Building the Perfect WV Hot Dog, Test 1

Over the past several decades, Huntington has been a city in transition. The Rust Belt town of yesteryear has downsized drastically and is inching ever closer to becoming a full-fledged university town (rumor has it that there was even a couch burning last year). During this change, however, the city’s economy has been hit hard. In fact, there is but one thing that kept Huntington afloat over the past two decades: the thousands of dollars worth of hot dogs that I have purchased from local hot dog stands.

Fortunately, Huntington has seemingly turned a corner: Pullman Square has brought a sense of place back to the downtown region, Marshall’s administration seems to be focused on the academic end of things, and government officials finally seem committed to combating the supply of (if not the demand for) crack cocaine.

Anticipating an upswing in the city’s finances, I have deemed it safe to embark upon a money-saving adventure in home hot dog economics. As part of an ongoing series on the blog, I will assemble homemade WV hot dogs using ingredients available from local grocers. I will then analyze the dog and its components for quality, balance, taste, texture, etc. in order to see just how close it comes to being a great WV dog and where and if the individual ingredients merit inclusion in the ultimate home-assembled WV dawg.

For my first ‘speriment, I am basically using the stuff that I have around the house. This dog will be made from Heiner’s Sunny Buns hot dog buns, Ball Park beef franks, Custard Stand Hot Dog Chili, French’s Yellow Mustard, and Ballard’s Farms Amish Sweet Slaw. No onions or ketchup this time (more on that in a bit).

With a Heiner’s bakery located in Huntington’s Old Central City district, a week-old package of buns in a Tri-State kitchen are fresher than those in shops in other parts of the state. Additionally, Sunny Buns are Heiner’s premium product with a light touch of honey and generally cost about 20¢ more per package (money well spent to a hot dog aficionado). The bun was perfectly baked, tasty, and fresh, of course. 5 weenies.

The weenie, however, did not live up to the quality expected of a good Huntington/West Virginia dog. While I give high marks to Ball Park brand franks on the national scheme of things, they just cannot compare in freshness to the locally-made dogs of Cavalier Meats. Even after boiling them to soak out some of the preservatives before giving them a quick skillet grillin’, they were still a bit salty and lacking in a fresh beef taste. In there defense, however, they did cook up plump and were not bad for a wiener brought in from outside of the region. 2.5 weenies.

The sauce, Custard Stand Hot Dog Chili, is a commercially-available, small-batch sauce made in Webster Spring, West Virginia (arguably as West Virginia as West Virginia gets) was an excellent topping for the weenie. The sauce was sweet, with a notable taste of onion up front. The beef was not heavily seasoned, but has a nice taste in and of itself. Ketchup is one of the main ingredients and gives the sauce a nice finish. Available in the meat section of area Wal-Marts (and possibly other stores), this is by far the best ready-made hot dog sauce that I have run across. This rings especially true for fans of a less-sweet slaw (a vinegary-peppery slaw in particular would great with this sauce) or those that enjoy ketchup on a dog, but are too embarrassed to use it in polite company. I would, in the future, not shy away from the onions next time, as the onions in the sauce act to flavor the chili alone and do not act as a substitute for chopped un’juns. Furthermore, don’t be afraid to lay on the mustard with this sauce. 4.5 weenies.

Ballard’s Farms Amish Sweet Slaw, while fresh, was not the best fit for the dog. While the sweetness of the slaw did clash with the sweetness in the sauce, that was not the main issue. Nor was the well-diced and creamy texture. The problem, I believe, was in the cabbage. Maybe it was stale or maybe they used the whole cabbage, stems and all. I’m not sure. Something, however, was amiss. Next time I will stick to Ballard’s original slaw and not get so cutesy at the dairy isle. 2 weenies.

Overall, the dog made for a nice lunch for this West Virginian hot dog connoisseur. They were notably sweet and would be particularly appropriate for a fan of the sweeter sub-variation of the WV dawg, (Stanton, this means you). The sticking points were the low-quality slaw and the freezery-tasting frank from God knows where that brought the overall taste down and my misguided belief that onions wouldn’t be necessary this time around. The highlights of the dogs were the delicate ballet of sweet ‘n sour deliciousness that was danced between the sauce and the mustard and the tastiest bun this side of…well, anywhere.

Final score for test dog 1: 3.5 weenies.

Parkersburg HDJ Review - 7th Street Dairy Queen

As I was leaving Parkersburg after a meeting recently I spied the familiar DQ sign along my route and decided to begin my DQ research here. It was also the first Parkersburg HDJ I've officially visited so I wasn't at all sure what I would find as far as toppings on an "everything" dog. I thought that maybe I might find the same mongrel dogs as in Huntington and I'd have to alienate another city along the Ohio River. I was quite relieved to find that Parkersburg has decided to be included as a full partner in good standing with the rest of the state: Chili, Slaw, mustard and onions are standard. No asking for a "slaw dog" in P-burg (which means we can now fill in Wood County with light green on the slaw map). They also have footlong versions of both their regular hot dogs and that DQ specialty, the chili cheese dog.

Unfortunately, despite finding the right ingredients on the hot dog, they weren't very good ingredients. The chili was the basic DQ Coney Sauce that has a bland taste and no character to speak of. The slaw was the regular food service kind with gigantic pieces of cabbage and virtually no taste. The bun tasted kind of old and seemed to be a little stale. Interesting since the Heiners truck was just leaving as I walked in (I must have gotten the last of the old bag). The service was very friendly and I really wanted to like their product, but it just falls short.

Now that I have verified that Parkersburg is part of the W.Va. Hot Dog universe I look forward to going back and trying some other local offerings but I don't think I'll go back to this DQ again, at least not for a hot dog.

I've been getting a lot of good emails from people telling me about their favorte Dairy Queen locations and I am hopeful that I am going to find some really good hot dogs as in the weeks to come as I try to hit as many DQs as I can. Keep those cards and letters coming!

The Dairy Queen Code

With at least one location in virtually every town in West Virginia, Dairy Queen is easily the most ubiquitous of all hot dog joints in the state. I am forever getting emails from people who say that I should review this or that DQ because they have good hot dogs. Having tried a few of the local DQ's, I have found a great disparity in the kind and quality of hot dog toppings they sell. Some of them are pretty good and some are downright gross.

Now if you've traveled much at all, you know it's not normal to find a disparity in the taste of food in a chain restaurant. A McDonalds Hamburger in Glenville West Virginia (yes, they have a McDonalds) tastes EXACTLY like a McDonalds hamburger in Los Angeles California. But DQ hot dogs are different where ever you go. It got me thinking.

