Sunday, November 29, 2009

Would you like a hot dog?




Hot Dog Facts


7-Eleven sells over 100 million grilled hot dogs yearly, considered tops in North America.

The world’s longest hot dog was prepared in August of 2006 in Tokyo, Japan and measured 196.85 feet.


The term “dog” dates back to 1845 when accusations that dog meat was used to make the sausages.


Words associated with hot dog production; advanced meat recovery, meat slurry, wiener, mechanically separated poultry, sodium nitrite, listeriosia.


I’m not sure who eats one hot dog a day over years, but according to the American Institute for Cancer Research this daily consumption increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 20 percent.

Two things come to mind when I think of hot dogs: baseball, and hot dog eating contests. In both cases the hot dog has only grown in popularity in the recent past. Dollar dog night seems to be a huge attraction at Tribe games. A few years ago only a few select week-nights offered such promotions, but this past season included almost a dozen. Obviously hot dogs can draw a crowd, and they draw no bigger crowd than at the Coney Island hot dog eating contest. Seen, and replayed on ESPN as if it was a top tier sporting event the popularity has put both Joey Chestnut and Nathan’s on the map. I can remember when most hot dog sales outside of a sports stadium came from a street cart. No longer is this the case as places like Nathan’s have shown there is money to be made in the hot dog restaurant business. Locally the opening of Happy Dog by already successful restaurateurs puts the local foodie stamp of approval on the nationwide love affair with the wiener and bun combination.


It’s been a long time since I’ve indulged in a hot dog. It may be as long as a year now. I’m interested checking out the Happy Dog and their hundred toppings. Then again a pack of dogs and some buns aren’t going to break the bank, but I would hate to have a wiener without a bun. Let’s try to figure this out. How many packages of wieners do I get and how many packages of buns do I need if there are 6 dogs per package and 8 buns per bag, but one person is a vegetarian, another doesn’t eat pork, two other people are sensitive to sodium, three people are on a low carb diet, and someone won’t eat theirs without relish and I don’t want to buy relish?

8 comments:

Dine O Mite! said...

Hot dogs are the new cupcakes. Once you've gone to Hot Doug's in Chicago it's pretty much over. Will I end up at Happy Dog? Probably, but there's something about eating hot dogs at dinner that I don't want to make a habit of. Like the Italian who only drinks cappuccino in the morning, I only like hot dogs at lunch.

Michael Walsh said...

my research didn't specify, but I"m pretty sure the hot dog was invented for lunch.

Is Hot Doug's the place with the goat and the reason the Cubs suck?

Rachel said...

Hey Mike -- so what are you thinking towards the end of Top Chef? Are you still cheering for Jen? I'm only through the quick fire tonight and I'm still strong for M. Vitellego (however you spell that.) Kevin seems to have chops, though, and might be the dark horse....

Michael Walsh said...

Rachel, I will catch a re-run later tonightm but i missed last week i think. At this point in the game the judges start to take into consideration the chef's work as a whole, through the entire competition and Jen definatly lost it there for a few episodes. Her defeatist attitude didn't help smooth over her poor culinary output. On the other hand there has been a bit of critisism worked in about kevin by voltalego so i think that might mean something. What i'm not sure. The older brother is definatly qualified to be Top Chef. Kevin is the underdog from where i stand, and the other two are long shots. But that is why we watch right!

Have you seen this Culinary Acadamy show on Bravo monday nights. It is an absolute hoot. Really cheesy and bad....but entertaining in a sinister way.

Rachel said...

So have you seen it yet? I'm curious who you think will win after you see this episode.

Michael Walsh said...

I have to dodge the question as of now. Actually, I fell asleep half way through the re-run, but I know Jenifer got sent off. She was my pick to win, oh well. I want to see it, but hulu makes you subscribe to see full episodes. Maybe there is a bootleg out there?

Rachel said...

I'm pretty sure you can see full episodes on BravoTV.com

Michael Walsh said...

Oh, cool thanks. I was going to Hulu. I really want to catch up before wed. finale.