Some of America’s Best Hot Dogs

I turn on the travel channel and thery’re doing a piece on America’s best hot dogs.and I remember a conversation during an advertising consultation between clients.

Here we were, supposedly discussing tv advertising for a new client. But here was the media consultant waxing eloquent over his hundreds, yes hundreds of “best hot dog” sites on his laptop, to my client who was/is one of the best farmstead cheese makers in the Central Valley. They were really just a couple of foodies exchanging “I can top that” with the best place to eat hot dogs in the US. The consultant traveled a lot on business and he wanted to be able to get his gourmet hot dogs when he could.

As for my hometown of Fresno, CA, it’s Coney Island Hot Dogs in downtown Fresno. I thick they’re great but I’m told it’s the chili that makes them awesome – I don’t do chili. And, the hot dog cart in Courthouse Park is darn good too. Something called Casey’s Hot Dogs came to town (from SF Bay Area I think) a couple of years ago but I thought they were just very good not great. I grew up in San Francisco but I don’t remember a specific hot dog but I do remember “Doggie Diner” – with a name like that I’m sure they had hot dogs on the menu.

And, when you “go out to the ballgame” you always want to grab a hot dog, or two. A ball game just isn’t a ball game without that hot dog, mustard dripping out.

At home for a quick meal it’s got to be a Ball Park frank. And, yes I do go through the drive thru at Weinerschnitzel once a month or so – remember I’m a traveling salesperson. The large beef one – mustard, pickles, tomatoes and onions please!

Nathan’s Hot Dogs are considered the best by many of our citizens. And, they have the hot dog eating contest every 4th of July at Coney Island. I’ve bought them at the store and cooked them at home – ok but not great. Must be in how they’re cooked at Nathan’s itself.

Every region in the country seems to have it’s best “dog”, and they’re all served a little differently.

From east to west�

Flo’s in Cape Neddick, Maine seems to be the one in that neck of the woods. Their special includes mayonnaise and for some you can order their hot sauce – a combination of a spicy onion relished topped with celery salt. If you order only one, they’ll know you’re a tourist.

The hot dog at Ruth’s Hutt in Clifton, New Jersey are know as “rippers.” Their pork-and-beef dogs are cooked in hot oil which causes the outside to be crinkly but soft and juice on the inside. Their specialty topper is a spicy relish of finely chopped ions, cabbage and carrots. Who would have thoughtâÂ?¦

It’s Schnack in Brooklyn. They use the Stahl-Meyer frankfurter, moist and salty and a tad more flavorful than most hot dogs.

And, in Boston, you’ll want to go to Boston Speed’s Famous Hot Dog Wagon located at the Newberry Square meat market in Roxbury. Watch out of the Lincoln’s pulling in and out. Ezra “Speed” Anderson serves up some of the tastiest dogs you’ll ever have.

In Milwaukee, it’s a bratwurst instead of a hot dog that is considered their city’s best “hot dog.” Served at the ballpark, it has a super secret “stadium sauce,” comes on a crusty bun slathered with spicy brown mustard and can be topped with sauerkraut also.

And, in the windy city, it’s Superdawg all the way. Towered over by two huge hot dog statues on the rood, Chicago hot dog aficionados crowd this vintage drive in. All beef hot dogs are served in poppy seed buns and usually topped with green piccililli relish Don’t miss it the next time you’re in Chi-town.

It’s the corn dog in Texas. It was originally invented for the Texas State Fair back in 1942 and is now an American favorite everywhere. Try it with honey mustard.

Pink’s on La Brea Boulevard in LA is your “Hollywood” version of the tube steak. Once considered a dive, it opened in 1939. Here they add a sensational “no bean” chili that makes the dog great. Expect to wait in line to get yours.

Fatt Dog in the Rincon Center outdoor courtyard makes the list from the city by the bay. San Francisco hot doggers head over to this eatery in the SOMA district. Ask for it topped with Russian mustard, just one of their many toppers.

Up in Portland, Oregon, it’s Ottos’s Sausage Kitchen. This opened as a meat market in 1927 and now serves up traditional sausage-and-beef links. Ummm mm good! Have a seat indoors, or out.

I’m going out on the road today, and it’s going to be a hot dog, or two, for lunch.