According to the DQ corporate website, Dairy Queen sells two hot dog products; a "Hot Dog" and a "Chili Cheese Dog." If you examine their nutritional information documents you can deduce that a "Hot Dog" includes mustard as the only topping. The Chili Cheese Dog adds, predictably enough, chili and cheese. It would seem, though, that DQ gives its franchises a lot more lattitude in customizing its menu than do most franchised chains. Even though the corporate literature and menu boards have only the basic two dogs pictured, individual restaurants seem to have the ability to offer whatever it feels is locally appropriate. If you call up a DQ in various locations and ask them "what's 'everything' on a hot dog?" you will get lots of answers. One could assume that each store owner would be acutely aware of the local hot dog culture and would be sure to offer what the people want. These franchisees are no dummies and market forces would insure that the hot dogs at the local DQ were reflective of what people expected their hot dogs to be.

So, here we have a national chain that doesn't know a West Virginia Hot Dog from Shinola that just might be the best indicator of where in the state eats what on their hot dogs. I find that interesting, ironic and worthy of further investigation.

Therefore, during the month of September I will be focusing on Dairy Queen hot dogs. I'm not sure how far I'll be able to travel from Charleston, but if you have a suggested DQ location please let me know so I can try to get to it.

Maybe we can get Chris to check out the DQs in the Huntington area. Of course we might have to wait until he gets his appetite back after the painful and embarassing football fiasco that will happen on Saturday.

Huntington Area Hot Dog Joints - Family Restaurant - Wayne

While it might be seen as trespassing on Chris James' territory, I found myself in Wayne at lunchtime one day and stopped in this nice little roadside diner. The name seems to beg for another word, but on the sign and menu it says only "Family Restaurant." Inside is down-home small town charm complete with walls decorated with local high school uniforms and old newspaper clippings. A sign welcoming home the local war hero sits front and center and commands the attention of everyone who enters.

On the menu is a variety of things you would expect in a hometown diner, including hot dogs. "Everything" includes an all-beef weenie on a grilled bun, sauce, mustard, ketchup and onions with cole slaw as a 25 cent upgrade. It all adds up to a really good hot dog.

Breaking it down, we have a really excellent weenie. All-beef and grilled - it's about as good as a basic weenie gets. The grilled bun is also great and it adds both flavor and a bit of a crunch to the experience. The sauce (okay, I called it sauce - satisfied Chris?) is not at all spicy but it has a nice flavor and texture. The slaw, although served in a typical Huntington-sized stingy serving, has a great flavor and is finely chopped. If the portion size had been doubled it would have been better.

For my money this is the best hot dog I've had in the Huntington area, if it can be called that. Fourteen miles from Pullman Square might be considered out of the Huntington area but I've always thought of Wayne as a suburb of the River City, and it's my blog.

So there.

Bridgeport Hot Dog Review - T&L Hot Dogs

T&L Hot Dogs is becoming a good sized chain in northern and central West Virginia and despite being located in the slaw-challenged north, they recognize their West Virginia roots on their menu by offering a "West Virginia Hot Dog" that comes standard with slaw. There were a few locations in the Charleston years ago and I remember them more for their onion rings than their hot dogs. While I was up north I decided to visit the original location in Bridgeport to to sample their current offerings. The motif is that of a 50's diner and it is bright, clean and comfortable. Pictures of Elvis, Marilyn and other cultural icons adorn the walls and a juke box in the corner has a collection of appropriately aged musical selections. There's not much inside seating but the drive-thru was hopping the whole time I was there.

I ordered a W.Va. Hot Dog and was given a choice between mild, medium or hot chili (OK, they call it sauce) and I chose medium. After one bite I was glad I didn't try "hot" because I was soon sweating from my eyesockets I could feel my sinuses clearing with every bite. Wow! This stuff makes its presence felt. Not just spicy, it has a great flavor and the texture is perfect as well. The burn was my traveling partner half way back to Charleston.

The slaw is OK, but not sweet enough to offset the chili's burn. I don't think that northern people understand that there is a direct relationship between the spicy and sweet, that they compliment each other in a very synergistic way. No wonder they think they don't like slaw on hot dogs, they don't seem to have the proper slaw for the job.

The bun and weenie are average. Overall a decent WVHD, mainly on the strength of the chili. They also have fries, lots of fries. A "Tub O Fries" to be exact (think of a medium size movie theater size popcorn container), and you can get those with chili and cheese on top (you might want to check with your cardiologist first).

T&L seems to have more locations than their website indicates (it must be out of date) and is, quite deservedly, one of the more widespread HDJ's in northern and central W.Va. If they only had better slaw then who knows? They might create a wave of acceptance in the slawless reaches of Marion, Mon, and perhaps even the panhandle. They could evangelize Northern West Virginia with the Gospel of Slaw!

Somebody say AMEN!

Fairmont Hot Dog Joint - The Dog House

On my way into downtown Fairmont to find Yann's I drove past this little joint on East Park Avenue, and after I found Yann's closed I doubled back to sample their fare.

The atmosphere is typical roadside hot dog stand, except that there is a small eat-in area. The building looks like a walk-up but you actually order inside. Nothing fancy, nothing remarkable, just the usual ancillary offerings of a roadside stand, including canned soft drinks.

I found the dog to be a typical northern West Virginia hot dog with mustard, onions and chili. The chili is very meaty, has a very nice texture and is served in abundance but it really didn't have much kick. Slaw was not an option, apparently per Marion County law, and the weenie seemed undersized to me. What else can you say about a southern Pennsylvania hot dog?

With the demise of Yann's, maybe our kinfolk from the north country can join the rest of the state (well, MOST of the state) in a nice hot dog covered by a big mound of sweat, creamy coleslaw.

Slaw Mapping Expedition & Dairy Queen Hot Dog Theory

I was able to venture north this week and do some closer investigation of the "slaw line" phenomenon. I have virtually pinpointed where the line crosses the I79 corridor - more on that tomorrow. I also sampled a few hot dogs up north and have several interesting reviews to post over the weekend.

But I also noticed something very interesting about Dairy Queens. I am still researching this theory, but I am close to something big; almost cosmic. I'll call it the "DQ Indicator" and it might be the single best criterion on which to base future slaw mapping. I think I'll be able to flesh out the theory over the weekend and have a thesis posted early next week.

Sorry for the teasers but I'm a little road-weary and don't feel much like blogging tonight.

OK, But Where Can I Get a Coleslaw Vest?

Charleston Area Hot Dog Joints - Appalachian Power Park

There's nothing in the world like a minor league ballpark on a nice summer evening. The sounds, the sights, the smells and, oh yeah, the game! And how can you be at the ballpark on a nice summer evening without a hot dog? Is there a more grand hot dog joint than this?

