Your favorite dog?

[Mezzaluna]

No, this isn't about canines: Chicago's hottest dogs - CNN.com

This ground was covered some time ago, but when this article popped up I thought it might be worth revisiting. I know we now have at least one hot dog expert here (my friend Chicagostyledog), but a great many of us have strong opinions about what makes a great dog.

To me, it has to have that snap! when you bite into it; a pronounced garlic flavor; a soft roll (I prefer poppy seed); and (don't kill me) a hint of ketchup but a good blast of spicy mustard. That's it, usually, although I can be lured to take a spoonful of neon green relish or a bit of sauerkraut.

How about you?

[shel]

Your post comes at a time when I'm exploring the "best dog" options in the San Francisco area. For me, a good pup has to have a natural casing, and such dogs are not always easy to find, especially if one just shops in a typical supermarket, where the hot dog bin is loaded with skinless, extruded crapola dogs, like Ballpark Franks, Oscar Meyer, Con Agra's Hebrew National (don't get me started!), and others. However, by wandering over to the meat department, or shopping specialty stores, or certain groceries (around here, at least) it's easier to find these natural casing dogs.

My first order of business is to find all of the offerings (I've found a fair number already) and where they're sold, and then, over time, give 'em all a try.

How one chooses to dress their pup is often greatly influenced by region. Ketchup, for example, is more of a Chicago thing. Being from NY, good deli mustard and sauerkraut seem to be favored, although a push cart Sabrettes with some onions is a popular choice as well. A number of Californians prefer the yellow mustards, like [editorial comment]UGH!
[/editorial comment] French's, which rightfully should only be served with an Oscar Meyer Weiner on an insipid white bread roll.

Anyway, my point is that how a dog gets dressed is secondary to the pooch itself. So, are we talking about what condiments you like, or are we talking about that tasty meat. Lots of dressing can cover a multitude of sins.

Shel

[Risque Cakes]

For me, an old fashion sabrette from a sweaty vendors dirty hands, loaded with relish, onions and the old grand dames of street foods, ketchup and mustard.

nothing beats that extra...yumminess...of a hot dog fished out, by the unsanitary hands of the vendor from the murky waters of a Downtown hot dog cart..

lol

I miss those days of calling in sick due to self inflicted dysintery...ROTFL

[chrose]

Rather than discuss the merits (or lack thereof) of the doggy manufacturers I will simply list the only ways I will eat the little buggers.

• Brown mustard, or Horseradish Mustard with Saurkraut
• Beanless chili meat with onions and mustard
• Mustard and fried Salami with or without kraut
• and a cheap ballpark with yellow mustard, but only at a game!

[bluezebra]

Let me count the ways! Great thread Mezza!

Well first off in Texas we have James Coney Island as the premiere hot dog king...NOT! Ick! Blech! Double Gross! I agree whole heartedly that the dogs must have "snap"!

I do love the Papaya King in Manhattan dogs so much. I also love Sabrettes from the street vendors!

Here, the best dogs I can find are Boar's Head brand natural casing beef frankfurters. They are the ones connected to each other and they have that yummy snap and a pleasing garlicy flavor!

I love them every way depending on mood (with the exception of ketchup! ick ):
With kraut and brown mustard
With onions, relish and spicy mustard
With chili (no beans) cheese, onions, mustard...

I could go on and on! But I'll spare ya! I agree the most important element is the dog itself. Everything else is gilding the lily!

[Mezzaluna]

I'll step in here to give a plug for Neuske's and Usinger's natural casing weiners. I'm less enamored of Klement's, but they're okay too.

I've been to NYC twice but never got a chance to eat a Sabrett's or visit Papaya King, but they're on my culinary pilgrimage list! They looked pretty good at Katz's Deli but I never got one near my mouth.

[bluedogz]

Another for the pilgrimage list: Icelandic pylsur, mostly lamb-based, in a natural casing served with mustard, remoulade, and fried onions after midnight in Reykjavik, after dancing for hours.

Also, a Nathan's Famous, with the weird crinkly fries and spicy mustard, with my grandpa and a pill bottle full of quarters for the pinball machines... (sorry... waxing nostalgic there)

[Risque Cakes]

Originally Posted by Mezzaluna

I'll step in here to give a plug for Neuske's and Usinger's natural casing weiners. I'm less enamored of Klement's, but they're okay too.

I've been to NYC twice but never got a chance to eat a Sabrett's or visit Papaya King, but they're on my culinary pilgrimage list! They looked pretty good at Katz's Deli but I never got one near my mouth.

OMG, Luna...you absolutely MUST have a hot dog from a NYC street vendor!

Or a mustard pretzel or ANY food from a cart!

Unbelievable what they make from those carts.

I'm STILL trying to find a comparable NOODLE CART recipe!

