An unquestionable image of culinary Americana, the scorching canine seems on menus, in grocery shops and at concession stands all around the nation, and its enduring recognition is at the least partially attributable to its blank-slate potential. “When you start with a hot dog and a bun, you have a culinary canvas that allows you to create anything. Sauces, cheeses, shredded vegetables, relishes — a hot dog can accommodate all of those toppings,” defined Adam Beane, the model director at Hebrew Nationwide.
As a result of the new canine will be personalized so simply and so completely, it’s a chief dish for region-specific variations, with cooks from totally different cities and states utilizing their space’s favourite substances and flavors to develop specialty canine that replicate their native land. “Each combination reflects the region where it was created, so a hot dog really allows you to travel the country in a way few foods can,” Beane stated.
Right here, we’re breaking down eight of the preferred regional scorching canine types in the USA, together with the place they’re from, how they’re dressed and why they’re so beloved by locals and guests alike.
Chicago Canine
What it’s: The Chicago Canine is an all-beef frank (often steamed, however often grilled) served in a poppy-seed scorching canine bun and topped with yellow mustard, candy pickle relish, chopped white onions, tomato slices, pickled peppers, a dill pickle spear and a light-weight dusting of celery salt.
The place it’s from: Based on Dennis McKinley, the proprietor and operator of The Authentic Scorching Canine Manufacturing facility in Atlanta and a self-proclaimed scorching canine scholar with an encyclopedic information of scorching canine types from across the nation, the Chicago Canine originated in (the place else?) Chicago “during the Great Depression, when a greengrocer converted his vegetable cart into a hot dog stand, and began offering the ‘Depression Sandwich,’ which sold for a nickel.” He continued: “This was a [hot] dog made with mustard, onions, plain relish and sport peppers. This became an instant hit, and word quickly spread.”
Why it’s iconic: The Chicago Canine has a loyal fanbase and is arguably probably the most celebrated regional scorching canine model in the USA, with The New York Instances going as far as to declare Chicago “Hot Dog Town, U.S.A.” The crunchy and ample greens counteract the new canine’s saltiness, and the tang from the pickles, relish and mustard performs nicely off the sweetness of the tomatoes, the sharp zing of the onions and the herbaceous celery salt.
New York Canine
What it’s: A New York scorching canine is an all-beef frank that’s sometimes boiled, positioned in a comfortable white scorching canine bun, and topped with “sauerkraut and brown mustard,” Beane stated. For a really genuine NYC-style scorching canine expertise, take the time to steam the new canine bun earlier than including the boiled frank.
The place it’s from: The Large Apple, in fact. New York Metropolis is legendary for its plethora of sidewalk scorching canine distributors, and whereas some naysayers scoff on the “dirty water dogs” offered at these spots, they’re lacking out on a traditional piece of New York culinary custom.
Why it’s iconic: The New York scorching canine is a gorgeous homage to the mix of cultures and flavors related to the nation’s largest metropolis. The spicy brown mustard and sauerkraut are a nod to NYC’s wealthy relationship with German, Jewish and Jap European cuisines. “Sausages have long been a part of various European cuisines, and hot dogs were very popular with immigrant communities in New York in the late 19th and early 20th century. German immigrants were among the first to sell hot dogs, hence the popularity of sauerkraut and brown mustard as toppings,” Beane defined.
New Jersey Italian Canine
What it’s: The New Jersey Italian canine entails a scorching canine hyperlink that’s deep fried, then topped with sautéed peppers and onions, fried potatoes and brown mustard. In lieu of a typical scorching canine roll, the New Jersey Italian Canine makes use of “pizza bread,” a roll made with leftover pizza dough.
The place it’s from: “The ‘New Jersey style’ hot dog was originally touted by Jimmy Buff’s restaurant in Newark, NJ, in 1932,” stated Rick Tarantino, a New Jersey-based chef and the director of analysis and improvement of Rastelli Meals Group.
Why it’s iconic: Tarantino tells us that the event of the New Jersey Italian Canine was impressed by the favored Italian American “sausage and peppers” sandwich, and it continues to resonate with the Italian tradition and culinary traditions generally discovered within the Backyard State. “Catering to a large Italian population, where sausage and peppers were a staple in the local cuisine, James ‘Buff’ Racioppi offered his Italian Style Hot Dog to family and friends, and it soon became a popular menu item that is still served today,” he defined. “Early Italian immigrants came to [New Jersey] in search of a new and better life, and they brought with them their culture, diversity, and the comfort foods that we still see in our kitchens today.”