I've been kept away from Appalachian Power Park all summer long by this or that and here it is mid-August and I had yet to root, root, root for the home team even once. When I looked at the Power's remaining home schedule I realized that time was running out and I felt I owed it to the WVHD public to go have a hot dog for them. So I shelled out my $5 for a general admission ticket and headed straight for the concession stand, of which there are several around the park. But I soon realized that even though there were several stands, they all sold the same hot dogs. Whether you choose to eat at "The Coal Car Cafe", "The Mine Shaft" or one of the several free-standing vendors you still have a choice between a regular hot dog ($2.50) or a jumbo version for $3.75. If you want chili on either it costs an extra buck. The you take your hot dog to the condiment stand where you can load it up with slaw, mustard or alien toppings like ketchup and relish. And then you enjoy your hot dog, not.

"OK," you say, "everyone knows that ball park food is expensive, so what's the problem?" Well, I wouldn't mind paying $3 or $4 for a hot dog to enjoy in such a great setting if it were even marginally good, but these dogs aren't even marginal.

First, the basic dog is handed to you wrapped - actually, smashed - inside aluminum foil. It is stone cold on delivery. The bun is OK tasting but so mishapen that if it didn't have a weenie in it you wouldn't recognize it as a hot dog. The weenie is basic. The chili is gross. The self-serve slaw is the crappy lowest common denominator food service stuff. This is one of the worst hot dogs you can buy in Charleston. All the atmosphere in the world couldn't make it better.

I really think the Power is doing itself a great disservice by serving such a bad hot dog. Good food can bring in at least as many fans as the team. I know that I would drive to Cincinnati, buy a ticket for a team I don't like and fight the crowd at the concession stand for one the fantastic bratwursts they serve. I'll never again drive the five minutes to Appy Park for the hot dogs.

YIKES!

Oh yeah, sure. Next month they'll be saying hot dogs are the cure for polio.

Charleston Area Hot Dog Joints - Porker's BBQ & Hot Dogs

Sitting just a stone's throw from "the stoplight" in Cross Lanes is this nifty little BBQ joint that also boasts hot dogs on its large colorful sign out front. Outside the restaurant is very colorful in more ways than one, replete with pig statues and a sign that promises ribs that are "Bone Sucking Good." Inside is reminiscent of a fifties style diner with all the chrome, neon and black and white tile you'd expect.

The aroma in the place is definitely that of a BBQ joint. They seem to have all the BBQ bases covered offering pork, beef and chicken BBQ selections. The ribs looked very good, but that wasn't what I came for.

Everything, I was told, on a Porker's hot dog included chili, slaw, mustard, ketchup and relish. I ordered one relishless. This is only the second time I have encountered a slaw AND relish offering at a West Virginia HDJ. While I waited for my order I studied over the prospect of having slaw and relish together and how odd it seemed. Once I tasted the slaw, however, I understood why you might want to add a little sweet relish. The slaw had virtually no sweetness of its own. It was finely chopped and creamy and looked great, but when I bit into it I was surprised to find green peppers as the dominate flavor. It wasn't bad, just not what I expected.

The chili had a great texture and a very meaty flavor. It had a slight BBQ taste as you might expect of such a restaurant. Not very spicy but pretty good.

The bun was soft and tasty and it cradled an excellent all-beef and perfectly grilled weenie. The weenie is so good that it got me already thinking ahead to next year's Weenie Awards: Swiftwater might have a competitor at last.

Overall a pretty good hot dog in a nice little restaurant. Try the hot dog or go for the BBQ, but go.

To find it, take the Cross Lanes exit of I64 and turn right at the light toward "Little Tyler" (Rt 62) Porkers is about 100 yards on the right.

Huntington Area Hot Dog Joints - Everything but at Frostop

For generations of Huntingtonians, the site of a ginourmous mug of root beer spinning about signaled that their long journey home was complete. Under the mug is Frostop, a drive-in restaurant where carhops still go to your car to take your order and serve your party on a tray that attatches to a car's window (or you can eat at an outdoor table, if you so wish, and enjoy the same level of service). Specializing in bbq sandwiches, ice cream, hot dogs, and (especially) its own recipe of root beer/root beer floats, the grub has coupled with the unique architecture to create one of Huntington's most well-known landmarks. But enough babble, let's get to the dogs...

As you can likely surmise from the lead, the first thing that hits you after pulling into "that place with the giant root beer mug" are the carhops (ok, not literally "hit" you, but you get the point). The service is a throw-back to the days of when fast service restaurants at least feigned giving a crap about how the customers are treated and is certainly a nice touch. Within seconds of arrival, your order is taken and rushed to the kitchen, where only a couple more minutes pass before you are brought your food. In terms of service, we are talking first class.

For the sake of this review, I ordered a dog with sauce, cole slaw, ketchup, mustard, and onion, while my wife ordered one with sauce and slaw. We split an order of crinkle cut fries and a quart of root beer served in an actual wax paper cup (not a frosted mug, but still a welcome bit of nostalgia).

Unfortunately for Frostop, the hot dog itself was the low point of the meal. Borrowing from Stewart's Original, the dogs were served rolled in paper napkins with the sauce, ketchup, mustard, and onions all being located on the underside of the wiener. I've never been a fan of the wrapped napkin approach, not so much for the lack of bun-steaming, but rather for the fact that I always manage to unroll the dog upside down. As far as the wet ingredients being served on the bottom, I have never gotten the point of doing so. At Stewart's, the technique sort of makes sense, as the sauce is more of a paste in texture, but Frostop's chili is more liquid in nature than their cross-town rival's, so it really just leads to a soggy bun.

As far as the individual quality of the hot dog components, The Frostop dog was a mixed bag. The buns were fresh (note that stale buns are a particular sin in Huntington, given that we have the Heiner's Bakery in town), although unsteamed (which means much less to me than to Stanton) and the weenie was of decent quality and boiled, which I prefer over grilled or fried (more on that in a future post). The sauce had a nice flavor, mainly of chili powder and onion, with ground beef as its primary ingredient. If anything, the sauce was a bit too runny, especially for a sauce that is spooned directly onto the bun. The diced onions were fresh, firm, and of a medium chunk size, which is spot-on in my book. The ketchup was applied much too liberally in my opinion, therefore overpowering the taste of the sauce in the dog.

It was the cole slaw, however, that was the most controversial portion of the meal. As one can see from the photo, the slaw is not exactly heaped upon the dog. My wife also found it to be too runny and speculated that we caught Frostop on the end of a slaw life cycle, as the cabbage seemed a bit wilted. I, on the other hand, actually enjoyed their slaw as a slaw, but was unsure if it was indeed the best fit for a hot dog with sauce. I found it to be a bit too tangy for a sauce dog on its own, although this was nicely balanced with the sweet and creamy root beer. Overall, this would be an excellent fit for a topping on their world-class bbq sandwiches, but not really for the dogs.