[Mezzaluna]

Risque Cakes, I'm plotting a good time for an escape to Manhattan. I trust the carts are around all year? I'd have to choose my traveling companions carefully- only those who wouldn't consider it insane to go through NYC mouth first! (<----That little guy is chewing, not talking with its mouth full! I do have manners....)

[Risque Cakes]

Originally Posted by Mezzaluna

Risque Cakes, I'm plotting a good time for an escape to Manhattan. I trust the carts are around all year? I'd have to choose my traveling companions carefully- only those who wouldn't consider it insane to go through NYC mouth first! (<----That little guy is chewing, not talking with its mouth full! I do have manners....)

hahaha what is a bitter winter compared to spreading disease throughout the NYC business world?

YESSSSSSSS!! the carts are out full force all year round!! there are also, roasted chestnuts ( which I don't like much but eat anyway..I'm such a food cart piglet!! )

you MUST visit Chinatown, during lunch time there is a teeny tiny rectangle of a square with all the noodle carts!! they even have chicken wings!! woo hoo!

you get a styro clam with noodles and wings and a soda for like 2 bucks! and if you go into the "BAKERY" get yourself some PORK BUNS..the baked ones ( have a golden brown sweet outside are my fave) The big steamed ones have MYSTERY SAUSAGE and hard boiled eggs..

When I was younger I used to spend all my weekends down in NYC. loved it, nothing beats the hint of "GARBAGE" wafting through the air..

[Coregonus]

Sabrettes and Nathan's are good indeed. Here in NYC, Deli beats street cart only by sauerkraut quality. Papaya leads in relishes.

To Mezzaluna: If you get a chance, try Karl Ehmer and Schaller&Weber bocks, knocks or brats (available in most Manhattan Gourmet stores and all 6 German Restaurants) with sharp mustard! I cook them half-way in beer, then finish on grill.
Wild Boar, Venison and Pheasant also available.

C

[MuskyHopeful]

Shel, ketchup is most certainly not a Chicago thing. The majority of Chicagoans think you are an absolute lunatic if you want ketchup on a hot dog. Some may not even speak to you in a civil manner.

A Chicago style hot dog, (keep in mind I'm from outside Milwaukee, but will not infrequently drive to Chicago for a dog and Italian Beef and have both at the same time at Al's or Portillos), consists of a steamed poppy seed bun, fermented (?) sweet relish, yellow mustard, onions, tomatoes, sport peppers, a slice of dill pickle, and a dusting of celery salt.

Oh yeah, and a natural casing beef hot dog, which I believe are usually boiled.

Add some crisp, yet creamy on the inside fresh cut fries and things are really going your way.

If I missed anything, Mezz's friend ChicagoStyleDog will please correct me. He's the dean of Hot Dog University.

I make mine at home with Neuske's beef hot dogs, which the local Sendik's stopped carrying, having only the pork and beef wieners, (I need to speak with someone about that).

I also love browning them lightly in butter, after which a I gently nestle two in a bun, then smother with fried onions and hot giardiniera.

Kevin

I believe I just wrote my menu for tomorrow night's first Packer pre-season game. The fries are tough to get right at home, though I keep trying.

[DMT]

I realize that my selection is not upper echelon fashionable select grade stuff, but I go for what is available (especially if it's from a vendor)...

Shoot me now, but I like a good Vienna beef dog or more specifically Polish dog, on a poppy seed or potato bun, and in order of importance, spicy mustard (none of the French's crappola in MY arsenal), diced onions, a dab or two of sweet relish, and kraut if it's available.

Add in a side order of onion rings, and life is grand... (no wonder I seen to have shrunk all my clothes...)

Oh, and a couple of Tums after about two hours...

Ketchup/Catsup is appropriate for fries, bologna sandwiches, meatloaf sanwiches, or hamburgers, but not tube steaks...

[RAS1187]

I am a Chicago purist... the following methods are acceptable

1.) Chicago Style - Vienna Beef Frank (casing is optional), steamed poppyseed bun, chopped onion, relish (some places use the neon green relish, either one works for me), tomato slices, kosher dill pickle spear, sport peppers, dash of celery salt, and MUSTARD (NO ketchup).

2.) Maxwell Style - Lots of grilled onions & mustard (typically a polish sausage thing, but hot dogs can apply)

3.) Chili-Cheese Dog - Chili, cheese, chopped onion

4.) Home BBQ Dogs - Ketchup & Mustard; this option is acceptable because whenever I go to a friend's house that is having a BBQ, he/she only buys ketchup and mustard for condiments. Under these circumstances I will put ketchup on my dog.

[shel]

Originally Posted by MuskyHopeful

Shel, ketchup is most certainly not a Chicago thing. The majority of Chicagoans think you are an absolute lunatic if you want ketchup on a hot dog. Some may not even speak to you in a civil manner.

Thanks for the correction. There was a Chicago style place here a few years ago, selling Vienna dogs, and I recall that ketchup was offered. Maybe it was California-Chicago Fusion <LOL>

In any case, the dogs were good, the place was always crowded ...

Shel