Southernmost Good Jersey Italian Hot Dog

For when the craving strikes and time is limited, what would be the closest to Philadelphia decent North Jersey style Italian dog. Casino in Trenton - a fine Italian Dog but not as served in North Jersey - doesn't count.

Wunder weenie Or weiner on route 9 in Beachwood. Whenever i go to my dentist in Beachwood i make sure i stop afterwards. I chew on the other side of my mouth if necessary

I would say The Hot Dog Hut on 33rd St between Asbury and Central in Ocean City. Here is a picture posted by Chris OC, a Roadfood Member: http://www.chow.com/photos/223921

I haven't been there, but I know it is a traditional Italian Hot Dog using pizza bread from Newark, Best brand all beef dogs that are fried along with peppers, potatoes, and onions. Wunder Weiner uses Sabrett (most of the well known North Jersey joints use Best) and I think they may be boiled rather than deep fried. And they may not even use pizza bread. It would be nice if Jimmy Buffs opened a place in South Jersey. I'm not crazy about JoJo's in Toms River.

I would check before going to the Hot Dog Hut. They may be seasonal.

Thanks, but...

We're still talking about almost as much time as it takes to drive to north Jersey. Plus that pic of the Ocean City Italian dog looks way too grease free.

I'm hoping for a place maybe a half hour or less from the Ben Franklin, Betsy Ross or Walt Whitman Bridge.

You are correct, John, Hot Dog Hut is indeed seasonal. I'm sure she is closed by this time. Now I have to wait and see who opens first, Hot Dog Hut or Maui's.

I can't comment on the quality of the Italian dog since that was the only one I ever had.

That the true and genuine Italian Hot Dog's popularity has never really spread beyond three Central N.J. counties has indeed confounded me lo these many years.

Yes, there are occasional sightings. One in Vegas, one in Maine, one in Florida...but blink an eye and they are gone. No one ever had the inclination or the pockets deep enough to establish a toehold somewhere and keep it until it caught on...even if it took decades.
Oh well. Central Jersey's gain....the rest of the world's loss.
The Bear

One reason is that the bread used (pizza bread) is unique to North Jersey. It's not that it cannot be made anywhere else; it's just that no one else knows about it. And, from what I've heard, it's hard to reproduce anywhere else because of the local water. Indeed, most of the places south of the Driscoll Bridge that serve traditional Italian Hot Dogs "import" the pizza bread from Newark, Union, or some bakery in North Jersey that makes it. Pizzerias that serve Italian Hot Dogs often have a problem determining whether to use pizza bread or sub rolls. Since they are primarily a pizzeria, it is hard for them to gauge demand for Italian Hot Dogs. All too often the pizza bread will go stale. So most use sub rolls which they have plenty of. But it isn't authentic, or what we are used to in and around Newark.

Holly,

I don't think you will find a North Jersey style Italian Hot Dog that close to Philly. I even doubt that you will find an alternative (that is common in pizzerias) using a sub/hoagie/torpedo roll that incorporates Best's hot dogs, thin sliced potatoes, sauteed peppers, onions, and potatoes.

Thanks John et al. Guess wishing won't make it happen. Just hard to accept that the damned thing can't travel a few more miles down the turnpike.

I always thought the Italian dog places baked their own pizza bread. My first Italian hot dogs and sausages came from a place called Pizza Mia, on Route 46 in Denville NJ. At night they mostly sold pizzas but the rest of the day they sold Italian Hot Dogs and sausages on pizza bread baked in their pizza oven. Used it for great subs too. Really miss that place. Their roast beef sub, served on a round loaf of pizza bread was as good as any I've ever had.

Holly,

On another forum I received a response to one of my posts from a woman who recently opened an Italian Hot Dog restaurant in Wrightstown. I checked Mapquest, and the map showed that the place is fairly close to Philly. Check out their site; the dog looks good.

http://jerseydogsonline.com/Home_Page.html

Getting closer. Thanks John.

It looks like the real deal in the picture. We need a volunteer.

WANTED: Someone to visit hot dog restaurant, Jersey Dogs, in Wrightstown, N.J., eat double Italian Hot Dog, and report back.

While a minimum of ten years experience eating this New Jersey delicacy, including having imbibed Doubles and Combos (sausage and a hot dog) at Jimmy Buff's, Tommy's (Elizabeth, N.J.), Charlie's (Kenilworth, N.J.) and Dickie Dee's (Newark, N.J.) is preferred, in-depth opinions of sincere and ambitious novices with dreams of becoming Italian Hot Dog aficionados will be given due consideration.

