"hotdogs" news and stories

• One writer searches out the best Chicago-style hot dogs in Kansas City and finds them at Miami Ice, Westport Flea Market Bar & Grill, Fritz's Superior Meat and elsewhere.
• A couple takes their love of cooking and history to new heights by digging up historical recipes for antiquated dishes like World War I Potato Salad.
• New barbecue books from five grill fiends.
• Zuccardi Zeta 2005 , a notable Argentinian bottle of vino is, at $48, as pricey as it is palatable.
• The lowdown on the fast food at five of the city's big sports and entertainment venues.
• "Fresh," a sustainable food documentary that features some local names, will screen next weekend.
• A roundup of notable restaurants serving everything from barbecue to Ethiopian food.
• Recipes: Pork Cutlets with Warm Florentine Bean Salad, Strawberry Pie and 7-Day Menu Planner

The phrase "free hot dogs" is music to some folks' ears any time of year, but particularly with Memorial Day weekend around the bend.

Oscar Mayer has stepped up to start the grillmania: if you hit the site right now (until midnight tonight, EST) you can click your way to a coupon for a free pack of dogs. Unfortunately, you can't waltz right into the store, coupon in hand: It's a wait-for-the-mailman dealio. But it's still a pretty grand deal for those who could eat grilled dogs all summer long.

[Via Newsday]

When it comes to figuring out who created various condiments, history tends to be amazingly vague. For example, although we know that mustard was developed by the ancient Romans, we have no idea about the identity of the unknown chef who first combined wine vinegar and ground mustard seeds. Similarly, history records that ketchup originally came from China, where it was a form of fish sauce; however, there is no record of the person who made this great leap forward. Similarly, the sands of time have swallowed the name of the great pioneer who first drizzled the magic ingredient on french fries.

So it goes: from relish to chutney, jelly to ice cream, history may occasionally honor a key innovator or entrepreneur, but all too often neglects the silent inventor who toils in obscurity. With that in mind, it seems particularly vital that we honor those few, rare pioneers whose names have not been lost to history. One such man was Alan S. Geisler, who died last week at the age of 78. Geisler, an MIT-trained food technologist, developed the iconic red onion sauce that is a standard condiment on New York City hot dogs. Comprised of vinegar, onion, tomato paste and other ingredients (including corn syrup), Geisler's concoction is better know as Sabrett onion sauce, for the company that markets it.

While hot dog cuisine can be fiercely regional, Sabrett sauce is a vital ingredient for New York dogs. Transplanted New Yorkers (or those who are curious about this distinctive condiment) can order it here or follow this recipe to make it at home. It is best served atop either a dirty water or freshly grilled dog, along with sauerkraut and spicy mustard. Enjoy!

Long before Manhattan eateries started lowering prices to bring in depressed (and recessed) customers, Gray's Papaya was famous for its amazing "Recession Special." Debuting in the 1990's, the special originally cost $1.95, but rose to its current price of $3.50 in the early 2000's. Consisting of a medium tropical beverage and two hot dogs, the combination of two perfectly prepared hot dogs and a medium fruit drink has become a New York institution and one of the city's best bargains.

Unfortunately, the arrival of a real recession has forced the hot dog retailer to raise the price on its special. In February, seeing the writing on the wall, Gray's founder Nicholas Gray began warning customers that a price increase was on the way. This week, it finally came to pass: the special has now gone up to $4.45.

Even with the increase of $0.95, the special is still a great deal, and a great way to weather economic hard times. Let's just hope that things get better before Gray's has to break $5!

I almost feel dirty writing out that title, but hey, I'm not the one who punned. Blame the home guru!

Yes, that picture to the right is Martha Stewart holding a ridiculously long hot dog (see it in its full-size glory at Just Jared). The dog is a 15-foot long model of the world's largest hot dog, which boasts an impressive 197 feet. However, while that's quite a meal to partake in, the real news comes in her punning comment:

For those of you who don't think length matters, I disagree -- especially when it comes to weiners. There's just never enough bites in a hot dog.

Reading things like this, I'd love to be able to spend a day chatting with her, when she doesn't have to be "on" and thinking of her carefully crafted image. I bet there's a tough, snarky woman under there who would tousle carefully folded napkins and burp with the best of them.