Sadly, when taken as a whole, I was thoroughly under-whelmed by the taste, texture, and overall quality of Frostop's hot dogs. This is why, at Hot Dog Fest, I skipped their dogs altogether and used their root beer to wash down their competitors' superior weenies.

In terms of accompaniments however, another bright side was found. The fries and root beer were excellent fits with just about any drive-in style dish and the retro atmosphere. The crinkle cut fries were served hot and crispy and their root beer is a perfect balance of sweet and vanilla that tastes as good in February as it does in August.

Now for the ratings:

• Service: 5 weenies. Can't be beat.
• Atmosphere: 5 weenies. Once again, truly unique, even compared to Stewart's drive-in location.
• Sides: 4.5 weenies. Best. Root Beer. Ever. (and good fries).
• Hot dogs: 2 weenies. The elephant in the living room in terms of this review. They were soggy and not particularly tasty.

Overall Score: 2.5 weenies. If I was reviewing anything but hot dogs, the score would be much, much higher. But hey, check the title, man...

That being said, I would recommend stopping by Frostop when in Huntington. Marvel at the service, savor the root beer, and taste what a great WV barbeque sam'mich is really all about.

Just skip the hot dogs.

Good News for Downtown Diners

OK, it's not hot dog news, but anyone who works or visits downtown Charleston at lunchtime should be excited that the sign is up at Cilantros, the new restaurant from Virgil Sadorra of Delish fame. Cilantros will open up in the space that was occupied by Delish before the fire. I peeked in the window and it looks like it's coming along nicely.

Delish will be opening up in a location on Virginia Street hopefully this fall. Virgil, if you are reading this I beg you to keep Delish Dogs on your new menu!

New Hot Dog Product at Krogers

I've noticed a sharp uptick in the number of food products on the market that feature pre-assembled food elements. I guess they are supposed to save us busy Americans time and energy, and have an excuse to charge a heck of a lot more money for the same product ("value added" they call it - I call it "highway robbery"). The latest such product, and most appropriate for inclusion here, is Oscar Mayer Fast Franks.

OK, first, how hard is it to put together a hot dog and a bun? Does this product really save that much time? To be fair, though, it does solve the age old dilemna of 10 weenies and eight buns in a package (like George Carlin says, "You gotta buy a LOT of those things before it evens out!")

Second, look at the package: "America's favorite hot dog in a BAKERY FRESH BUN." How fresh can it be if it's baked, sent to the hot dog plant for weenie insertion, packaged in individual plastic wrappers and put in a cardboard carton and shipped in a refrigerator truck across the USA?

I was so amazed at the the discovery that I completely forgot to look at the price. If anyone can check the price before I get back to Krogers go ahead and post it in comments.

Old Daily Mail Article About Slaw

In July of 1992 the Charleston Daily Mail published this article by Becky Fleming. Hopefully they won't mind me reprinting it here as a public service.

STATE DIVIDED BY INVISIBLE SLAW LINE

TRAVEL north through West Virginia, and you cross a line invisible to the eye but vital to the stomach. South of that line you can walk into any local grill and get a hot dog or barbecue nicely sweetened with a spoonful of cole slaw. North of that line _ the Slaw Line, we'll call it _ they look at you in wonder when you place your order.

Cole slaw on a hot dog? That's a definite food faux pas north of the Slaw Line.

"We put it on, but it's usually for people from Charleston,' said Pete Mamakos, manager of Louis' Hot Dogs in downtown Wheeling. "Nobody up here likes it, maybe one in 1,000.
"Chili, onions and mustard _ that's "everything' to us,' he said.

But "everything' in Southern West Virginia almost always includes cole slaw. Hot dogs and barbecues have been topped that way for decades, slaw eaters say.

At The Grill in Charleston, almost every hot dog and barbecue ordered comes with cole slaw.
Dr. Charles Lowman, a Grill customer, always gets his hot dogs with cole slaw. He thought everyone ate them that way.

"It makes it taste better,' he said. "It adds flavor. I thought that was the only way to do it.'
For many West Virginians, it is the only way to do it: cole slaw plopped on hot dogs, barbecues and anything else that needs a little extra flavor.

At Gales Restaurant and Supperclub in Richwood (several counties south of the Slaw Line) customers put cole slaw on the pizza, as well as the hot dogs and barbecue, said owner Mary Fraley.

"Most customers get the cole slaw on the side and put it on when they eat it,' she said. "It's really good.'
Fraley said some customers like it so much that they will come to her for cole slaw after buying their pizza at the town's Pizza Hut. And some in Richwood don't limit themselves to pizza, Fraley said "Once in a while they'll get it on a hamburger but not too often,' she said.

The Slaw Line may run as far south as North Carolina. But going north, it stops midway in West Virginia just north of Wood, Wirt, Calhoun, Gilmer, Lewis, Upshur, and Randolph counties. That's not to say no one in Clarksburg can get cole slaw on a barbecue, but it's not as easy as in Charleston. And the line may
move north in time.

While Tucker County is officially north of the Slaw Line, cole slaw lovers can get it on their hot dogs at the Davis Inn. Ladd Jasper, owner of the Davis Inn, said he's trying to convert his customers to cole-slaw-as-condiment eaters. Although most in Tucker County don't like slaw on top of sandwiches yet, he serves them that way on request. He said most people like it once they try it.

"I'd say 60 percent of the people who try cole slaw on their hot dogs will come back and ask for another one with slaw,' he said.
No one is quite sure when the tradition of using cole slaw as a topping started or why it never caught on up north. Some say it's simply that residents of the northern counties are more like their neighbors in other states who don't eat cole slaw on top of sandwiches.

John Sheets, vice president of Gunnoe Farms, which sells cole slaw throughout West Virginia, said the company's biggest markets are Kanawha Valley, Princeton, Logan and Bluefield. He said southern West Virginia residents buy far more cole slaw than those in the north.

"Northern West Virginia people are considered northerners, and they just don't eat cole slaw on their hot dogs,' he said. "For as long as I can remember, it's been like that.'

Andi Lester, director of food services and catering for University of Charleston, said she believes the tradition originated with coal mining families in Southern West Virginia. She said many women kept gardens to supplement the family's diet. She said cabbage is easy to grow and inexpensive to prepare. Chopped cabbage can be mixed with several things, including mayonnaise, vinegar and apple cider.

"They had huge gardens, and what are they going to do with all that stuff?' she said. "I would say that would be an educated guess.'
Joe Campbell, a chef at the Ramada Inn in Morgantown and president of the West Virginia chapter of the American Culinary Federation, said he has seen visitors to Morgantown eat their hot dogs topped with cole slaw. But Campbell said he has never pondered why the tradition is so popular in the southern part of the state while Monongalia residents normally shun it.

