• New Yorkers may consume more hot dogs than other Americans, but ballpark goers will eat enough at major league ballparks this year to stretch to and from Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia and Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., the two sites of the 2008 World Series.
• But what exactly is a hot dog? References to sausage go back as far as Homer, and it is likely that the frankfurter was the grandfather of the eventual “weiner” dog (possibly named after Vienna – Wein – Austria from whence it came). However, others suggest that the term might have come from “dachshund sausage,” “dog wagons,” (that delivered the fares to college students) or even from street vendors hawking them from portable hot water tanks.
• In any case, the hot dog as we know it first appeared in ballparks 1893, and they have remained popular ever since. Humphrey Bogart once said, “A hot dog at the ballpark is better than a steak at the Ritz.”
• Pre-Kobayshi, the record for hot dogs consumed in 12 minutes was 25. Kobayshi – at the time, 23 years old and weighing in at 131 pounds – consumed 50 hot dogs in the same amount of time.
• One must be careful when consuming hot dogs at any speed, however. One way to prevent choking is with the Octodog. (If that didn’t weird you out enough, here’s another picture). Also, criminals beware! A convenience store thief once choked on a heisted hot dog, and required the Heimlich (and of course … was caught).
• How do you say “hot dog” in Latin? Pastillum botello fartum. No, not a joke. The Vatican issued a dictionary of new Latin terms for words for which there was no equivalent, The Lexicon Recentis Latinitatis. Consider it Latin’s way of keeping it real with the kids (but “fartum”? really?)
• Hot dog stands are, in some parts of the country, as ubiquitous as taxi cabs or Starbucks. But real estate doesn’t come cheap to these vendors – for one hot dog stand in NYC near the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the monthly price is $53,558. The cart was (to no surprise?) eventually evicted.
• Finally, hot dogs are even good enough for a Queen: In 1939, the King and Queen of England were served hot dogs by the Roosevelts: a sampling was served on a silver tray. However, the royal guests nevertheless joined everyone else in eating off paper plates.
• Although I only enjoy the soy variety myself (Loma Lindas!), I love hot dogs. What do you guys like to dress your dogs with? My new favorite condiment: Wickles!
Hungry for more? Venture into the Dietribes archive.
‘Dietribes’ appears every other Wednesday. Food photos taken by Johanna Beyenbach You might remember that name from our post about her colorful diet.
Comments (21)
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Esskay Franks are my favorite. For starters, they don’t have to answer to a higher authority like some other dogs. Secondly, they’re thick and juicy! I am willing to put just about anything on my dogs because anything with a dog tastes good. However, I have to say that ketchup is my favorite.
(reCaptcha: 10 polygamy…that’s two reCaptcha’s now that want me having multiple wives today)
posted by Steven on 8-26-2009 at 12:30 pm
My favorite strange hot dog thing I’ve seen lately is the hairy hot dog popular in Russia. Uncooked spaghetti noodles are run through the hot dog all over and then cooked together. I’m going to try that eventually.
posted by Dave on 8-26-2009 at 12:42 pm
Only hotdogs I like are Hebrew National All Beef Hotdogs – covered either with ketchup and relish, or with chili. Mmm…
posted by Sarah on 8-26-2009 at 1:04 pm
Nathan’s or Hebrew National with onions, brown mustard and celery salt.
posted by DenverGregg on 8-26-2009 at 1:07 pm
Yocco’s in Allentown, PA rules!
Mustard, onions and secret sauce on 3 dogs, an order of pierogies and a chocolate milk can’t be beat in the world of fast food.
posted by Wayne on 8-26-2009 at 1:59 pm
Wudy is the brand of choice here in Italy! Valentino Rossi, the world champion Moto GP racer, is sponsored by Wudy Wurstel Company (Wurstel is how Hot Dogs are called in Europe). I like my Wurstel on a bun with Ponte Balsamic Vinegar Syrup, Shredded Cabbage, Peppers, and Onions. Its seriously awesome, and comes highly recommended by yours truly…
posted by Kate on 8-26-2009 at 2:09 pm
Let’s not forget about how the Hot Dog was introduced to America. It was an immigrant from Frankfurter Germany by the name of Charles Feltman, my great-great grandfather. He put a suasage/frankfurter between a piece of bread or roll. He soon started his own cart eventually owning Feltmans Famous Beer garden. Nathan was an employee of Charles and stabbed him in the back by quiting and starting his own hot dog stand. By dressing homeless bums in Doctor’s overcoats, he promoted his hot dog as the healthier one.
