As many of you know, and are likely eagerly awaiting, the Annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest is rapidly approaching (on July 4th). The event, held at the original Nathan’s Nathan’s Original, which is both covered globally by press, and entered by contestants from all around the world, is a spectacle to behold; especially as told by George Shea, the IFOCE spokesperson, who emcees the event. And it begs the question, what exactly makes a real New York Hot Dog? That question was specifically raised recently, read on below…
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You know what they’re made of, Chet? Huh? Lips and assholes,
I just voted for the dirty water dog. I’d have to say that that is what is commonly considered a “real” New York hot dog – but I have never, and will never eat one. I’ve eaten at Gray’s (and at my father’s various iterations of the 50cent hot dog joints) and think a grilled hot dog is ALWAYS best. At home I’ll even grill a hot dog in a pan before boiling it.
Steve, Great movie reference– I love the “Great Outdoors!”. Interesting that you grill before boiling. For home cooking, I’m also a fan of the combo- technique, but I boil before grilling. P.s. stay tuned for an upcoming post on a cool grilling product, in which I actually grill some hot dogs.
I <3 nyc dirty water dawgs, but I have to say I'm now a convert.
Out here in the mission (san fran’s mexican neighborhood), we have border dogs (aka, bacon wrapped hot dogs.)
They are grilled on little carts that look like converted ice cream push carts. No dirty water, but you get:
* The grill top flavor of a Gray’s
* The convenience of a street cart
* and you get the god blessed flavor combination of bacon and pork!
Vinnie, now only if those border dogs were battered and deep-fried. Here’s how they’d look.
Real New York Hotdogs can only be obtained at Yankee stadium, home of New York’s only professional baseball team.
Best with a tall beer, lots of mustard, kraut, and a double header.
After speaking with my dad, he says that grilled hot dogs are the “original” – which to some may mean “real”. Born in the Bronx in 1933, he says that he didn’t see pushcarts with boiled hot dogs until he was in high school.
He said that NYC Jews got their hot dog from Kosher delis, where they were always grilled, unless you ordered a “frank & beans” in which case you would be asked if you wanted your hot dog grilled or boiled.
At ball parks, the hot dogs were often steamed, with the rolls – since the rolls were often stale.
My dad’s challenge to Lon: find the issue of Life Magazine where on the cover the King & Queen of England, and Elenore & FDR were pictured eating hot dogs at the White House…
Oh, I love a good research challenge! Well, I think I’ve got the answer to this one. Perhaps your dad was thinking of the cover of The New York Times on Monday, June 12, 1939. That covered the news of the previous day when King George and Queen Elizabeth of England were served hot dogs by Franklin Delano & Eleanor Roosevelt at the president’s Hyde Park home.
After some research, I’m pretty sure this was never on the cover of Time. In fact the next two issues of Time featured the graduating class at Annapolis and then Payton Jordan. In that second issue, from June 19, 1939, the royal tour was discussed, but I don’t see any reference to a hot dog image.
While I am partial to both the NYC dirty water dog and the Yankee Stadium Dog of champions, I feel it necessary to nominate another. The Lucky dog of New Orleans is a high quality processed product. Get one with raw onions when leaving the bar after several hours of liver abuse…. there is nothing like it. Be prepared to taste it for a day after…. mmm mmm good!
Alright, I guess I have to post this somewhere, but don’t feel like it deserves it’s own post. There’s a new hot dog eating record: 66 dogs.
Hot Dog…
An interesting post by a bloger made me ……