"That's what makes it interesting in food service _ the imagination,' he said. "What's a delicacy to one person is not real appealing to others.'

"The Best Hot Dogs in Town"

Every town in West Virginia seems to have at least one hot dog joint that has a sign posted with the claim that it has the best hot dogs in town. I have found that these signs are rarely correct, unless it's a town with only one HDJ. In larger towns there is often two or more HDJs with such a sign posted. Obviously someone is lying. it is not possible for more that one place to have "the best."

A warning to all WVHDJs who boast such a sign: You will be judged more harshly if you make false claims. Be careful. Don't lure me in with a promise of "Town's Best Hot Dogs" and then dash my hopes with lackluster weenies or mediocre toppings.

A reader recently emailed me and told me about a newly-opened HDJ in Charleston that makes the claim. I will be visiting them soon. If you see any such signs around please let me know so we can put a stop to this blatant false advertising.

Charleston Area Hot Dog Joints - The Hottest Dog

A franchised location of a national chain, The Hottest Dog in Hurricane has a very large variety of very big hot dogs. These monstrous 1/4 pound weenies and 1/2 pound sausages sit inside an equally monstrous bun. They are topped with various regionally inspired fixin's with names like "The Chicago Dog", "Ball Park Special", "Coney Island Original", etc. The restaurant seems to take its name from the menu offering called "The Hottest Dog" which features a hot sausage topped with jalapenos, onions and hot sauce. The restaurant is located in a strip mall on Teays Valley Road across from the Hurricane City reservoir.

With all its variety I was pleased to see that they offerred a "West Virginia Dawg" that includes "Coney sauce and coleslaw." This is apparently something added only by the local franchise as it is not listed on the menu page of the corporate website. The price of the West Virginia Dog is $3.95, which is very pricey, but to be fair, this dog (er I mean dawg) does include a 1/4 pound weenie and your choice of sides. Well, I wasn't about to pay $3.95 for a dawg that was more than I could eat in one sitting and was just about to turn a leave when I saw a sign for a "WV Dawg Junior" for $2.75. Still more than I expected but tolerable, especially since this was not just lunch but also research.

The first thing I notice about the Junior Dawg is that it is a normal size weenie served on one of the monstrous buns that had been cut in half. It was piled high with chili and slaw and looked very nice. The bun seemed a little stiff - not quite stale but certainly not steamed. The chili tastes very much like Coney Island style sauce, just as advertised. It's not very spicey, but it has a nice texture and flavor. Not great WVHD chili, but OK. The slaw is a different matter.

To call this substance slaw is not fair. It seems to have very little in common with slaw other than the appearance. It tastes like bland mayonaisse potato salad; a little more finely chopped. It seems to have celery, carrots and some small tastless chunks of what is presumably cabbage. It is bound together with either very tasteless mayo or yogurt. It topped off a very unsatisfactory excuse for a West Virginia Hot Dog.
The Hottest Dog is a very nice place and the variety of hot dogs you will find there is without equal in this area. It is the only place where one can go to get a presumably authentic Chicago or other style hot dog in the Charleston/Huntington area. But if you are a fan of an authentic WVHD you might be disappointed.

Update 1/15/2007: The Hottest Dog management contacted WVHotDogs.com to tell us that their slaw is under review. It seems they earnestly want to offer a more authentic WVHD. If anyone tries this new slaw and would like to comment on it, please email us at info@wvhotdogs.com

It's all about the sauce...

Greatings to all...My name is Chris James and I am the new reviewer for Huntington area hot dog joints. I am a life-long West Virginian, a resident of Huntington, a hot dog fanatic, and a firm believer that the hot dogs found in the Huntington/Tri-State area are perhaps the perfect culinary creation. Let me break it down for my friend Stanton and his fellow Charlestonians:

1. Chili comes in a bowl. In the Huntington area, if you want chili, go to Chili Willi's and order a bowl of either of their award-winning chilis: Original Red or Texas Red. You will be served a thick soup containing large chunks of meat and veggies which is topped with cheese and sour cream and served with a buttered and grilled tortilla. However, if you are in town and want a hot dog with the local topping of choice (note:with hot dogs, I follow the "When in Rome..." rule), you ask for "sauce" at one of our several hot dog joints. Huntington's s hot dog sauces vary from stand to stand (more on that in future posts) and can be dramatically different from one vendor to the next, but no one would ever confuse sauce with chili con carne.
2. It's all about the sauce. Slaw is great. Whether it is tart, sweet, sweet 'n sour, chunky, finely chopped, or even that sugared mayo concoction with a light dusting of nearly-powdered cabbage that Stanton considers to be the one true slaw, cole slaw is more delicious than 99% of all other foods on the planet. I have relatives in Richwood that even spoon it on pizza (try it sometime, it really is great). Even moreso than diced onion, mustard, or ketchup, slaw is the most important (but still optional) accompaniment to Huntington's West Virginia-style hot dog, but should be taken as nothing more than a primary highlight to the main components of the bun, the wiener, and the sauce.
3. Freshness matters. Huntington is blessed with a meat packing plant (SS Logan Packing Co., makers of Cavalier Meats) and a commercial bakery (Heiner's). The hot dog stands of Huntington, therefore, have some of the freshest product around (a fact that even Stanton has conceded in previous posts). No green weenies or rock-hard buns to be found here.

To a person from Chicago, New York, or Seattle, our differences may seem a tad bit like like splitting hairs. However, as I post more and more reviews of the various interpretations of the West Virginia-style hot dogs found in the Tr-State area and compare those to the dogs of the Metro Valley, it should shed light on the complexity of the West Virginia hot dog as a marker of culinary---and even cultural---sub-regions of the state (including a few surrounding exclaves that are culturally tied to WV, but not part of the state due to quirks of physical and political geography).

So kick back, grab a dog dressed the way you like it, watch this space and our friendly rivalry, and I'll set y'all right on what a real West Virginia hot dog is all about.

Weenie envy, pshhh.

New Huntington Hot Dog Reviewer

As I said in my post on Saturday, I am done with Huntington Hot Dogs and their "sauce" and special request slaw. I have recruited Chris James, a Huntingtonian and a hot dog enthusiast, to to reviews of Huntington area HDJ's from now on. He'll be posting an introduction soon and then hopefully posting regular reviews. Make him welcome.

W. Va. Hot Dog Festival - The Other Dogs

It seems a little weird to me to have a Hot Dog Festival and have a bunch of events for the four-legged kind of dogs along with it. Think of it, if you didn't have a real understanding of our culture and looked at the meat on a hot dog then saw all the dogs running around, what would you think? Knowing that we call them both "dogs" wouldn't help matters. Wouldn't you think that the people were cold-blooded dog killers that could pet their dog and eat it too?

