Saturday, June 04, 2011

Where Y'at on Hot Dogs?

I like hot dogs.
I admit, I went through a long period in my young adulthood when I thought they were poison. Tasteless, dangerous, and that white ball in there!
Turns out I had been eating inferior hot dogs. You don't just walk into Piggly Wiggly and grab the cheapest pack of tube steaks. That's death. Pork Lips Now.
I don't think you need to be all boutique about dogs, either. A few years ago Marin Sun Farms put out some hot dogs, and they're a trustworthy outfit. But the dogs stunk.
I'll let you pick the best you can find.
You've had a Chicago dog, right? Overloaded with relish and peppers and pickles and tomatoes and so, so good.
Well, I invented a California dog. Stuffed with avocado, cilantro, tomato, onions, and smeared with mayonnaise mixed with gochujang. Try that, me laddies! It's like a Blade Runner dog. Be good with a little fried kimchi, too. Next time.
Sadly, we used chicken hot dogs from a very nice, largely organic store, and they were on sale. Duds! No more. Boo.
My friend Chilebrown turned me on the these buns, called bolillos and available at Latino markets. They are really large. More than you need to hold all that junk. And the texture is a little wispy (which in a way is good; less chewing). I might try them again, might not. Yeah, I think I will. Cheap as hell, too.

31 comments:

Greg said...

Oooh... I feel a hot dog throw down a coming!
Ahem... and I remember turning you on to the rolls in my "sandwiches are hot" blog comment section. Let's see if we can get a gang together and do a hotdog/sausage competition?I bet Chilibrown and Zoomie would be in.

cookiecrumb said...

Greg: Oh, my dear. I've done you a disservice. You did tell me where to get bolillos in Novato. Thanks so much, it did stick in my memory but that darn Chilebrown fogged me up.
Sandwich party? Why not? No competition required, but let's wait for sunny weather.

Zoomie said...

Two. As far as I can tell, she's all at sea. Yes to the dog party. I'll bring Coleman's.

cookiecrumb said...

SARAH: ONE IF BY LAND, TWO IF AT SEA

cookiecrumb said...

Zooms: Been wanting to try the Coleman's. Wouldn't it be fun? Maybe Biggles would dig a fire pit.

kudzu said...

Did you really mean to reference the New York politician in that photo??

On another subject: I love hot dogs. Sometimes I crave the street cart dogs (Sabrett's) from Manhattan. I even have a recipe that Mimi Sheraton worked on forever to duplicate the "with onions" sauce they have to put on them.

Around here, the Chicago dog at Costco is a treat to make me forget the madness of shopping there.

cookiecrumb said...

Kudzu: Weiner! Ha ha.
I haven't had a Costco dog. Must try one.
I read some few years ago that we had lost a dog joint in San Rafael; I'll bet you would know about that.
Come to our dog party; details TBD.

Ms Brown Mouse said...

Try a Chorizo on your bun one day, mmmmmmmm!

cookiecrumb said...

Mouse: You're up! :)
I'm guessing that your chorizo is the firm Spanish type. Mexican chorizo (more common here) is soft and loose. Still, sounds delicious. Come to the party, we'll schedule it around you.

Ms Brown Mouse said...

Spanish, yes, and did you know Mr Brown's sailing regatta is being held in Santa Barbara next year? Only a 5.45 hour drive away!

Ms Brown Mouse said...

Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, *smacks self in head*

cookiecrumb said...

Mouse: Do you know how beautiful Santa Barbara is? Terrible right-wing politics, though, and bereft of fine dining. I will meet you there. There is a Motel 6, right on the beach, very cheap. Ish. (They take dogs!)

cookiecrumb said...

Mouse: Santa Cruz is even closer. I could spend the night with my brother. Again, limited dining, but if you want a superior experience, book a table at Manresa in Los Gatos.

Chilebrown said...

Bacon dogs from 4505 Meats at the Ferry Plaza are one of my favorited dogs.
It is exactly one month away to see if Joey "Jaws" Chestnut can break his World record of 68 hot dogs in 10 minutes. I think I can take him.

cookiecrumb said...

