As we are true fans of #streetfood, one of the pieces de resistance is the hot dog. Foodies may be snobs where hotdogs are concerned, since mass production often spoils the spirit of the perky dog. But there are still brave hot dogs’ creators in the world, proving that any popular food can become a masterpiece, with the right dedication and ingredients. Gourmet hotdogs are on the rise 🙂
A short history of the hot dog
Call it Wiener or Frankfurter, the Germans invented this type of sausage, but then it was brought to the United States in the 1800s by immigrants, and quickly it became extremely popular, a working-class food sold at street stands and carts. The hot dog became closely associated with baseball and American culture. As the main entry gate for European immigrants, New York was the first to fall for the hot dog, giving it its stage name and making it part of its cultural identity.
What’s in a name?
#notfunny fact: In mid 1800s and early 1900s they occasionally ate dog meat in Germany
#funnyfact 1: Harry M. Stevens, an American sports concessionaire whose vendors sold German sausages and rolls to spectators at the old New York Polo Grounds, called them “Dachshund sandwiches”. Sports venues were real #hotspots even then, so lots of publicity around big playing fields. A New York Post cartoonist wanted to immortalize the scenes but couldn’t spell “dachshund”, so when he drew the cartoon, he called the sandwiches “hot dogs”, because it was somehow clear that they were dog-related somehow.
#funnyfact 2: References to dachshund sausages and ultimately hot dogs can be traced to German immigrants in the 1800s. These immigrants brought sausages to America, but they also came accompanied by their cute, loyal, long, thin dogs – the dachshund.
#conclusion: We don’t know for sure who was the first person to coin the name. It may have been out of the jokes around Germans eating dogs or about their actual dogs. It may very well been the creation of an American journalist trying to make sense of the nonsensical German language. The hot dog entered folklore and is now part of the Western culture on equal footing with burgers, baseball or coca-cola.
How it’s done
Hot dogs are sausages made of meat, put in a bun or a roll and commonly served with one or more condiments. Hot dogs must be in a casing to be cooked. Traditional casing is made from the small intestines of sheep. The products are known as “natural casing” hot dogs or frankfurters. These hot dogs have firmer texture and a “snap” that releases juices and flavor when you take a bite. “Skinless” hot dogs must use a casing in the cooking process to maintain traditional form, but the casing is usually a long tube of thin cellulose that is removed after cooking. This process was invented in Chicago in 1925. (wiki says)
On the side
Latest American survey show that mustard is the most popular topping, preferred by 32% of respondents; 23% favored ketchup; 17% chili con carne; 9% pickle relish, and 7% onions. Other toppings include sauerkraut, mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and chili peppers.
Did you know
…The world’s longest hot dog was 60 meters, resting within a 60.3-meter bun.
…The world’s most expensive hot dog cost $145.49. The “California Capitol City Dawg” featured a grilled 460 mm all-beef sausage in natural casing frank from Chicago, served on a fresh baked herb and oil focaccia roll, spread with white truffle butter. It was topped with a whole grain mustard from France, garlic & herb mayonnaise, sauteed chopped shallots, organic mixed baby greens, maple syrup marinated/fruitwood smoked uncured bacon from New Hampshire, chopped tomato, expensive moose cheese from Sweden, sweetened dried cranberries, basil olive oil/pear-cranberry-coconut balsamic vinaigrette, and ground peppercorn.
Hot Dog in other languages
Spanish – Perrito Caliente
Italian – Caldo Cane
French – Chien Chaud
German – Heisser Hund, or Wurst
Portugese – Cachorro Quente
Swedish – Korv, or Varmkorv
Norweigan and Danish – Grillpolser
Czech – Park v Rohliku
Dutch – Worstjes
Finnish – Makkarat