Maybe it's just me.

Here are some pictures that highlight the "other" dogs at Saturday's event:

With the incessant barking, yapping and butt-sniffing, violence was inevitable. I caught this shot just before the brown dog bit the head off the black dog. (OK, not really, but he tried.)

This lady obviously drew the short straw and had to hold this sign up while all the dogs lined up behind her and then she led the parade around the courtyard.


If this were video you would hear the inimitable strains of the Baja Men singing "Who Let the Dogs Out?" which played as the The Pooch Parade began. It was most embarrassing. But not as embarrassing as . . .


. . . This! I really felt bad for this little guy, er I mean girl. OK, I didn't check but either way . . . sheesh!

The W. Va. Hot Dog Festival Happened

So, the long-awaited Second Annual West Virginia Hot Dog Festival took place today at Pullman Square in Huntington. It was a fun little event, well organized and jam-packed with stuff to do or observe. A 5K "Run for the Bun", a car show, kiddie rides, a pie contest, a hot dog-eating contest, a dog parade (the kind with four legs), musical entertainment and lots of other stuff made it the place to be in Huntington.

I only counted eight hot dog vendors. I thought there would be many more. The ones I recognized were:

• Stewarts Original Hot Dogs
• Hillbilly Hot Dogs
• Sam's Hot Dog Stand
• Bowincal's
• Cowboy Catering
• Frostop
• Johhny Dogs
• M&M Dairy Bar

Since there were only eight I was able to at least sample all of them, except for M&M which I boycotted because they were from Ohio. First, I have to admit I found it very difficult to order a hot dog because I would ask for "chili, slaw and mustard" and they would say, "You mean sauce, slaw and mustard?" Then I'd have to remember that I was in Huntington and apologize for asking for chili. But when I ordered at the next place I would ask for chili again. I could not get myself to say "sauce, slaw and mustard," the words just wouldn't form on my lips.

Of all the hot dogs I found Bowincal's to be the best. Their slaw was the only one that didn't taste like it had been made last year at a factory in China, but it was served very sparingly.

The prize for the biggest disappointment has to go Sam's Hot Dog Stand, who didn't even offer slaw as a topping. I was told that "it is too hot" for slaw, but that was a poor excuse; Everyone else had slaw, and the temperature was quite mild (upper 70's) most of the day. I'm sorry but having no slaw at The West Virginia Hot Dog Festival is akin to having no barbecue sauce at the Texas Rib Festival.

Cowboy Catering is noteworthy because they offered a giant-size dog in addition to their "dollar dogs," which is what they called their regular hot dogs. They also had a large selection of sauces (the kind that come from a bottle, not the stuff that's supposed to be called "chili") that you could dress your dog with.

Or course, Hillbilly Hot Dogs went to great lengths to bring their special unrefined atmosphere to the festival and had the best variety of hot dogs. Sonny, the Weenie Man and Sharie, the Weenie Wife were both there to work the stand.

Proceeds from the event go to the Joan C. Edwards Cancer Center, and the organizers and sponsors should get high marks for the effort they put into this event that benefits such a worthy cause.

But...

Is this the best that Huntington can do as far as hot dogs go?

Without trying hard I can name eight or ten hot dog joints in Charleston and other parts of the state that sell better hot dogs than ANY of the dogs I had today. My previous encounters with Huntington HDJ's have left me as equally underwhelmed. This leaves me with two different thoughts:

1. It is just not right that Huntington hosts the West Virginia Hot Dog Festival. The hot dogs in Huntington are not West Virginia Hot Dogs. They are "Huntington Hot Dogs", or maybe "Tri-State Hot Dogs" but they bear little resemblance to the hot dogs eaten by the vast majority of West Virginians. Of all the hot dog joints in Huntington only Hillbilly Hot Dogs sells a true W.Va. Hot Dog, and they even call it by name on their menu. I know, I know; the Huntington folks took the initiative to create this event, and for that they should be congratulated, but they should consider renaming their festival and/or giving the name rights to someplace more appropriate.
2. Perhaps it is folly to continue to try to compare West Virginia hot dogs with those served in Huntington. I am beginning to wonder if anyone in Huntington even knows how to make a decent hot dog. Perhaps they have never tasted a properly dressed West Virginia hot dog. I can think of no other explanation why this city that seems to pride itself on its hot dogs have such poor ones.

With so much strife in the world today I certainly don't want to add to it by causing even more discord between Huntington and Charleston, but they started it. They started it by presuming to have some superiority in the realm of hot dogs. They started it by having the audacity to host "The West Virginia Hot Dog Festival." It's just not right.

So I give up. No more comparing apples and oranges. I have recruited a Huntingtonian to do reviews of Huntington Hot Dog Joints from now on. I hope to have him set up to post soon and then he can judge Huntington's dogs based on Huntington criteria and Huntington taste buds. I'm sure he'll provide a perspective that I can't. Perhaps he can help to bring peace to our warring cultures.

This experience makes me wonder if this hot dog difference is perhaps some kind of indicator, some kind of other manifestation of the animosity that has existed between Huntington and Charleston for as long as I can remember. We in Charleston always thought it had something to do with the WVU vs. Marshall thing, but perhaps its actually something much greater.

Perhaps it's weenie envy.

2006 Weenie Awards - Best Hot Dog Joint? It's Chris'

When it's all said and done, Chris' Hot Dogs is the only place in Charleston that you can:

• Get one of the two best hot dogs in town,
  
• Have some terrific fries,
  
• Sit in really cool old wooden booths,
  
• Look at a beautiful marble and oak bar mirror,
  
• See old photos of Gus Christo, the man who created the best hot dog chili in town,
• Experience a truly family-friendly environment.

The list really could go on and on, but suffice it to say Chris' deserves this award. If you are a hot dog fan and have never been to Chris' you should absolutely make it a point to get there.

Well, there you have it! The Weenie Awards for 2006 are in the books. Thanks to everyone who sent emails and left comments. Your encouragement, tips and suggestions helped more than you know. We look forward to expanding the search next year to other areas of West Virginia and we'll need even more help, so keep those cards and letters coming!

Charleston's Best Hot Dog Joint? Deliberations Continue

There really are a lot of variables to consider picking the best Hot Dog Joint.

One way to look at this problem: If one were to go up to Timmy's Snack Shack and get a bun, then proceed to Swiftwater Cafe and have them slap a weenie on it, mosey over to Chris' for a bunful of chili, then high-tail it over to Romeo's for some slaw then you would have in your hand the best ringer hot dog you could assemble in Charleston. But where then, would be the best place to eat said hot dog? Where is the best atmosphere? Where is the hot doggiest decor? Hmmm.

