TASTE TEST: BEST BEEF HOTDOG!!

Epicurius.com has posted their review of the top brands of all beef hotdogs. Who won, and why??? Check the link below. What do you think? Of the brands tested, I'd flip the first two.
                                       
                                                              http://shine.yahoo.com/event/summergrilling/taste-test-all-beef-hot-dogs-480428/

By the way, notice a "ketchup" review was included with the hot dog review....might raise a few eye brows, for some...

Oscar Meyer better than Hebrew National???  Imho, NO WAY!!  pb

I just posted on the Restaurant Professionals section:
http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/tm.aspx?m=524387&high=
that I am not going to read these reviews anymore.

The gourmet beef and pork hotdogs from Omaha Steaks taste better than any premium dogs I previously loved (Nathan's //  Sabrett's).

Larger, juicier, tastier and plumper.

Never thought the day would come I would say such a thing because I have loved Nathan's and Sabrett's forever.

Does anyone know anything about where Omaha gets those dogs?

I agree,Porkbeaks!

NYPIzzaNut


The gourmet beef and pork hotdogs from Omaha Steaks taste better than any premium dogs I previously loved (Nathan's //  Sabrett's).

Larger, juicier, tastier and plumper.

Never thought the day would come I would say such a thing because I have loved Nathan's and Sabrett's forever.

Does anyone know anything about where Omaha gets those dogs?

I called Omaha Steaks and they said the Franks were made by a "3rd Party".
When I asked who that was they said that was "Proprietary Information".
So, now we need to get inside the inner sanctum of Omaha Steaks to break "The Code of Silence"!
Any Roadfooders in Omaha who work at Omaha Steaks or know anyone who does???

Foodbme

NYPIzzaNut


The gourmet beef and pork hotdogs from Omaha Steaks taste better than any premium dogs I previously loved (Nathan's //  Sabrett's).

Larger, juicier, tastier and plumper.

Never thought the day would come I would say such a thing because I have loved Nathan's and Sabrett's forever.

Does anyone know anything about where Omaha gets those dogs?

I called Omaha Steaks and they said the Franks were made by a "3rd Party".
When I asked who that was they said that was "Proprietary Information".
So, now we need to get inside the inner sanctum of Omaha Steaks to break "The Code of Silence"!
Any Roadfooders in Omaha who work at Omaha Steaks or know anyone who does???

The info sure is not on the Internet...at least as far as I am able to determine.....

NYPIzzaNut

Foodbme

NYPIzzaNut


The gourmet beef and pork hotdogs from Omaha Steaks taste better than any premium dogs I previously loved (Nathan's //  Sabrett's).

Larger, juicier, tastier and plumper.

Never thought the day would come I would say such a thing because I have loved Nathan's and Sabrett's forever.

Does anyone know anything about where Omaha gets those dogs?

I called Omaha Steaks and they said the Franks were made by a "3rd Party".
When I asked who that was they said that was "Proprietary Information".
So, now we need to get inside the inner sanctum of Omaha Steaks to break "The Code of Silence"!
Any Roadfooders in Omaha who work at Omaha Steaks or know anyone who does???

The info sure is not on the Internet...at least as far as I am able to determine.....

 
I'll bet there's a very strict Confidentially Agreement in place. Won't you be surprised if we find out it's Oscar Meyer!!!

I would fall over dead as a dog.

A few months ago I was at a street fair in a neighboring town. There is an Omaha Steaks store on this street so I went in. At the time I was trying to find out who made these franks. Either someone I spoke with on the phone or the guy at this particular store (I don't remember which) told me that all he knew was that the franks are made in Nebraska. That narrows it down if indeed I was given good information. An educated guess would be Wimmer's. I haven't had their dogs, but I have heard of them and they have a good reputation.

The franks were on sale when I was at the store, but they were still too expensive. I did have one about 6 or 7 years ago and I remember it being pretty good. I don't know if they make an all beef version, but I'm fairly certain what I had was beef and pork. Or if it was all beef it was mild and not in the New York/New Jersey/Chicago style. You can't really compare it to Nathan's or Sabrett because it has a different flavor profile.

It was awhile ago, but from what I remember, although this dog was good, it wasn't as good as Thumann's, Hartmann's, Sahlen's and some of the dogs in this style that I consider top of the line. It also lacks the snap of a natural casing being skinless.

Foodbme

NYPIzzaNut

Foodbme

NYPIzzaNut


The gourmet beef and pork hotdogs from Omaha Steaks taste better than any premium dogs I previously loved (Nathan's //  Sabrett's).

Larger, juicier, tastier and plumper.

Never thought the day would come I would say such a thing because I have loved Nathan's and Sabrett's forever.

Does anyone know anything about where Omaha gets those dogs?

I called Omaha Steaks and they said the Franks were made by a "3rd Party".
When I asked who that was they said that was "Proprietary Information".
So, now we need to get inside the inner sanctum of Omaha Steaks to break "The Code of Silence"!
Any Roadfooders in Omaha who work at Omaha Steaks or know anyone who does???

The info sure is not on the Internet...at least as far as I am able to determine.....

 
I'll bet there's a very strict Confidentially Agreement in place. Won't you be surprised if we find out it's Oscar Meyer!!!