Check it out on Wikepedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_dogs#cite_note-2
posted by Douglas Feltman on 8-26-2009 at 2:12 pm
The octodog is completely unnecessary! All you have to do is cut the hotdog with a knife to make the legs, stick it in boiling water, and poke the eyes in with a toothpick or kinfe point. Voila! Octopus-hotdog, which is an especially big hit with my kids. They like to put relish hair on, and ketchup around the legs, so it’s “inking”.
posted by Tamsyn on 8-26-2009 at 3:07 pm
Best hot dogs ever… Hippy hot dogs (only available in Lancaster, PA area).
Best hot dog available generally… Hebrew National, with Nathan’s a close second (even in a Nathan’s taste test… don’t ask!)
Dress that hot dog with cole slaw! Oh, Yum!
posted by Hyacinth on 8-26-2009 at 3:19 pm
My favorite brand is also Hebrew National. Can’t beat answering to a higher authority! And I was going to make the exact same comment that Tamsyn did about the Octodog. It makes me sad to think that people actually spend money on junk like that.
posted by Kelsey on 8-26-2009 at 4:08 pm
I am so hungry for a hot dog now.
posted by Rachel on 8-26-2009 at 4:16 pm
now that I’m vegetarian and in las vegas, I can’t really enjoy hot dogs like I did in chicago- my favorite hot dogs by far.
my favorite spread?
poppy bun, hot (veggie) dog, ketchup,
mayo, mustard, relish, and cheddar cheese.
mmmmmmmmm.
posted by grace on 8-26-2009 at 6:27 pm
Mmmm any hot dog in Vienna – I loved how they hollow out the inside and stick the sausage in. And if anyone’s in Moscow, used to love Stardogs! Sadly, have never had the chance to have a real American hot dog… (Btw, that’s what we call them here in NZ if they’re in a bun – American hot dogs. Just ‘Hot dog’ is what you guys call corn dogs)
posted by Gwan on 8-26-2009 at 6:46 pm
I agree with Tamsyn, the octodog is unnecessary. My boyfriend taught me how to cut the two ends of the dogs in quarters. You then cook them over a campfire and the ends curl and crisp up nicely. We call them “spider dogs” because they have eight “legs” (4 on each end).
posted by Ranger J on 8-26-2009 at 7:35 pm
I think it would have been interesting to note a few more types of hot dogs and their popularity in various parts in the US. Here in the South,a “pink” hot dog is #1.
posted by lisaj on 8-26-2009 at 10:17 pm
That octodog is creepy!!!!!
I LOVE NATHAN’S HOT DOGS!!!!!
I work at Costco and people go nuts for our hot dogs. Being that they’re Hebrew National and only cost $1.64 with a drink. Can’t beat that for lunch!
posted by Kelli Rae on 8-27-2009 at 2:55 am
The Chicago Hot Dog: Vienna All-Beef Frank, diced tomatoes, onions, pickle, relish, mustard on a Mary Ann poppy seed bun. And the piece de resistance: a sprinkle of celery salt… ketchup belongs on a burger, but is acceptable on dogs if you’re under 10 years old!
posted by Da Mare on 8-27-2009 at 8:54 am
I’m not 100% certain about this, but from what I noticed and was told when I was studying in Germany and Austria, the German’s call the hotdog a Wiener (as in someone from Wien) and the Austrian’s call the same sausage a Frankfurter (as in someone from Frankfurt). I could never figure out if this was a dig or not as I found both sausages delicious!
posted by AMOJA on 8-27-2009 at 9:52 am
Why would anyone buy an Octodog? Let along pay $16 for it!? Just use a knife and then cook.
posted by Hyacinth on 8-27-2009 at 11:54 am
My mom used to make hot dog spiders, Ranger J. She would make them every Halloween when we were growing up and serve them on macaroni and cheese. What mac and cheese has to do with Halloween is beyond me, but there you go.
posted by Janel on 8-27-2009 at 3:12 pm
The best dogs anywhere are the ones you get at Yankee Stadium in September – they’ve been in there since opening day…. I get ‘em loaded with mustard & kraut – FANTASTIC!!!!!
posted by godzilla on 9-15-2009 at 11:14 pm