Or rather should we consider the HDJ award in the same manner that we judged the best hot dog, looking at the overall experience and weighing the positives independantly? Wouldn't this method skew the results toward those places that have already won an award? Would that be a bad thing?

I am suffering, I tell you, suffering over this decision!

2006 Weenie Awards - Best Hot Dog

Romeo's Grill Wins Charleston's Best Hot Dog for 2006!

It was close, very close indeed, but Romeo's deserves this years top dog award because of their overall committment to excellence. The winning combination is:

• A great chili recipe handed down by the late Pete Romeo, still cooked every day by long time Romeo's employees Jennifer Maxwell and Chuck Young. It has a unique taste and while not real spicy, it makes its presence known.
• Even better slaw made fresh every day by Jennifer and Chuck.
• Buns that are steamed to order right before your eyes.
• Finely chopped onions applied in the exact right proportion.

All these things work together for an authentic West Virginia hot dog taste that is the creme-de-la-creme of hot dogs in the Charleston area and perhaps the whole state.

Romeo's is located right across Seventh Avenue from the Mound in South Charleston, near the corner of Seventh and "D" Street. It is a bar and grill where smoking is allowed and practiced, so be ye warned.

Honorable Mention - Chris' Hot Dogs

I would be remiss if I were not to mention, very honorably, Chris' Hot Dogs who made it a real race to the finish on the strength of their incredibly great chili. In the end it was the slaw that beat them. If they had Romeo's slaw it might have turned out very differently. As I have been known to say, it's all about the slaw.

National Hot Dog Day

I knew that July was...

But I only recently became aware that Friday is

National Hot Dog Day!

Sounds like a perfect day to give out the final two Weenie Awards: Charleston's Best Hot Dog Joint and Charleston's Best Hot Dog.

In many ways the best hot dog award is easier that the best hot dog joint. It quite frankly comes down to only two different hot dogs - I won't divulge which two just yet. The best hot dog has to have more than one excellent element. You can't win this award with just great chili or great slaw. And the the winner won't have any lackluster bun or weenie either. No, this award requires each element to be good or great.

I do think that there is room for improvement in Charleston's hot dog offerings. In doing this final evaluation I come to the conclusion that there is not one HDJ that has THE Chili and THE Slaw and THE weenie and THE bun. Maybe someone out there is a restauranteer who wants to strive for the perfect W. Va. hot dog. I think it is achievable. If you decide to go for it you know where to find me.

But I digress. The Hot Dog Joint award is tougher because there are so many more variables. One place in the running has great dogs, great decor, great seating, a great location but is is way too smoky for me to recommend. Another place is way cool in its decor, comfortable and relaxed but the dogs aren't quite up to snuff. Still another place is the friendliest place in town with dynamite dogs, but has short hours and a serious shortage of seating. I'm tellin' ya, this is gonna be tough. I would welcome input from the readership.

So maybe I can't come to a decision on the best Hot Dog Joint by tomorrow. Maybe it will have to wait, which is OK because there's still another week left in

Charlestonian Blog Reborn

My original blog, the Charlestonian Blog, is open under new management. My old friend Charles wanted to try his hand at blogging, so I asked him to blog-sit for at least a while. I think you'll find his view of Charleston very interesting and humorous. He is one of the most hyperobservant people I know.

No Mo Bad Dogs Fo Me (Fo Now)

I'm telling you people right now: I have had it with lackluster, mediocre or bad hot dogs for a while. With all of the reviews I have done since I started this site in January I have eaten more than my share of bad hot dogs. Reviews are going to take a hiatus until I have properly recharged my hot dog batteries by eating some good ones.

Before I handed out each of the four Weenie Awards last week I sampled the fare one last time just to make sure the award was deserved. In each case it definitely was. And with each sampling I was surprised by how far above the competition each of the winners were, and it made me really want to eat more good hot dogs. So I decided it's time I rewarded myself for all my hard work in the hot dog trenches. So for the next week or two, no new hot dog joints for me. I'll no doubt have to kiss a lot of toads when I go to Huntington for the W.Va. Hot Dog Festival on July 29th, but until then I am on strike, review-wise.

There are still two Weenie Awards left to hand out, though, so stand by.

2006 Weenie Awards - The Way WV Hot Dog Slaw Ought to Be!

Romeo's Grill wins 2006 Weenie Award for Charleston's Best Hot Dog Slaw!


According to Lance Moore, the new owner of Romeo's Grill in South Charleston, the slaw and chili recipe came with the place when he bought it last October. Two of Romeo's long-time emloyees continue cooking with the same recipes that restaurant founder Pete Romeo taught them many years ago. I can attest that I have been eating Romeo's hot dogs for at least 15 years and they have been consistently excellent all that time.

Pete Romeo died about six years ago but his family kept the businees open for several years until it finally closed in 2005. It had been closed for five or six months before Lance recognized an opportunity and bought the building. He re-hired some key Romeos employees and re-opened it under the old name. It seems to be doing well under the new management and the dogs are as good as ever.

As for the slaw, this is as close to perfect hot dog slaw as I've tasted. It's not the kind of slaw you'd eat as a side dish with some fish and chips; it's sweet, creamy to the point of being runny and a perfect offset to the lightly spiced chili that Romeo's sells. There are, for this slaw lover, simply not enough adjectives to describe how good it is. It is the clear winner in this category.

Congratulations, Romeo's, and please keep making your delicious slaw. And special thanks to Romeo's waitress Ashley for lending her photogenic presence to the award presentation!

2006 Weenie Awards - Charleston's Best Hot Dog Chili? Where else?

Chris' Hot Dogs wins 2006 Weenie Award for Best Hot Dog Chili!


Many years ago Gus Christo received the secret recipe to his father's hot dog chili and started making some of the best hot dogs in town at his restaurant, Chris' Hot Dogs on Washington Street West. His daughter, Karen, still runs Chris' and still makes her grandfather's recipe the way her father did before her. It is very spicy and perfect in texture and consistency. It is, according to many, many Charlestonians, the perfect hot dog chili.

"All good Charlestonians know there's only one place in town to get the authentic West Virginia hot dog," wrote Rick Lee in his blog in January. Well, would you believe that when I presented the Weenie Award for Best Chili to her, Karen actually seemed surprised? How can she not know how good her chili is? But she takes no credit for it, and in fact wouldn't allow me to take her picture with her award. She said the credit is due her father, so I improvised by inserting a photo of Gus that hangs behind the bar into this shot. Sorry for the glare. Perhaps you can visit Chris' and see the real thing for yourself.

While you're at it, have a hot dog. You won't be sorry.

2006 Weenie Awards - The Weeniest Weenies

The Swiftwater Cafe wins 2006 Weenie Award for Charleston's Best Weenie!