Fenway Frank
What it’s: A masterpiece of simplicity, the Fenway Frank consists of a scorching canine hyperlink that’s boiled, then grilled. It’s subsequent tucked right into a split-top New England-style scorching canine bun and dressed with a squiggle of mustard and a pleasant unfold of candy pickle relish.
The place it’s from: Because the title suggests, Fenway Franks obtained their begin as a signature concession deal with at Fenway Park in Boston (the house of the Boston Pink Sox). These days, Fenway Frank fanatics should buy the identical hyperlinks used at Fenway (that are made by Kayem Meals) at grocery shops throughout New England.
Why it’s iconic: The Fenway Frank’s best declare to fame entails its textural distinction, which is a direct results of the selection to boil earlier than grilling. This cooking technique offers the new canine a quick exterior and a juicy inside, and the plush New England scorching canine bun completely balances each. The uncomplicated dressings emphasize the standard of the new canine itself; these Franks are flavorful sufficient to shine with only a little bit of mustard and relish.
Slaw Canine
What it’s: A slaw canine is a boiled or grilled scorching canine served in a heat scorching canine bun, then topped with mayonnaise-based cabbage coleslaw, yellow mustard and (in some circumstances) chili sauce and onions.
The place it’s from: The slaw canine originated in West Virginia, and in its residence state, this canine contains beef chili sauce and diced onions as toppings. Nonetheless, the slaw canine has made its manner all around the American South, and the stripped-down model sans chili is a well-liked sight in Georgia.
Why it’s iconic: Coleslaw is a traditional factor of Southern barbecues, and the creamy dressing, crunchy texture and slight cabbage funk performs nicely off the savory scorching canine, giving it a summery out of doors picnic vibe.
Detroit Coney Canine
What it’s: The Detroit Coney Canine is a steamed beef scorching canine on a steamed bun with beef chili sauce, chopped onions and yellow mustard.
The place it’s from: Though the Coney Canine contains the title of a New York Metropolis neighborhood in its title, this scorching canine model belongs to Detroit. Coney Canines began to indicate up within the Michigan metropolis within the early 1900s, as Greek immigrants filtered into Detroit after arriving within the U.S. by way of New York’s Ellis Island. Many of those new Detroiters opened diners that locals known as “Coney Island” (in reference to Ellis Island’s shut proximity to Coney Island, a Brooklyn epicenter of scorching canine tradition). The Detroit Coney Canine rapidly turned a signature dish at these diners and their legend has but to fade.
Why it’s iconic: Folks in Detroit are fiercely happy with the Coney Canine, and as Eater experiences, residents who enterprise to different cities are inclined to carry their Coney Canines alongside for the trip. Eating places, meals vans and pop-ups specializing in variations of Coney Canines will be present in locations together with Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Georgia, and a number of other Coney distributors have even opened up in New York Metropolis, bringing the entire idea of this scorching canine model full-circle.
Sonoran Canine
What it’s: The Sonoran Canine is a scorching canine hyperlink that’s wrapped in bacon, cooked on the grill, positioned on a bolillo bun (a Mexican bread roll impressed by the baguette) and topped with seasoned pinto beans, tomato, onion, avocado and generally mushrooms, mustard, mayonnaise and/or cotija cheese.
The place it’s from: The Sonoran Scorching Canine emerged in its namesake state of Sonora, Mexico, earlier than making its manner over the border and into Arizona. It has a very notable presence in Tucson, however it’s additionally beloved within the Phoenix space and is rapidly spreading throughout the Southwest, with Sonoran Scorching Canine stands popping up all through New Mexico and Texas.
Why it’s iconic: The Sonoran Scorching Canine fantastically blends traditional Mexican flavors and substances (just like the bolillo bun, pinto beans and avocado puree) with substances related to “American” cookouts (like bacon and yellow mustard).
Seattle Canine
What it’s: The Seattle Canine is a grilled frank tucked right into a comfortable white scorching canine bun and topped with a diffusion of chilly cream cheese and a layer of caramelized onions.
The place it’s from: Based on The Seattle Instances, the Seattle Canine was invented within the Washington metropolis in 1989 by Hadley Lengthy, who operated a truck promoting scorching canine in bagel buns (buns made with bagel dough). The bagel bun factor impressed him to strive including a traditional bagel topping — cream cheese — to the canine, and the remaining is historical past.
Why it’s iconic: The Seattle Canine is a go-to meals merchandise at Seattle occasions, road festivals and athletic video games, and a part of its attraction comes from its skill to be personalized. To be thought of a “Seattle Dog,” a scorching canine wants cream cheese and onions. Apart from that, distributors and diners are free so as to add any accoutrements they like, together with sauerkraut, scorching sauce, ketchup and mustard, or pickled jalapenos.