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Seasonal Driving

Must love dogs: Finding the perfect frankfurter

Just where in America can you find the perfect dog?

Janet Riley, president of the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council, has an answer.

"Everybody thinks their hot dogs are the best hot dogs," Riley retorted.

Truth is, America has had a long and steamy affair with the frankfurter. Each region of the country has developed a unique take on the all-American wiener, and it requires just a bit of adventuresome spirit to uncover the differences.

"Seek out a local hot dog stand and you'll be surprised how different they are from place to place," Riley said. "Every hot dog has its own unique recipe."

Don't mention tofu or vegetarian dogs around Riley and other purists, either. There's no place for them in the official American lexicon.

"By federal law a hot dog must contain animal protein. Anything else is a hot dog-like tubular product."

Riley and her staff at NHDSC have tested and compiled a list of favorite wiener stops across the country. Regional flavors and cultures influence the texture, spices and recipe for hot dogs.

For instance, German condiments such as sauerkraut and spicy mustard are common in the Midwest. Pickle relishes were popular among English settlers and eventually found their way into New Yorker buns.

Here's what Riley said travelers can expect to find in the Lower 48:

• Chicago dog. Known for using a sport pepper, tomato wedges, yellow mustard and poppy seed bun.
• New York dog. The "classic" dog on with steamed onions and mustard on a wheat/marley bun.
• Washington, D.C. "You'd never see poppy seed buns here," Riley said. "But in Chicago you wouldn't eat it any other way."
• Deep South dog. Topped with coleslaw, this tradition is called "dragging it through the garden." Hot dog casings in Atlanta and other regions in the South often are dyed deep red and contain spices.
• Michigan dog. The "cony" dog is made of beef heart sauce—an acquired taste, Riley admitted.
• California dog. A widely diverse region of cultures, travelers are likely to find a steaming pot full of styles from other regions of the country. And, of course, California has popularized the "poultry dog" made of chicken or turkey.
• Iowa corn dog. Battered with corn meal and fried, the corn dog didn't originate in the Hawkeye State. Iowa did popularize the food group by sponsoring a Corndog Kickoff at the annual state fair.
• Kansas City dog. Visitors to the state can get a dog garnished with Swiss cheese and sauerkraut. Don't knock it until you try it, Riley cautioned.
• The Texas Dog. This version is found at Minute Maid Park in Huston and comes with chili, cheese and jalapenos.

"Nobody needs to get dressed up to visit a hot dog stand," Riley said. "Hot dogs are not pretentious.

A traveler's guide to hot dogs Road-weary travelers can find some All-American cuisine at the following links (pun intended):

Ben's Chili Bowl in Washington, D.C. http://www.benschilibowl.com/ Cozy Dog Drive In of Springfield, Illinois http://www.cozydogdrivein.com/ Gold Coast Dogs of Chicago, Illinois http://www.goldcoastdog.com/ Gray's Papaya of New York and Maine http://www.papayaking.com/ Hot Dog Heaven in Central Florida http://www.hotdogheaven.com/ Matt's Gourmet Hot Dogs in Puget Sound, Wash. http://www.mattsfamouschilidogs.com Nathan's of Westbury, New York http://nathansfamous.com/ Nu-Way Wieners of Macon, Georgia http://www.nu-wayweiners.com Pink's of Los Angeles, Calif. http://www.pinkshollywood.com/ Sam's Hot Dog Stand in Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky http://www.samshotdogs.com Walters Hot Dogs in Cortlandt Manor, New York http://www.waltershotdogs.com/

 

Valley Toyota offers sales, parts, repair, and service for the southern San Joaquin Valley, Calif. including Hanford, Visalia, Fresno, Tulare, Delano, Bakersfield, Porterville, Reedley, Selma, Sanger, Lemoore and Kingsburg.

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