How Do You Like Your Dogs?

[HealeyRick]

While cooking up a couple of hot dogs for lunch I thought of the regional differences we enjoy. As a life-long New Englander, here's what I like:

Bun: Gotta be the top-split "New England Style" bun that you load on top, has a flat bottom and white bread on the side. Ideally, buttered and toasted on a grille like a grilled cheese sandwich, but I eat them plain or steamed, too. Also useful if you want to do your own lobster or clam roll, but I leave that to eating at one of the clam or lobster shacks.

Hot Dog - All beef with a natural casing. Boiled, the natural casing makes that satisfying snap when you bite into them. Grilled are good, too and nothing has the taste of a summer as a charcoal grilled dog. Fenway Franks are obviously popular around here, but my favorites are made by a local company, Pearl.

Condiments: I like a lot of stuff on my dog and have some brand loyalties to the local stuff. So it's Cain's relish for me and Gulden's Spicy Brown Mustard. Chopped onions and, probably not a standard New England thing, sauerkraut. And to top it off, the final topping - celery salt.

How do you like yours?

 

[Gliderman8]

Just like this.... yum.

 

[Hot Wings]

I'm a simple man when man comes to dogs. Nuke them for 15 seconds and squirt on a line of good mustard. Eat - no bun. Wife hates this. She has also forbidden me to cook them between 2 nails attached to a cut off extension cord. I still do this at the shop on occasion.

 

[GBRandy]

Onions, sweet relish and mustard....Jalapeno if you have them handy.

 

[Mickey Richaud]

I'm a simple man when man comes to dogs. Nuke them for 15 seconds and squirt on a line of good mustard. Eat - no bun. Wife hates this. She has also forbidden me to cook them between 2 nails attached to a cut off extension cord. I still do this at the shop on occasion.

MR. WIZARD! One of the staples of my youth!

As for hot dogs - either relish or chili and mustard.

 

[coldplugs]

Also a New Englander other than a few years elsewhere. I don't care much one way or the other about the bun style. The dogs should be the red ones (is that just a Maine thing?) and I avoid relish. Cheap yellow mustard is best. Sauerkraut is good, especially if it's from Morse's, a local place. There are no bad hot dogs. Boiled, grilled, fried, nuked, or electrified - they're all good.

 

[Gliderman8]

I prefer to call mine "Tube Steaks".... makes them taste better.

 

[HealeyRick]

The dogs should be the red ones (is that just a Maine thing?)

"Red Snappers". Yep, a Maine thing although I saw some reds made by Kayyem (a Boston company) in the case yesterday. I saw online there's only one company on Maine still making reds. In my misspent youth at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix, I used to know I was getting close to the Glen when I started to see signs for Tobin's red hots (the upstate New York red hot dog) and Genesee Cream Ale

 

[Keith_M]

Chili, onions, and cheddar cheese. Occasionally I can even taste the hot dog.

 

[Banjo]

Oh man... this could take a while. I like any type bun as long as it's fresh and soft. I'll do lots of different style dogs as well. Just plain old cheapies done on the grill work for me, or some all beef franks, or some of the "Snappy grillers" white or red.... Nathan's are good too. Grilled, fried, boiled, or steamed. I love a dog that's been in it's bun in the steamer at a sporting event. The local college hockey team has some great hot dogs!
Toppings.... Mustard, dill relish, onions, or chili (with or without cheese), or meat-sauce (With or without onions and mustard), Cole slaw is one of my favorites too!!!

 

[AN5Sprite]

I never saw a red hotdog until I moved to Maine. Now, reds are my preferred dog. New England style top loader buns are key. Yellow mustard, relish, chopped onion and celery salt...

 

[DNK]

Yellow Mustard
Sheez!

 

[NutmegCT]

Yep - New England style bun (buttered and toasted), grilled dog in natural casing, chopped onions, relish, mustard. Grill the dog 'til it's got lots of crispy black burned skin. GREAT!

 

[Boink]

I prefer my dog driving my car... :excitement:

 

[sail]

NO ketchup.

 

[Gliderman8]

I prefer my dog driving my car... View attachment 32711 :excitement:

From the look on his face it's probably HIS car.

 

[judow]

Top loading squishy white bun, boiled and then fried all beef Ballpark long dog, yellow mustard, pickle relish, onions and sauerkraut. Okay added franks and rolls to the shopping list. P.S. On the side, Bush's baked beans, original.

 

[NutmegCT]

Top loading squishy white bun, boiled and then fried all beef Ballpark long dog, yellow mustard, pickle relish, onions and sauerkraut. Okay added franks and rolls to the shopping list. P.S. On the side, Bush's baked beans, original.

Judy - on the side, try B&M baked beans, and good ol' mayonaise potato salad. And root beer!

Sauerkraut?

 

[aeronca65t]

I'm not crazy about anything that is mostly made up from the last thing over the fence.
I eat about 3 or 4 a year, but not with any great enthusiasm.

But I do like cruising to ~Hot Dog Johnny's~ which is a local attraction in my part of NJ.

 

[HealeyRick]

Judy - on the side, try B&M baked beans, and good ol' mayonaise potato salad.

Sauerkraut?

Beans and potato salad, too? Sounds like we're all coming to your place for the BCF cookout! Don't forget the chips. I like Cape Cod kettle cooked. I never realized the hot dog rolls that I've known since kidhood were called "New England style" and are hard to find in some parts of the country. Never too old to learn something new.