According to Teddy Queen, owner of The Swiftwater Cafe, using premium Boar's Head Franks for his restaurant's hot dogs was the best decision he ever made. I will add my AMEN on behalf of Charleston's hot dog eating public. This is by far the best weenie in town, and therefore garners the 2006 Weenie Award for the Best Weenie in Charleston.

When Swiftwater first opened they had a "standard" weenie and offered the Boar's Head frank as an upgrade but a while back Teddy decided to use the better weenie exclusively. As a small, family-owned business he says he always strives for the best in quality and service. Anyone who has visited Swiftwater can vouch for the friendliness of the staff, and while I have only had their hot dogs I have heard they have great barbecue and other sandwiches. The huge throng waiting outside the doors to get in at lunch time adds to the evidence that this is a great downtown lunch spot. "Every day people still tell us they didn't know we were here," says Teddy. Well, Teddy, now that you are an official Weenie Award Winner maybe the downtown WVHD legions will get the word out to everyone.

Congratulations and good luck!

2006 Weenie Awards - Timmy Has The Best Buns!

Timmy's Snack Shack receives the first 2006 Weenie Award! Althought somewhat belated, the first of the 2006 Weenie Awards was finally handed out today to Timmy Teets, owner of Timmy's Snack Shack in Mill Creek. His grilled New England Style buns win this category going away. According to Timmy, "They're a little more trouble, but they're worth it." We agree. If you haven't made it to Timmy's yet you should make it a point to do so before the end of July, National Hot Dog Month. When you drop by make sure you tell him W. Va. Hot Dogs sent you.

Weenie Awards Delayed

I had originally planned to post Weenie Award winners this week, but alas, events conspired to prevent me from getting around to the winning hot dog joints to make presentations. We'll get some posted next week for sure.

In the meantime, check out this press release from the National Hot Dog Council. According to this study Americans overwhelmingly rate mustard as the preferred condiment for hot dogs. Notably absent from the list of toppings is slaw. Not surprising, but it makes me sad for America. They just don't know what they're missing.

W. Va. Hot Dog Festival - New Website

Looks like the festival lost its lease on the old domain. Here's where it's parked now:

http://www.edarnold.net/hotdog/

Charleston Area Hot Dog Joints - Spring Hill Deli

I should know better, I really should. A deli inside a convenience store is not going to be a place to find a great hot dog. But I saw the sign that said "Hot Dogs" underneath a "Boar's Head Meats" sign and I thought, hey, it might be pretty good because Boar's Head weenies are excellent.

Well, the deli might sell Boar's Head meat, but I would hate to think the weenie on my hot dog was a Boar's Head product. If it was, it had been cooked beyond recognition, or left out in the sun too long, or something. It was skinny, chewy and tasteless. Other than that it was fine.

The bun was crusty, the chili lifeless and bland, the slaw was from a bulk container labeled "Chef's Pride" - I would not be proud if I was the chef.

Located at the corner of Chestnut Street and MacCorkle Avenue in Spring Hill, this might be a place to get your gas, milk, beer or even some ham and cheese but not the place for hot dogs.

Hot Dogs and the Fourth of July

Perhaps there is nothing more American than the idea of eating hot dogs on the Fourth of July, but every hot dog joint I know of is closed today. I guess I'll have to revert to home made or abstain. All things considered I prefer abstinence.

An old Andy Griffith Show comes to mind: The Pickle Contest. In this classic episode Aunt Bea is determined to win the Mayberry Pickle Contest even though she makes the worst pickles ever. They are so bad that Barney and Andy go to enormous lengths to keep her from entering her "Kerosene Cucumbers" (as Barney calls the pickles behind Aunt Bea's back) into the contest. Andy makes a very wise observation about home made pickles and says he can't figure out why people go to all the trouble making pickles when store-bought pickles taste better. Home made doesn't necessarily mean better.

And so it is with hot dogs. You can make a good West Virginia hot dog at home, but it is extremely time consuming. And since the National Hot Dog Council's Hot Dog Etiquette guide says that you should finish a hot dog in five bites or less, it's hardly worthwhile to spend hours making chili and slaw just to wolf down your creation in thirty seconds.

It's also expensive to make your own: Unless you are feeding a small army the economics of buying eight buns, ten weenies, a pound of ground beef and a head of cabbage just don't make sense. A premium hot dog at a good HDJ costs about $1.50. To buy the raw materials in the minimum packaged amounts costs a good $6-7 not counting the incidentals you should have on hand (mustard, mayo, spices, etc.).

Of course there is always the possibility of reverting to the hot dogs of my childhood. There is something charming about roasting a weenie on a stick over an open fire and slapping the charred and whistling little frank onto a bun straight out of the Heiner's bag and chomping into it while it is still sizzling. No chili. No slaw. No mustard or onions. Maybe some ketchup for nostalgia's sake but otherwise plain. If the festivities today involve an open fire I just just might indulge.

It's National Hot Dog Month!

In honor of Hot Dog month, I thought it appropriate to get things started by reprinting this from the National Hot Dog Council's website:

Hot Dog Etiquette
Dos and Don'ts: Everyday guidance for eating America's sacred food

Don't...
put hot dog toppings between the hot dog and the bun. Always "dress the dog," not the bun.

Condiments should be applied in the following order: wet condiments like mustard and chili are applied first, followed by chunky condiments like relish, onions and sauerkraut, followed by shredded cheese, followed by spices, like celery salt or pepper.

Do...
serve sesame seed, poppy seed and plain buns with hot dogs. Sun-dried tomato buns or basil buns are considered gauche with franks.

Don't...
use a cloth napkin to wipe your mouth when eating a hot dog. Paper is always preferable.

Do...
eat hot dogs on buns with your hands. Utensils should not touch hot dogs on buns.

Do...
use paper plates to serve hot dogs. Every day dishes are acceptable; china is a no-no.

Don't...
take more than five bites to finish a hot dog. For foot-long wiener, seven bites are acceptable.

Don't...
leave bits of bun on your plate. Eat it all.

Fresh herbs on the same plate with hot dogs are a major "

Don't..." Mustard, relish, onions, cheese and chili are acceptable.

Don't...
use ketchup on your hot dog after the age of 18.

Do...
Condiments remaining on the fingers after eating a hot dog should be licked away, not washed.

Do...
use multi-colored toothpicks to serve cocktail wieners. Cocktail forks are in poor taste.

Don't...
send a thank you note following a hot dog barbecue. It would not be in keeping with the unpretentious nature of hot dogs.

Don't...
bring wine to a hot dog barbecue. Beer, soda, lemonade and iced tea are preferable.

Don't...
ever think there is a wrong time to serve hot dogs.