This week has truly felt like spring kicking itself onto the baking hot concrete curb of summer.
The ancient Romans predicted “dies caniculares” in late summer, and the Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts a hot Dog Star day around July 3. But when the Sirius stars align, I fire up the grill.
While some people turn to cold watermelon to escape the heat, or ice cream to soothe them when the temperatures soar, I miss the crunch of hot dog meat, the unofficial sandwich of summer.
But is a hot dog really a sandwich?
Debates among bread-stuffing fanatics can get heated, and while Merriam-Webster may define it that way, John Montague’s actions show otherwise.
The 11th Earl of Sandwich, a distinguished member of the House of Lords and co-founder of a chain of restaurants specialising in sandwiches, sells tuna melts and meatball grinders but hot dogs are conspicuously absent from his franchises’ menus.
We, royalty seven generations removed from the sandwich’s namesake, have spoken out.
Despite what Lord Sandwich thinks and the National Hot Dog and Sausage Association’s insistence that the hot dog deserves its own category, I hail the hot dog as the king of summer handheld foods.
If Everest were made of sandwiches, a PB&J would be base camp and a hot dog topped with mustard and onions would be the summit.
Other toppings certainly qualify for this unusual atmosphere, but I’m not a ketchup eater, despite its proud Pittsburgh tradition, and I’ll debate this sweet staple’s place on the picnic table in another column.
Just like condiments, not all dogs are created equal.
As a resident of Cabbage Hill in Lancaster, home to the world’s largest hot dog manufacturing plant, I consider myself qualified to rank brands based on taste, crunch, juiciness and nostalgia.
Never underestimate the value of nostalgia: Food tastes better when it’s personal, and even a seemingly simple hot dog can remind you of a family picnic that’s no longer possible.
So, here are my top five favorites, ready in time for your next summer barbecue.
5. Nathan’s
Beef goodness and root beer is the “taste truck” of hot dog capital Coney Island, and no trip to the Boardwalk is complete without sampling it.
4. Subletting
This is the ballgame hot dog. Every bite brings to mind the chants of “Derek Jeter” and another important RBI. I call it the “Captain Hot Dog” and it pairs perfectly with an expensive stadium Budweiser.
3. Hebrew National
The most widely available supermarket hot dog in the industry. A proprietary spice blend developed in 1905 sets this all-beef kosher dog apart from other hot dogs.
Top with sauerkraut and pickles and enjoy with your favorite ice-cold pilsner.
2. Wardynski
The Polish Butcher is the patron saint of hot dogs in the Great Lakes region, and while Chicago rightfully gets a lot of the attention, we think the best hot dogs come from Buffalo.
Wrapped in natural sheep intestine, this beef and pork hot dog has great crunch from the first bite off the grill.
If you don’t feel like taking a road trip to Western New York, you can buy these items at Wegmans, a Rochester-based grocery chain that’s expanding into southeastern Pennsylvania.
1. Sarren
To create a dynamic dog, you need super sheep intestines.
Another Buffalo-based maker of natural casing hot dogs, Sullen Packing Co., has been making my family’s favorite franks since 1869. I’d like to believe that my great-great-grandfather, Conrad Seeber, a Civil War veteran, enjoyed a Sullen hot dog at his Continental Army of the Republic reunion in Cazenovia Park in South Buffalo.
Unfortunately, Wegmans stopped carrying the brand during the pandemic, but trust me, it’s worth the trip.
Did you know that July 20th is National Hot Dog Day? Mark your calendars, but don’t wait too long to trek to the top of Sandwich Mountain for a hot dog.
Fire up the grill and get fat!
