|
|
|
|||||||||
WELCOME TO...
|
|
|||||||||
The Hot Dog: An America StapleBy Bobby Hurte TheTailgater.com Columnist |
|
|||||||||
|
If you guessed Yankee Stadium, you would be wrong. The origin of the Hot Dog dates back to around 900 BC in Babylon. A Hot Dog is actually a type of sausage. Sausage itself has been popular for a long time; however, the Hot Dog was introduced during the Middle Ages, in Frankfurt, Germany. A German butcher, Johann Geurghehner, developed a sausage that resembled a hound or hunting dog, which become known as the frankfurter or "dachshund sausage."
At the same time in Austria, Viennese butchers came up with their own very similar type of sausage, and named it after their city, Vienna. Vienna is "wein" in German; thus the weiner sausage or "weiner" was introduced.
In the 1860's, German immigrants began placing these "dachshund sausages" in buns with mustard and sauerkraut. The sandwiches were placed in carts and sold on the streets of New York City. A German butcher, Charles Feltman, began selling these "weiners" at Coney Island in 1871. (The 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, Missouri, also claims to have introduced Hot Dogs [as well as iced tea and ice cream cones] to the United States.)
Many of us, who were under the impression that the Hot Dog originated at a baseball stadium, could easily justify that belief based on the fact that each year 26 million of them are sold in major league baseball stadiums. That is enough to stretch from Yankee Stadium in New York to Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. In fact, more Hot Dogs were eaten at Dodger Stadium, 1.6 million in 2005, than any other ballpark in the country. Come on, admit it, have you ever went to a baseball game and not eaten a Hot Dog? And if you did, did you really enjoy yourself?
Harry M. Stevens, the father of ballpark concessions, can be given credit for the ball park myth and the rise in popularity of the Hot Dog. The London-born businessman catered to crowds at racetracks, ballparks, and arenas first by selling scorecards in Ohio. He then moved to New York and won the right to sell scorecards at the Polo Grounds, which led to handling all concessions. His company eventually operated concessions from New York to Mexico.
Philadelphia, fans prefer their Hot Dogs on potato buns, and that sourdough buns are the favorite in San Francisco? Check out the Recipes section for a few twists on the Great Hot Dog!
Outside of baseball stadiums, O'Hare International Airport in Chicago distributes the largest amount of Hot Dogs. Let’s face it. The Hot Dog is arguably America’s greatest food tradition. Forget about that popular expression, "As American as Mom's apple pie." No, I must disagree. It should be, "As American as the Hot Dog from dear ol' dad's grill!" Sure I realize this might instigate some controversy, but here are some facts:
The Hot Dog is a true American staple. Not only are ‘Dogs consumed in enormous quantities, but we start eating them at a young age! Oh and one more important fact that I have left out: Hot Dogs are great with BEER. Any beer!
Have a doggoned great summer and remember to practice safe tailgating!
|
|||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
"When tailgating, we're all on the same team!" Tailgate Media, LLC, 252
Orchard Street, Westfield, NJ 07090 |
||||||||||
