Who makes the best Skinless Kosher Hot Dog?

I'm dirty water cooking hot dogs for a mixed group for the 4th of July however, the outing is being held at a Temple so no pork products allowed. What in Ya'll's opinion is the best dog for this purpose? I'm in AZ so East Coast regional products are off the list.

I don't know about Arizona, but in Nashville this morning, I found Dietz & Watson all beef franks for $3.10 a pound.

If you're after a skinless Kosher hotdog around here (central Ohio) you'd be limited to Hebrew National, Best's and International Glatt. I think Hebrew National and Best's are pretty good. I'd pass on International Glatt.

In my Quest, I found this hot dog tasting site:
http://offthebroiler.wordpress.com/2007/07/03/the-great-off-the-broiler-hot-dog-tasting-of-2007/


Your collective thoughts please?
John Fox, I'd be particularly interested in your comments!

quote:

Originally posted by Poverty Pete

I don't know about Arizona, but in Nashville this morning, I found Dietz & Watson all beef franks for $3.10 a pound.

They're sold at Albertsons here.

In the Off the Broiler tasting, we sampled franks without knowing what they were. I think I was pretty consistent in rating the dogs I like the highest. I rated my favorite beef dog, Best's, the highest in it's category, and Thumann's, my favorite beef/pork dog highest in it's category. Out of the Kosher dogs sampled, I rated Hebrew National the best, followed by Nathan's Kosher. These 2 are probably available where you are. I've also had other Kosher dogs that were not included in the tasting. Empire National comes to mind. I think it would have finished in the top 3 if it was included.

Best Kosher, which was in the tasting, didn't do so well. It had a sweet, almost corn syrup like flavor. I had sampled this dog once before when it was available for a short time at Wegmans and I thought it was ok then. It has since been discontinued. This brand may be available in Arizona.

I would say that the best Kosher dogs I've eaten are Hebrew National and one from the Romanian Kosher Sausage Company in Chicago. Romanian is a small butcher shop that is known for the high quality of the meats that they sell. I've heard about their dogs and contacted the company. They won't ship any of their products. I finally got a woman who lives three blocks away to ship me some. They were very good. A little less spicy then Hebrew National. I like both about the same, depending on what level of spicing I'm in the mood for. But I guess in your case it wouldn't matter since you wouldn't be able to obtain the Romanian kosher dogs unless you had someone from the area ship them to you. I've found out that Romanain also makes a spicier dog with more garlic. This one I haven't tried, but would guess it is more like Hebrew National as far as the spicing.

In short, I would go with Hebrew National.

quote:

Originally posted by John Fox

In the Off the Broiler tasting, we sampled franks without knowing what they were. I think I was pretty consistent in rating the dogs I like the highest. I rated my favorite beef dog, Best's, the highest in it's category, and Thumann's, my favorite beef/pork dog highest in it's category. Out of the Kosher dogs sampled, I rated Hebrew National the best, followed by Nathan's Kosher. These 2 are probably available where you are. I've also had other Kosher dogs that were not included in the tasting. Empire National comes to mind. I think it would have finished in the top 3 if it was included.

Best Kosher, which was in the tasting, didn't do so well. It had a sweet, almost corn syrup like flavor. I had sampled this dog once before when it was available for a short time at Wegmans and I thought it was ok then. It has since been discontinued. This brand may be available in Arizona.

I would say that the best Kosher dogs I've eaten are Hebrew National and one from the Romanian Kosher Sausage Company in Chicago. Romanian is a small butcher shop that is known for the high quality of the meats that they sell. I've heard about their dogs and contacted the company. They won't ship any of their products. I finally got a woman who lives three blocks away to ship me some. They were very good. A little less spicy then Hebrew National. I like both about the same, depending on what level of spicing I'm in the mood for. But I guess in your case it wouldn't matter since you wouldn't be able to obtain the Romanian kosher dogs unless you had someone from the area ship them to you. I've found out that Romanain also makes a spicier dog with more garlic. This one I haven't tried, but would guess it is more like Hebrew National as far as the spicing.

In short, I would go with Hebrew National.

Thanks John, I knew I could count on you for a concise report. Hebrew National it is! They're available in our area as is Nathan's.
Again, Thanx!, O King of the Weenies!
P.S. I didn't realize that you were the "John F" in the report. I should have known---If there's a weenie to be sampled you'll be there!!!

Aren't all kosher hot dogs skinless?

No. Some manufacturers of Kosher hot dogs make a dog with a collagen casing. Empire National makes skinless and casing. Hebrew National franks with skin are available at Wegmans as well as a lot of kosher delis.

Ahh, so it is no natural (sheep intestines?) casings. Thanks.

Right. I knew pork or hog casings weren't kosher, but I didn't think sheep would be a problem. Apparently they are non kosher as well. A place near me, Maple Kosher Meats in Union sells 6 to a lb Hebrew National with the collagen casings.

does empire national make kosher beef hot dogs?
I have only seen chicken and turkey retail.

quote:

Originally posted by aribo

does empire national make kosher beef hot dogs?
I have only seen chicken and turkey retail.

According to The King of the Weenies, John Fox, on a previous post: http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=10708
"This company (Empire National) is located in New York (Brookln, I believe) and is not to be confused with Empire Kosher, which is known for chicken, turkey, and turkey hot dogs."
Empire National does make a Beef Dog.

quote:

Originally posted by John Fox
No. Some manufacturers of Kosher hot dogs make a dog with a collagen casing. Empire National makes skinless and casing. Hebrew National franks with skin are available at Wegmans as well as a lot of kosher delis.

John, are these the links in a string franks or do they come in a package? We used to get the links in a string Hebrew Nationals with casing when I was little, but I haven't seen them for many years.

A few kosher butchers in the DC/Baltimore area have packaged casing franks, but I don't like them as much. The only place I know of that still has links in a string kosher casing franks is Attman's (on Roadfood).

Thanks,

Kevin

Kevin,

Wegman's has the Hebrew National Kosher dogs connected by a string. Be careful as the last time I bought one it was dried out. Goldberg's Kosher Meats in Old Bridge has them packaged while Maple Kosher has them linked by string in a big package.

Thanks John,

Next time I'm in the Hunt Valley, Md Wegman's, I'll check on the Hebrew National's with string. They were a favorite of mine growing up.

K