Hot dogs get a bad rap. While lots of people like to malign the tube steak, hot dog sales continue to sizzle and the humble street meat has had a gourmet makeover in many cities including Denver and Chicago and Toronto.
What are you fave hot dog toppings? I like to ‘kick it old school’ as the kids used to say: all beef dog, grilled until the skin is crunchy and ready to burst, on a soft, eggy bun with ketchup and ballpark mustard. That’s it. Mmm!
Here are some other classic and not-so-classic suggestions for the more adventurous among us:
• Canadian: wrap the dogs in a slice of bacon before grilling and then drape in Cheddar cheese before serving.
• Zen: brush dogs with soy sauce while on the grill and then serve with wasabi mayo, pickled ginger and green onions.
• Trafalgar Square Indian: top grilled dogs with mango chutney or Branston pickle.
• Normandy: slather caramelized onions all over a grilled dog and drape with a slice of double cream brie.
How do you feel about hot dogs – love ‘em or despise ‘em? Has your hot dog consumption changed in the last few years? And, if so, how?
I’ve been called a food snob. What with my $22 bottles of balsamic vinegar, penchant for foie gras and routine indulgence of Lanson champagne; although I do love all of these things, I’m anything but a snob.
I also love many humble, everyday foods. In fact, hot dogs are one of my favourite summertime treats. I like a good quality hot dog and it needs to be grilled until it’s just ready to burst so that the skin is crunchy and the hot dog is super juicy. During the 90’s Martin and I lived next door to Maple Leaf Gardens; there was an excellent hot dog cart downstairs at the corner of Carlton and Yonge. Their hot dogs were so good that sometimes I zipped 26 floors down the elevator just to pick up one of these stellar hot dogs for lunch or supper.
Hot dogs, I’m pleased to see, are being rediscovered and given TLC by a few savvy restaurateurs. When I was in Vancouver recently I noticed a Gourmet Hot Dog place on a trendy downtown street and here in Toronto there is a newish place called Buddha Dog that I’m hoping to try out sometime soon.
Until I can get to one of these venues that respects the hot dog for the pleasure it truly is, I’ll be buying Kwinter’s hot dogs, the best I’ve found at my local grocery store, to cook on my home grill.
Hungry for more? Check out these blogs that celebrate the hot dog:
http://www.hotdogkids.blogspot.com/
http://www.roundonline.com/dogblog
http://wvhotdogblog.blogspot.com
http://www.thehotdogtruck.com
http://dinnerwithjulie.com/2008/04/22/day-113-pocket-dogs/
