How do you like your sausage sandwich?
Originally from Frankfurt, Germany, sausages were handed out to people during coronations. This is where the name frankfurter comes from. When these tasty treats came to the United States, one story tells of a man selling them on the streets of St. Louis from a cart. To protect customer’s hands, he would give them gloves. However he was losing money because customers would not return the gloves so his wife suggested a bun. There’s also a story of wieners placed in rolls to save money on gloves at the World's Fair. As the story goes, this all happened in New York, Chicago, and St. Louis in the late 1800s early 1900s.
Fast forward to today, the hot dog has come a long way! Depending on where you are, regions have their way of topping a dog.
What are some of the most famous hot dogs? New Yorkers like their dogs with spicy brown mustard and sauerkraut or onions sauteed with tomato paste. The Chicago dog is placed in a poppy seed bun with mustard, white onions, relish, a dill pickle spear, tomato slices, pickled peppers, and celery salt.
Go further west and the hot dog recipes become more elaborate. A Seattle dog has cream cheese and caramelized onions. San Francisco is known for their BLT version which is wrapped in bacon and topped with shredded lettuce and tomatoes. One hot dog shop in San Francisco is known for their Latin hot dogs. Los Shucos started in Guatemala selling hot dogs from a cart outside a boys school. Shucos means dirty dogs which is what the boys called them. These hot dogs have avocado, refried beans, chimichurri sauce, and salsa topped on an airy bun called shuco bread.
In Kansas City melted cheese, caraway, sauerkraut and thousand island dressing are the norm. In Atlanta they like their dogs with fresh, crunchy slaw. In Detroit they prefer chili, cheddar cheese, and raw onion. In Hawaii it’s not strange to see mango salsa on top of a wiener. In Denmark, sausages are placed in a baguette and dressed up with dijon.
However you like you wiener, make sure to enjoy one on National Hot Dog Day! There are quite a few hot dog shops in and around Pittsburgh:
Franktuary in Lawrenceville has 8 signature franks on their diverse menu. The Pittsburgh is topped with a deep fried pierogi, slaw, and a mustard sour-cream sauce.
The Original Hot Dog Shop on the University of Pittsburgh campus was opened close to Forbes Field in 1960. The toppings here are classic and simple.
Yovi’s is a Chicago-style hot dog shop in Pittsburgh located downtown in the Market Square area.
Pittsburgh Hot Dogs is a hot dog cart/street vendor set up downtown at Oliver Avenue and Mellon Square. Their menu is simple: hot dogs, sausage, kielbasa, pop, water, chips.
The New York Hot Dog Shop is located on Old Perry Highway. They are known for their old fashioned Coney Island style hot dogs.
The Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe makes their own dogs in their commissary. They got their start in New Brighton, PA in 1959 and have grown to four counties. Their hot dog menu includes: chili sauce & onions, chili sauce, onions & cheese, kraut and/or cheddar cheese, and any combo of toppings. Check their web site for the closest location.
More options for hot dogs in the ‘burgh: Lock and Dam, Nana’s Northside Dogs, Packs and Dogs, Steve’s NY Hot Dog Shop, Wiener World, and
Corey Flynn NDTR, CDM, CFPP
Here is what they mean: Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered; Certified Dietary Manager; and Certified Food Protection Professional. She is also an ACE certified personal trainer.
Corey has degrees in nutrition, photography, and journalism. She enjoys adventure triathlons and hiking. She is currently working on a master’s degree in public policy and management with a concentration in environment and sustainability at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs while working full time and caring for her husband, three children, three cats, a beagle, two geckos, and one goldfish