Texas Weiners

Most of the NJ eateries that deep fry the dogs use Thumman's franks. Thummans make the franks special for deep frying. They are sold in bulk not avaiable in stores only from distrubiters. They come in a 5lb package and have yellow writing on a white package. The places that use them are Rut's Hut, Hirams and Libbys.

Don't forget Ernie's Texas Lunch in Gettysburg PA, est in 1921.
http://www.variedperspectives.com/Places/GettysburgPA/ernies.html

Doesn't suit my idea of a coney, having lived in the Deroit Metro Area, but it will do in a pinch.

Hello to all, Just wanted to include a little history...Don't know about the Texas Weiner but there is a Weiner place in Woonsocket RI that opened its doors in 1907! Great stuff.

I've been told that Texas Weiners got their name because the chili used on them contain no beans. Traditional Texas chili is also a no bean dish. So somehow thats the name they were given because of the chili and it stuck. I've also been told that the chili used by the Texas Weiner places in the Plainfield area have a Greek influence, is that true? Something to do with cinnamon or nutmeg or such and traditionally served on pasta. I do know that most of the weiner places in that area were at one time owned by Greeks, so it would figure in. Whatever its good.

Nathans on the grille is as good as I've ever had. I'm from Chicago but I'm in Houston now.

I've read that the Texas nomenclature was an attempt by the originators of said Texas Weiner in Paterson, N.J., to give the dog a certain exotic cachet.
Insofar as influences, etc., here again is one of the better histories:

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wiphtml/essay6/essay6a.html

The Bear

my favorite, in Scranton, PA opened in 1923.

http://www.coneyislandofscranton.com/Pages/history.htm

quote:

Originally posted by planojim
my favorite, in Scranton, PA opened in 1923.

http://www.coneyislandofscranton.com/Pages/history.htm

Do you mean Coney Island Texas Lunch, or Coney Island Lunch? Coney Island Lunch is on Lackawana Ave and just up the hill from Coney Island Texas Lunch on Cedar Ave. Per the Coney Island lunch website they started out on Cedar and then moved to Lackawana, and Coney Island Texas Lunch on Cedar is NOT related to them, even though they reference Steve Karampilas on their website as does Coney Island Lunch on theirs.

http://www.texas-wiener.com/ourhistory.htm

I was recently in Scranton and went to Coney Island Lunch on Lackawana and loved it. While looking for it, I made a wrong turn down Cedar and saw Coney Island Texas Lunch. There were two ne'er-do-well looking guys right outside the door that looked like they were from group on the corner in 'Animal House' when Stork took the marching band down the dead-end alley. Very bad first impression to me. On the holleyeats website, he reviewed Coney Island Lunch and noted there was another place around the corner but that it wasn't the original.

Thanks,

Kevin

the original is the one that I gave the link to. The one underneath the train trestle. It was a family owned business, and I think there was either a divorce, or a death, and the kids and step kids couldn't get along. So, they split up. That one on Lackawana was not there 20 years ago.

They might be using the same recipe from the one on Cedar Ave, but that one on Lackawana Ave is a split off.

did the ner-do-well looking guys throw down a box of marbles in front of you?

quote:

Originally posted by planojim
the original is the one that I gave the link to. The one underneath the train trestle. It was a family owned business, and I think there was either a divorce, or a death, and the kids and step kids couldn't get along. So, they split up. That one on Lackawana was not there 20 years ago.

They might be using the same recipe from the one on Cedar Ave, but that one on Lackawana Ave is a split off.

did the ner-do-well looking guys throw down a box of marbles in front of you?

No marbles thrown.

I got the impression the folks on Lackawana were the originals from Cedar and that they moved to Lackawana later, but I could easily be wrong. I should have gone to both, but I had to squeeze in a visit to the Glider diner (excellent porketta) as well as Old forge in less than a day and a half. Next trip I'll hit both Coneys.

Thanks,

Kevin

Has anyone tried JK's in Danbury, CT? I enjoyed the dawgs, but they come in second to the Jersey variety. The sauce didn't quite have the chutzpah of the NJ variety.

Schaller's in Rochester, NY serves up a different dog (and burger), but the chili sauce is remarkably similar to the NJ TX Weiner.

Yes, the name must be misspelled. If I see a joint called "Texas Wiener," I'm not stopping in.

Tim in CT

Growing up in the 50's my dad always talked about texas weiners. A trip to grandma's in New Brunswick,NJ was always topped off by stopping at a texas weiner place. It's a fond memory...but I can't remember whar place it was!

Grew up in the Plainfield, NJ area in the 50's and 60's. Someone earlier mentioned that the TW's served at Texas Weiner I and II have changed -- I agree totally. They've cut back on the ground beef content and replaced it with more minced onion. Back then there was also another place that server TW's called the Corner Luncheonette at the corner of Somerset and Front in Plainfield. I felt that their TW sauce was of a higher quality and was always a little better than TW I and II. That place closed a while back, but one of the gentlemen (Greek, of course) partnered up with someone else and bought the TW place in Dunellen, NJ (on the same Front Street, only the next town west) probably 25+ years ago. It's called J & G's (Jim and George) Texas Weiners. To this day, they use the same sauce recipe that was used at the Corner Luncheonette. Jim told me each batch is cooked for around 15 hours. Been eating TW's now for around 45 years and haven't found one better than J & G's. Give it a try -- maybe you'll feel the same.

Hylkman I only eat at the dunellen texas weiners. I feel they are the best of the bunch