by Linda (Angeleyes)

Who hasn’t enjoyed the taste of a hot dog straight off the grill with mustard or catsup?  When you think of summer, picnics, and baseball it’s hard not to think of the hot dog.  Some call them wieners, frankfurters or just plain dogs but did you know that it’s not a ‘hot dog’ until it’s put on a roll or bun.

The first hot dogs were sold at the St. Louis “Louisiana Purchase Exposition” in 1904. Bavarian concessionaire Anton Feuchtwanger loaned his customers white gloves to protect their hands from the steaming wieners. But because most patrons failed to return these gloves, his supply began running low. His brother-in-law – a baker by trade – improvised long soft rolls that fit the meat, and thus invented the hot dog bun.

Since then hot dogs have become synonymous with summertime and, in particular, baseball.  Can you imagine Americans eat 26 million in major league ball parks each year.  That’s enough to circle the bases 36,000 times.   And to give you an overall comparison from Memorial Day to Labor Day every year, Americans typically consume 7 billion hot dogs. That’s 818 hot dogs consumed every second.

So just how do you eat your hot dog?  I’m a boiled with catsup person myself.  Most Americans prefer their dogs grilled with mustard though.  Maybe you’re one of those people who loads on the toppings – mustard, catsup, onions, slaw, chili.  Whew !  Too much for me.  My dog would get lost in all that.  But to each his own.

However you like your dogs remember proper hot dog etiquette.

• Always use paper plates.  Never china !
• “Dress the dog not the bun.  Put your toppings on the dog not between the hot dog and the bun.  Condiments should be applied in the following order: wet condiments like mustard and chili are applied first, followed by chunky condiments like relish, onions and sauerkraut, followed by shredded cheese, followed by spices, like celery salt or pepper.
• And when you’re finished and you have condiments remaining on your fingers, lick them off.  I know all the moms are cringing right about now but this is a no-wash zone moms.  And no cloth napkins to wipe your mouth.  As my niece says when she’s coloring – Paper Only !.
• And to wash down your delectable dog, Beer, soda, lemonade and iced tea are preferable.

 

The hot dog holds a special place in my heart.  Kids today like chicken nuggets or pizza.  For me it was hot dogs.  I spent many a weekend across the Delaware River in PA at my grandparent’s house.  Friday night I’d knock on the door – doll in one hand, hot dogs in the other with mom pulling up the rear with my overnight bag.  The family joke was “where there’s a hot dog is where you’ll find Linda”..lol

I’ve eaten hundreds of hot dogs since then but none have ever tasted the same as hanging out on the back porch with Grandmom and Grandpop with my hot dog and my dolly.

And who remembers the Weinermobile.  I thought I’d died and gone to heaven the first time I got to see the Weinermobile & got my first Wienerwhistle^TM .  I walked around the house for DAYS singing “Oh, I wish I was an Oscar Mayer weiner, that is what I’d truly like to be, ’cause if I were an Oscar Mayer weiner, everyone would be in love with meeeeee…. !!!!” and blowing my whistle.

Now that the little ditty is stuck in your head for the rest of the day go forth and enjoy National Hot Dog Day – no matter what you put on it!  And I’m going to go find that whistle. : )

Two Hot Dogs With Everything by Paul Haven

All American Snacks: from Hot Dogs to Apple Pie

Hot Dog by Laurien Berenson

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This entry was posted on Sunday, July 22nd, 2012 at 9:11 am and is filed under Holidays and Special Dates. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.