The Bear

quote:

Originally posted by John Fox

One reason is that the bread used (pizza bread) is unique to North Jersey. It's not that it cannot be made anywhere else; it's just that no one else knows about it. And, from what I've heard, it's hard to reproduce anywhere else because of the local water. Indeed, most of the places south of the Driscoll Bridge that serve traditional Italian Hot Dogs "import" the pizza bread from Newark, Union, or some bakery in North Jersey that makes it. Pizzerias that serve Italian Hot Dogs often have a problem determining whether to use pizza bread or sub rolls. Since they are primarily a pizzeria, it is hard for them to gauge demand for Italian Hot Dogs. All too often the pizza bread will go stale. So most use sub rolls which they have plenty of. But it isn't authentic, or what we are used to in and around Newark.

Holly,

I don't think you will find a North Jersey style Italian Hot Dog that close to Philly. I even doubt that you will find an alternative (that is common in pizzerias) using a sub/hoagie/torpedo roll that incorporates Best's hot dogs, thin sliced potatoes, sauteed peppers, onions, and potatoes.

I grew up eating Italian Hot dogs on Pizza Bread...but you're right....I live in South Jersey...and while many Italian bakeries have Pizza Bread...I don't find it being used to make Italian hotdogs...and it's a shame...it's size and shape make it a natural "pocket" for all that great potatoes and peppers on top!!!

quote:

Originally posted by ScreenBear

It looks like the real deal in the picture. We need a volunteer.

WANTED: Someone to visit hot dog restaurant, Jersey Dogs, in Wrightstown, N.J., eat double Italian Hot Dog, and report back.

While a minimum of ten years experience eating this New Jersey delicacy, including having imbibed Doubles and Combos (sausage and a hot dog) at Jimmy Buff's, Tommy's (Elizabeth, N.J.), Charlie's (Kenilworth, N.J.) and Dickie Dee's (Newark, N.J.) is preferred, in-depth opinions of sincere and ambitious novices with dreams of becoming Italian Hot Dog aficionados will be given due consideration.

The Bear

Hey everyone... I'm the one who opened Jersey Dogs in Wrightstown. I'm originally from Avenel and my husband is from Kenilworth. We moved to south NJ about 6 years ago. We decided to open Jersey Dogs last year when my husband saw the perfect storefront available to rent. He is stationed at Ft. Dix and at the time I was working for 20 years in the corporate world (NYC and Philly). We often dreamed about opening an authentic Italian Hot Dog restaurant as traveling all the way up the NJ Turnpike to satisfy our cravings became a bit tedious... and expensive!

Born and raised central NJ allowed us to know exactly the right ingredients for a true IHD. We use only Best's hot dogs, local produce and pizza bread from Trenton. (We tried to get a well known south NJ bakery to copy a loaf of pizza bread we supplied to them, but that didn't pan out at all. It was pretty awful, actually). It took quite a while to find a good NJ bakery that has a distributor that delivers to Wrightstown. The first three weeks we were in business, I was driving to Ewing to pick up north NJ pizza bread that was delivered to a local grocery store specifically for us every AM. Thankfully, a customer originally from north NJ suggested a wonderful Italian bakery, and the rest is history.

Right now, we cater mostly to soldiers on Ft. Dix, so our hours are 10AM - 3:30PM, Monday - Friday. As time goes by, I am getting more and more requests to stay open later and to open on Saturdays. Chances are, we will comply with the demand before the end of the year. At the moment I'm also planning on a breakfast menu to debut by December.

Thanks for listening...oh, and Holly, hope to see ya soon!
Kelli Bowen

Hey Jersey Dog Kelli and hubby ! Good continued success with your Jersey Dogs joint!
I love a good Italian hot dog!
And it's nice you took the time to reply on this thread...
ellen in AC area

Jerseydog,sounds like you're doing it right...I'm up a ways from you...I'll try to get down there to sample an Italian hotdog....ever sprinkle a little wine vinegar on those potatoes????

Hi Kelli and serviceman husband. Thanks also for taking the time, to tell us your experience of trying to bring an Italian Hot Dog to the public. South Jersey is so lucky to have you, and from what you are saying, begining to appreciate your business.

While I now reside in CA, (thanks to many other stops along the way, and due to Uncle Sam, USAF)I was born and raised near Flemington, NJ (Hunterdon County) and my Mom and brothers live nearer to you, in Howell, NJ (between Freehold and Lakewood).