After doing a little internet searching, I have a feeling (but only a feeling) it might be Wimmer's Meats of West Point, NE.  They make natural casing and skinless wieners, use no fillers or extenders, and do private label.  They have been in business since 1934.  Their website: http://www.wimmersmeats.com/
 
Has anyone on here ever tasted their wieners?

That was my guess (see above). If it is Wimmer's, then I guess I did taste one since I had an Omaha Steak's dog once.

One reason I thought it might be them is that their plant is only about 50 miles from Omaha.  They say they purchased the companies and also make Fairbury, Ambassador and Bassett's brands.

The reason I guessed Wimmer's is because I've heard of them and I also have an article someone mailed me (I'll look for it and put it online) mentioning 6 or 7 of the best regional dogs. Wimmer's was mentioned as was Thumann's. When trying to search for dogs made in Nebraska, the only other one I've heard of is Ambassador, which, as you say is now owned by Wimmer's.

Stuff like this fuels my curiosity. I'll try and find out for sure next week.

Anyone surprised schickaus didn't make the list. Their natural casing seem to be all over the boardwalks of New Jersey, and to me, rank right up there with Thumann's!!

Schickhaus is not all beef. The list was for all beef dogs. Like David NYC, I don't put much stock in these reviews. Someone is told to write an article about hot dogs because it's near July 4th, Labor Day, or Memorial Day. Only brands with near national distribution are included leaving out superior regional brands and those made by smaller butcher shops. Oscar Meyer and Ballpark are usually on these lists and don't belong. And as good a hot dog as Hebrew National is, 97% fat free is not a true hot dog in my opinion. Let them be considered "near dogs" or give them their own category. "Lite hot dog" to me is an oxymoron.

Thumann's in the natural casing are, numero uno for me!

I'd put Schickhaus # 1  and Thumann's a close second...but every time I have one of those large natural casing Schickhaus dogs I'm transported back to the boardwalk and I see them on the grills and I relive my childhood.To me, it's the dog of the Jersey shore!!!

I just spent twice as much for nathan's (from my usual hebrew nationals) and we did a taste test at home - husband, teenager and me.  While the nathan's tasted good, they were not spectacular and definitely not worth paying for.  Am I completely missing something?  I grew up in the metro NY area so a good hotdog and slice of pizza are important to me--and definately not available on a regular basis in the dc area.  Half smokes are not my cup of tea...

I like Hebrew National (the regular, not any low-fat nonsense) and Nathan's, but I absolutely love Sabrett.
 
I grew up in New Jersey and they are the flavor I know.
 
And, mind you, I have learned to love the skinless, as the ones with casing are not to be had.
 
In this area they are considered 'gourmet' and I pay around $6 a package for them.

I found Sabrett natural casing franks at the Shoprite in Marmora NJ (just over the 34th street bridge from Ocean City)  They also carry Best of Newark.  I also found Nathan's natural casing at Superfresh in OC.

Nathan's Skinless Beef Franks - Pathmark & Food Emporium in Manhattan
Thumann's - Food Emporium in Manhattan
Oscar Mayer - Pathmark, Gristede's, & D'Agostino's in Manhattan
Boar's Head - Associated and Morton Williams in Manhattan
Ball Park - Food Emporium in Manhattan
Hatfield Quality Meats - D'Agostino's in Manhattan
365 - Whole Foods in Manhattan
Hebrew National - Gristede's, Pathmark, & D'Agostino's in Manhattan
Applegate Farms - Food Empoprium in Manhattan
Dietz & Watson - D'Agostino's and Gristede's in Manhattan
Bilinski's - Food emporium in Manhattan
Nature's Rancher - Whole Foods in Manhattan
D'Artagnan - Whole Foods, D'Agostino's, & Food Emporium in Manhattan

NYPIzzaNut


The gourmet beef and pork hotdogs from Omaha Steaks taste better than any premium dogs I previously loved (Nathan's //  Sabrett's).

Larger, juicier, tastier and plumper.

Never thought the day would come I would say such a thing because I have loved Nathan's and Sabrett's forever.

Does anyone know anything about where Omaha gets those dogs?

I've recommended those hot dogs at least twice on this board, and both times it was the last post; no one ever commented afterward, so I figured no one agreed. It's nice to have my taste buds confirmed!

They are almost silly expensive, but they are marketed by a vanity vendor. Every now and then they go on "two for one" sale, and that makes the price comparable to the Hebrew Nationals etc. They are a really top hot dog, one of the best.

Since the price of hotdogs has been skyrocketing, I have suddenly found that the more sausage-like products of Johnsonville and Hillshire Farms (who both have a couple of beef varieties) have actually become inexpensive in comparison; I can often get them on sale for $2-3 a pound.

The Shoprite supermarket chain's higher end cold-cut brand, Black Bear, makes a beef hot dog with skin which, in my opinion, stands up well to the Nathan's and Sabrett product, and is often on sale for $2.99 a pound ($1.99 a pound used to be common, but this year I have not seen that price).

Also consider, if you can get them locally: Leidy's smoked Polish and Italian sausage links. Very hot dog-like.

I spoke with a few people today from Nebraska who are in the meat business (that's all I can say) and I'm sure that Wimmer's produces the franks that are sold by Omaha Steaks. I'll find out more soon, but I know Wimmer's makes more than one recipe frank, and you can order them online. There is a link from their website.

Whoever makes them does a super job.

I can't wait to eat my next one!

You want a dog like Italian sausage??

Nathan's is full of gristle; at least the ones I have seen.