World's Most Expensive Hot Dog: Taste Test

by Megan O. Steintrager, Posted Jul 26th 2010 @ 4:00PM

Photo: Liz Steger

New York City's Serendipity 3 restaurant has a history of doing stunts to make the Guinness World Records. They've scored twice before -- with the World's Most Expensive Ice Cream Sundae and the World's Largest Hot Chocolate -- and on Friday, they did it again with the World's Most Expensive Hot Dog, which will sell for $69.

So how do you get a hot dog to cost nearly 70 bucks? First, you start with a regular Serendipity 3 foot-long beef hot dog, which already sells for $8.50 -- a little more than your average street dog in New York (and a lot tastier, I'll admit). Then you use the tried and true pre-recession stunt of chefs around the world: Add foie gras, then add truffles, repeat as necessary until the price tag explodes. (The other surefire fancifier -- caviar -- would taste a little gross on a hot dog, though Serendipity 3 puts it on a burger.)

To be more specific, this particular "Haute Dog" (as it's being marketed) is grilled in white truffle oil and is served on a chewy pretzel-bread bun (sort of like a cross between a soft pretzel and a baguette) that's toasted with white truffle butter. It's topped with foie gras pâté with black truffles. Condiments (served on the side) include Dijon mustard with black truffles, caramelized Vidalia onions and ketchup made with heirloom tomatoes (more like a tart tomato relish).

I tasted the dog this morning (breakfast of champions), and I've gotta admit, it was darn tasty. My notes, after the jump.

The wiener itself was high quality and would have been great with just a little mustard. But the combo of flavors and textures -- the smokey, firm yet juicy hot dog, the creamy, pungent foie gras, the earthy truffles, the chewy, salty bun, the sweet onions, the bite of mustard, and the bright, tart ketchup -- played together remarkably well. My minor complaints: I found the bun a bit too salty and the occasional visible glob of truffle butter was over the top (or perhaps I should say "over the top of the top").

The dog, which was created in honor of National Hot Dog Day (and, I presume, in order to garner just this sort of press attention), debuted for the press Friday and will be available to the general public as soon as new menus are drawn up, according to a spokesperson for the restaurant (note that the haute dog has to be ordered 24 hours in advance).

So is this stunt dog for you? Only if you love foie gras and truffles (their flavor, not just the "I'm a big roller" factor -- though that'll play a part in your decision too) and you've got an extra $70, plus tax and tip, burning a hole in your pocket (hey, we heard the recession was over...right?).

Would you pay $69 for a hot dog? Leave your reply in the Comments section below.

Think foie gras is a weird hot dog topping? Check out these other hot dog toppings from around the world, like meat sauce and fried eggs.

Filed Under: Taste Test, Restaurants, Reviews
Tags: foie gras, hot dogs, serendipity 3, truffles

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 10)

7-26-2010 @4:38PM Paula said... I love the incredible frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity 3 but a three foot hot dog with all that weird stuff on it doesn't appeal to me.
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7-27-2010 @8:04AM Carol Nectow said... Quick answer to your question: NOOOOO! You can buy a Kobe hot dog with normal toppings on a brioche bun , with a side of wonderful fries - for $16.00 and we got two meals out of it - at the Metropolitan Cafe in Newton, MA.

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7-27-2010 @8:21AM Dale O'Bear said... $69 for a hot dog?? Anyone that pays that much for a hot dog has more money than sense. Another case of bragging how much money you do have. Give me a hot dog with chopped onion and a covering of good chili any day.

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7-27-2010 @8:42AM Barb said... Carol..thanks for the tip - I'm going to be in Newton, MA the week after next, I'll have to check it out! And, no, I wouldn't spend $70 on a hotdog...

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7-27-2010 @2:34PM Karen Murphy said... Geese are tortured to produce foie gras so I would have to boycott this dog.

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7-27-2010 @4:27PM Susie said... I think a lot of people will buy it just to say they ate "The World's Most Expensive Hot Dog". People like to tell others what they did, but unless it's Heaven in a bun, I don't think there will be a lot of repeat business, and they will keep coming out with something more. I personally would not spend $70 on a hotdog...I could fill a tank of gas with that much (and have room to go and grab a reasonably priced meal)!!!

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7-27-2010 @9:36AM Lisa said... Absolutely not! First of all, it's gross, not to mention, excessive. Second of all, it's disgraceful that fat Americans are ever looking foir decadent, self-indulgent things to shove down their gullets while so many in the world go without. This disgusts me.

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7-27-2010 @10:04AM xintoo said... Too bad it's a beef hot dog...they are gross to begin with let alone adding anything to it.

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7-27-2010 @10:08AM Janis Keller said... The hot dog sounds good but the foi gras I would not touch with a ten foot pole. They force feed ducks with a metal pole to make it taste better. This is cruel and often kills the ducks before they are slaughtered. I would not eat that hot dog

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7-27-2010 @11:18AM tisha said... I don't know about $69 maybe $30 max. But it does look very good. They should sell that down here in hernando Florida. Because majority of everyone I see is well thicker. I'm very tiny but hey I'll buy one!:)

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11-11-2011 @4:41PM Dougie said... Love Serendipity, I recall the caviar burger 26 years ago it was $10 which I though was a rich price for burger yet got it! If it has flavor and is delish they can make the world book of records as many times as they please as far as I am concerned. As long as they keep up their good quality.

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7-27-2010 @12:06PM K in STL said... Yuck! Give me a Chicago style hot dog anytime.

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7-27-2010 @11:53AM King David said... As long as it is Kosher!!!

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7-27-2010 @11:55AM Leaf Saver said... Forget about how Foie Gras is made..think of the Basil plants & Tomatoes!! Those poor harmless vegetables being hacked away like Jeffrey Dahmer victims. Heads cut off, limbs ripped apart and FOR WHAT?? a $69 hotdog? For shame.

Save the vegetation and next time let's hope they serve a veal hotdog, extra baby

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7-27-2010 @12:20PM ree ree said... Serendipty is wonderful, But 69.00 for a h-d ! would rather feed someone with out grocery money and stick with a costco dog for $1.50.

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7-27-2010 @1:01PM Ruth said... Is there tax on that?

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7-27-2010 @1:26PM Betty said... NO!!!

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7-27-2010 @4:28PM Scarlet said... It this your comment Paula? Your love of frozen hot chocolate is indeed legendary. So vast it seems you even put your preference on AOL. That is what I call smitten. Love you girl. Are you quite sure I couldn't interest you in a 3 foot hot dog? Think about it and get back to me.

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7-27-2010 @12:51PM maaaary said... why is it that, these sites continually post "after the jump" when there IS NO jump? annoying as hell, man.
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7-27-2010 @2:06PM Numb said... Presumedly you got he via a teaser link on the aol mainpage.... But for those of use like myself who actively read Slashfood.com, the actual blog where this entry appears, instead of the aol mainpage - there indeed WAS a jump as only half the article appears in the main directory.