NYC Hot Dog Wars

I had my first Chicago style hot dog a couple of months ago. And it was because I had read about it right here. Sacramento, CA is not exactly the hot dog capital of the world, but I was driving by a Weinerschnitzel (the largest hot dog chain in the world and the only one in SAC)and saw an ad for Chicago style dogs. It had all the amenities but sport peppers and was served on a plain bun (from a large local bakery). It was a taste sensation like no other I had ever experienced. Hot meat, cool vegies, silky steamed fresh bread... in a balance of tastes that, quite frankly(pun intended), I had never before considered.

My tastes have matured somewhat since then. I actually look for hot dog vendors (other than der W). Most recently I found a vendor who sells Vienna dogs (four different kinds), Vienna poppy seed buns, and all the condiments to dress a REAL Chicago style dog.

I check out the hot dog case at the grocery stores in my area. I go to Sam's Club and Costco and Smart & Final to see what brands they have. And I continually go back to see what's changed. At home we've had Nathan's, Best, Johnsonville, Casper, Bar-S (ugh!), Miller, Hebrew National, Farmer John, Ball Park, Oscar Mayer, along with a local butcher that produces their own and probably a couple others that I don't recall at the moment. Cooking method? Boiled, grilled, BBQ, and every combination thereof. And, I must confess, when nobody's looking I've been known to... microwave. Yes, it's true. But in my defense there is a certain technique. I'm not married to one certain dog or style. I guess I'm still in my "experimental" stage.

I have begun to judge people by the brand of hot dog they buy and the way they dress their dog.

The family is divided. My wife continues to buy Bar-S (I don't know why and it may drive a wedge into our marriage). When I come home from the store the kids will say, "Not hot dogs again, Dad!". Yet I find the Nathan's mysteriously disappearing from the fridge. I've swithched to buying the 2x12ct hot dog buns but we're always low or out of them at the house.

I owe this all to Roadfood and to two gentlemen in particular. The great thing about this site is that it will not only introduce you to but also provide an avenue to talk about your addiction.

Nedick's was terrific , I grew in up in Flushing NY and
there was a corner stand at Northern & Main across from the
RKO & also one inside the Flushing IRT station. "New England" style rolls toasted\buttered? lightly, with ? (Stahl-Meyer? Krauss? ?) dogs.
I remember Coke ads on the paper sleeves they served the dogs in.
Used to even have a carbonated version of orange drink \ sodain the supermarket. Dont know their whole history, but they went downhill (jumped the shark when my sister got a piece of rope in her tuna salad) Carvel took over near the end, logo change, even the orange drink was terrible, a horrible end. Lately revived by Riese, they claim to sell Vienna Beef dogs but nowheres near as good as my childhood memory)

Is this the latest way for New York hot dog stands to get more business?

Women Accused of 'Hot Dog' Prostitution

Dec 30, 6:20 PM (ET)
BALDWIN, N.Y. (AP) - Two Long Island women who sold hot dogs and sodas from a truck were arrested on charges that their menu also featured sexual acts in exchange for money. Catherina Scalia, 38, and Rose Skorge, 34, were arrested Wednesday afternoon after they "offered and agreed to engage in sexual conduct with others in return for a fee" at their hot dog stand, which was parked at Sunrise Highway and Rockwood Avenue, Nassau County police said in a news release. Scalia offered to expose her breasts to an undercover officer who was buying a hot dog and Skorge offered him oral sex in exchange for money, Deputy Inspector Rick Capece, commanding officer of the Narcotics/Vice Squad, told Newsday for its Thursday editions. The women also gave the officer a card for a stripper business, Capece said. Police started watching the truck more than a week ago after receiving a tip, he said. Scalia and Skorge were charged with prostitution and were released on desk appearance tickets. They were scheduled to return to court on Jan. 10. A message left at a telephone number listed for Scalia was not immediately returned. There was no listing for a Rose Skorge.

quote:

Originally posted by 6star

Is this the latest way for New York hot dog stands to get more business?

Women Accused of 'Hot Dog' Prostitution

Best part about it is the NY Post headline:
[url='http://www.nypost.com/seven/12302004/news/regionalnews/37450.htm']'HOOKERS' RELISH WIENERS[/url]

Danny Meyer's place is called the Shake Shack and it is most definitely closed now for the season. Crif Dogs is good but it is a copy of a type of fast food place they don't have in NYC; the type I associate with driving to like Pink's in LA. F+B is kinda pricey but not all that much more than Shake Shack or Crif Dogs although definitely more expensive than Papaya King's; I think it is worth trying though Grampy because some of their condiments are really good (the Great Dane dog is really good but don't get the chili dogs because they're just a mess). Another choice is Mandler's on 17th near Union Square which has a lot of German style wieners (Bocks, brats, etc). Katz is Katz and great but hard to pass-up the pastrami there.

http://www.curbed.com/archives/2004/06/14/danny_meyers_shake_shack.php

One of my favorite hotdog carts in the city,was in the Bowery,between Canal street and Hester,last block before the Manhattan Bridge plaza.The vendors name was Gus and he sold Sabrett's hotdogs,with the best home made onions I have ever tasted.I would always joke around with him,asking when are you going to start carrying chili dogs,and his reply was,you gotta be from jersey.

But none of these comes close to a charbroiled, natural casing 5 to a lb Best's (Newark, N.J., not Chicago) dog served at Syd's in Union, N.J.
..


what nj markets carry these??? thx

Other than Syd's, the only place that you can get these dogs is at Best's on Avon Ave. in Newark. Open Mon-Sat, they will sell them to you in 2,5, or 10 lb packages. They are terrific on the grill.

For several months now, most branches of the Gristede's supermarket chain in Manhattan have been selling a shrink wrapped package of Papaya King natural casing all beef franks. There are usually six franks in the package, and they are sold by weight at $4.99 a pound, so the average package is $3.75 or so. They are made by Sabrett/Marathon, and the package looks the same as the Sabrett natural casing supermarket package, except for the label. I believe the formula is different from Sabrett's; these are less spicy.

Great for out of towners; I took a package taped between two packs of Blue Ice to Florida, and they were still cold when I got thre.

David,

These franks are the exact same recipe as Sabrett. I've discussed this in detail elsewhere on Roadfood, probably on the New Jersey hot dog thread. They are 10 to a lb natural casing Sabretts that are also served at Gray's Papaya. If you are near a Sabrett distributor or Restaurant Depot, you can get these same dogs for about $16.00 per 5 lb bag.

I think you are right, John. I did eat quite a lot of the Papaya King franks from the same lot. I was probably just experiencing batch-to-batch variation.

I'm addicted to the 75 cent dogs at Gray's Papaya. Overall, Nathan's is king.

Which Provision Company offers Isaac Gellis Kosher Franks?
Isaac gellis is from Brooklyn, who offers their kosher Products?
Joe Billig

quote:

Originally posted by JBillig490

Which Provision Company offers Isaac Gellis Kosher Franks?
Isaac gellis is from Brooklyn, who offers their kosher Products?
Joe Billig

Sorry to disappoint you. There's a thread here: http://roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5734

on this subject

You can buy Best brand hot dogs at any Shop-Rite in NJ as far as I know. I've been buying the 5 lb bag in Union for years.