Chilebrown: OK, you bring the bacon dogs.
I'm sure you know I think shoving food in your mouth to beat the clock is DISGUSTING.
Can we make our own hot dogs?

Ms Brown Mouse said...

If it's still there we'll book! Care to join us? It'll be late June early July 2012.

cookiecrumb said...

Mouse: Love to join you. Just have to figure out dog sitting, because I am a total sap. I'll put on my big girl pants (gasp).

Ms Brown Mouse said...

Cookie, panic not, I'm pretty sure we'll be visiting LOVELY SF again at the end of all the bloody sailing :)

Ms Brown Mouse said...

Are big girl pants anything like eat'n pants :)??

SimplyStated said...

THE aMERICANS ARE COMING! tHE AMERICANS ARE COMING!

It's a wonder the airhead didn't say it was Winston Churchill on horseback.

I do love me some dogs! My favs are the Kosher beef ones, followed by beer brats...throw some mustard, hot relish, onions (and occassionally some homemade chili) on those bad boys and we are set to go! I always like to wait until the July 4th to commence the grilled dog chow down.

Zoomie said...

Let's wait to have the hot dog party until Ms Mouse and her hub can come.

cookiecrumb said...

Mouse: Eatin' pants? I want some!

Simply: She is so entertaining. Frightenng, too. Her voice is completely out of control, like an insane woman. I meant to tell you I'm fond of Hebrew National dogs, and even Nathan's!

Zoomie: The Brown Mice aren't coming until 2012.

Zoomie said...

Well, I guess we could have one this summer to refine it, then present the perfect party to the Mice from Down Under.

kudzu said...

Just saw a Scottish recipe for "kilted sausages" -- ie, wrapped in bacon. Kilted hot dogs, anyone? I also buy Nathan's, out of habit, and Coleman when I can find them. But I am not really a snob and sometimes devour even the cheap festival-style dogs you get at any fair.

The first "dinner" I ever cooked for my family was when I was in 7th grade home ec. class -- hot dogs slit to hold a sliver of cheese, wrapped in bacon, broiled. My father was gracious about my debut.

cookiecrumb said...

Kudzu: Yay, Nathan's! A little greasy, they brown up well and taste good.
I like "kilted." Our friend Chilebrown had some bacon wrapped dogs, called Danger Dogs. It is an idea! I can't believe you have actually already cooked this yourself.
http://www.madmeatgenius.com/2011/05/danger-dog.html

Zoomie said...

I once got serious food poisoning from Nathan's, so have developed an aversion to them. It was probably my own fault for not cooking the dog long enough, but still... ulp.

cookiecrumb said...

Zoomie: No, they shouldn't be selling tainted meat. What a shame. Try the Hebe Nats; yummy.

Denise | Chez Danisse said...

I was born in Chicago, so yes, I have had a Chicago hot dog and love them when they are done right. This is rare, so I only eat Chicago hot dogs when I see my dad. Let's be Frank dogs down on Crissy Field are pretty good (for a non-Chicago dog), but Dad's Chicago dogs are the best. I've never even tried to make my own. He's very selective about his dogs. He's particular about the casing and they must be all beef. He buys some special type, I don't know what they are, but they are good. The buns have to have poppy seeds and they must be steamed in a certain way. All of that being said...your California dog looks awesome! I could convert, on occasion. Is that possible...converting on occasion?

cookiecrumb said...

Denise: Temporary conversion. What, like a wash-off circumcision?
You actually should try a Chicago dog of your own. I didn't know the buns were steamed, for one thing. We have actually purchased the little "sport peppers," along with celery salt. It's a salad sandwich!
In California it seems like Chicago dogs are always made from, what is it, Vienna dogs? Your dad would probably cringe. Hi, Denise's dad!

undercover caterer said...

For dogs, I like Nathan's, Hebrew Nat'l and our own Casper's dogs, which are sometimes at Costco and in Sacramento, my local Raley's store has 'em.
Bollilo rolls are used for Sonoran hot dogs--look it up--I haven't had one yet but will be making some this summer!

cookiecrumb said...

Undercover: Totally cool! Thanks for the data.