I admire your tenacity and business sense to find such a great spot for Italian Hot Dogs, and dedication to providing a top-of-the-line product. Sounds like you have had some bumps along the way, and that is par for the course, but you are obviously self motivated and have your own dreams/goals.

BRAVO for both you and your partner/husband. And, by the way, my heart just beats more profoundly, that you are serving our servicemen and woman. WOW, so very proud of YOU. I wish you every success, both for you, on a personal level, but also in the bigger picture, for the lucky residents of south Jersey, and especially for our servicemen and women. I salute you. <SALUTE icon>

I wish you very well deserved success. Come back and tell us how you are doing.

Sincere wishes and hugs from one (previous) Jersey girl, to another.

PS The fact that you are so concerned about the quality and type of bread dough, for the roll, speaks volumes about your knowledge and concern for a great Hot Dog to provide to the public. Sincerest best wishes.

hello all ,

Jersey Dog , welcome aboard and keep us informed about how your business is doing . It sounds to me like you are doing it right . Keep up the good work , and please thank your husband for his service to our country !!!!!

Sounds like we will have to put together another roadtrip and support our newest Roadfooder .

Welcome again Kellie

Benzee

Made it to Jersey Dogs today. Kellie and husband are great. The innards of the Italian Dogs and Sausage are great. The pizza bread - more American than Italian. Kellie assures me it is a work in progress. They are tracking down another baker a customer recommended. I don't get it - Italian is Italian. Any Italian bakery has to be able to make pizza bread.

http://www.hollyeats.com/JerseyDogsWrights.htm

Quick work, Holly. Thanks.

The Bear

hello all ,

Great quick work there Holly . !!!

Fantastic!!!!!

Benzee

Hi everyone!
Thanks SO SO SO much for your support! Since I last posted, I have taken some good advice from some GREAT people~

First and most important... The early AM trip to Ewing for the original pizza bread we served starts up again tomorrow. It's a little easier to accept now that gas has dipped below the $2 mark!

For all the people who prefer a regular hot dog... I now have home made chili instead of canned Hormel. I have added toppings to the mix too. Home made cole slaw and baked beans. Also, salsa and hot peppers. I put three different types of vinegar on the counter for the deep fried potatoes too. That seems to be a hit with some people!

It was a great pleasure to meet Holly in person, and I look forward to meeting all of you eventually~

THANKS AGAIN everyone!

Some nice improvements,Jerseydog...I'll try to get down there for an Italian hotdog!!! Best of luck with your business!

Hey Kellie
I think everyone needs to see your Italian Dog.



OR




I'll try to stop by on Friday to check out your chili and have an Italian hotdog.

Good Luck

John

quote:

Originally posted by JerseyDog


Thanks SO SO SO much for your support! Since I last posted, I have taken some good advice from some GREAT people~
It was a great pleasure to meet Holly in person, and I look forward to meeting all of you eventually~

That's so neat to see you use Roadfood.com as a reference!
Agreed; there ARE great people on this site; in fact, I think I'm addicted...

I've met the Sterns during our Nashville Roadfood Trip and the Austin one, but I've yet to meet Holly! (so you've got me beat there!) And Holly's got a great website, does'nt he?!?

continued success, jersey girl..!
from another jersey girl..

I came across an interesting article about a guy from New Jersey who tried to sell Italian Hot Dogs in Florida. You might think he would do well since there are a lot of people in Florida who moved there from Jersey. The Italian Hot Dog didn't catch on, so he began making Chicago Style Hot Dogs.

http://news-press.com/article/20081118/NEWS0101/811180325

Mom was ready for another adventure, so we went to Jersey Dogs a day early.
Met Kellie, had a single Italian hotdog. I got small chili on the side for Mom.

The chili was very tasty, the pizza bread very good, deep fried potatoes great
(Moms Favorite), good peppers and they use Best hot dogs.

The homemade chili was very tasty.

You can tell their working hard to give a good product.

I will return even though its 45 minute drive.

Glad to hear your report,John...seems JerseyDog got it right!!!!

Hi Guys!!

There are no words to express how thankful I am for all of your kind comments and support. It has made this venture so much more meaningful knowing that you guys are rooting for me and my family.

I'm so happy that I got to meet John and "Mom" this week. John, thanks for your suggestions and for the pointers that I know for sure will come in handy sooner than later!

THANKS AGAIN!!