Mecca" that sits in Glen Burnie, Maryland.

I also remember my last Ann's hotdogs fondly. In my last pastorate in New York State (Jamestown, western NY about 47 miles east of Erie, PA), I took my first vacation week the following spring and headed back to "Balmur" and brought my huge Sam's Club Rubbermaid cooler (guaranteed to keep frozen food cold for up to 4-5 days). Arriving at Ann's Dari Creme after a seven hour drive, I promptly ordered two dozen single foot-longs, cooked, to go. It was nice to get the two freebies (1 free footlong per 12 ordered), and we packed each hotdog seperately in aluminum foil and inserted into a zip lock (gallon) plastic bag. After 8 lbs of ice to cover the succulent treats, I promptly headed back to Jamestown, another seven hour trip.

We froze the entire bundle of hotdogs in our chest freezer, and enjoyed them two at a time (one each) for 12 Saturdays that summer. They actually tasted better than fresh, with the frozen hotdog with bun, chili and onions warmed in a 275-degree oven for 20 minutes

Now, I am more than twice the distance from Baltimore. When I can scrounge up the necessary funding for a round-trip ticket on Southwest Airlines (from Kansas City MO to Baltimore), I will take the aforementioned cooler plus a second cooler packed with aluminum foil, ziplock freezer bags, and duct tape to secure the coolers once packed and security checked. I'll be blessed to make a "hot dog run" to Ann's, ordering at least four dozen footlongs. I'll bet that I have fun trying to get through security at BWI airport with two large coolers full 48 paper-wrapped, aluminum foil-wrapped, and plastic freeer ziplock-bagged delicious culinary treats!

What a way to spend the next week's vacation!

I feel like I'm on a quest for the Holy Grail, or something close!

Waiting as patiently as possible in Des Moines, I hope!

"Pastor Dean"

I hate Hot Dogs I dont think I have ever willingly ate one, my parents used to make me eat them when I was a kid, probably the last time I ate one was more than 25 years ago. I would say probably not since I was 12 maybe even younger. My parents got tired of listening to me gag and cough and almost at the table. Not too mention I would peel the skin off even if they did not have skin.
For awhile my parents used to make me sit a separate table while we ate dinner. Finally I won and they stopped trying to feed me stuff I did not like. Hot Dogs were only one of the many things that they gave up on including just about anything that grew in soil. I was a totally evil child (that whole middle child searching for attention syndrome)any attention was good attention.

Love hot dogs. Especially grilled until they split open (only thing I like cooked that long on a grill) But boiled, roto-cooked, heated in a microwave, or a skillet. Doesn't really matter. I like mayo and yellow mustard on them (cole slaw if its available and I'm feeling exotic that day, then 86 the mayo and add ketchup). None of that other fancy stuff like sport peppers or tomatoes (sorry CSD, but I know the dogs you serve will be excellent all on their own!)

Wishing it was closer to going home time

I LOVE A GREAT CONEY DOG!!!!!!!!!!!

Howdy,

In NW Louisiana the only two "name brand" dogs available are Nathans and Hebrew Nat'l. I love hot dogs, and prefer Nathans with a little Guldens and a little yellow mustard, with a dash or two of Celery Salt on Pumpernickel-South Beach legal and grreat!

LarryRickenbacker