The hot dog, a delectable wiener, is an American staple. We all have eaten our fair share of dogs, whether it’s at a barbeque party during a national holiday, during a baseball game with our favorite team playing, or after roasting them over a nice campfire right as it hits nightfall. There are Hot Dog Festivals and Hot Dog Eating Contests, even a National Hot Dog Day on the third Wednesday of July. The History of the American Hot Dog can be dated back to the 19th century, and the iconic food has remained popular since.
Speaking of foods, sometimes one doesn’t feel like taking their time to prepare a meal and would rather go out to eat at one of a slew of fast-food restaurants. I’m talking about your McDonald’s, your Taco Bell, your Domino’s and Pizza Hut, so many different options with a wide variety of foods to consume. Yet one delicacy always tended to be looked over: The Hot Dog.
This was a thought I had a few days ago as I drove around town, my mind compelled to make a quick stop at a local restaurant and chow down on some delicious cuisine. I passed by places that made burgers, pizza, Chinese, Italian, even a Mongolian BBQ. But none of them seemed appealing to my appetite. All I wanted was a delicious wiener; instead, I eventually returned home on an empty stomach with nothing but big juicy sausages jammed in my head.
Finding a place that sells hot dogs can be difficult, as not many places make them. There are a few places that do: Sonic with their small selection of hot dogs and A&W with their Coneys; however, they are primarily notable for being burger joints, not hot dog joints, which is a problem, as there are not enough hot dog joints close by (Unless one happens to live near Coney Island, which is noteworthy for being the home of Feltman’s and Nathan’s).
A fine example of a place that does hot dogs justice is, surprisingly, Costco. Most people know Costco as being a supermarket that sells everything in bulk for a reasonable price. What many don’t know is that they also sell hot fresh food at their food courts; one such item on their menu being a hot dog and soda combo for only $1.50, a price that hasn’t changed since 1985 despite inflation and impacts in the economy over the years.
But going back on to the issue regarding the lack of hot dog joints. I believe that there needs to be more of them, more places that sell hot dogs and specifically hot dogs, more stores and fast-food areas that aren’t the generic meat patty in-between two flat slabs of wheat place, but a majestic wiener resting on a fluffy white bun province. If we can make it so there are as many hot dog joints as there are burger joints and pizzerias, then all will be great, amazing, wonderfully stupendous. Moral of the story: Someone needs to build a Wienerschnitzel.
Lee Cloward can be reached at [email protected]
Sharon Carr
Der Wienersnitzel was just a few blocks from my old alma mater, UC Fullerton, California. The Kraut Dog was my staple meal while I was a student and I couldn’t agree more. We need more hot dog joints!!! What’s the saying? “If you build it, they will come.”