Hot dog
A hot dog is a type of sausage or, alternatively, a sandwich on a suitably shaped bun with the sausage and condiments on it. Also called a frankfurter (named after the city of Frankfurt am Main, Germany) or a frank, a wiener (named after the city of Wien, Austria known as Vienna in English), or (perhaps with tongue in cheek) a tube steak. Hot dogs are eaten with a wide variety of condiments, most common of which are mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, sauerkraut, pickle relish, chopped onion, chopped lettuce, tomato (chopped, sliced, or in wedges), pickle spear, and chilli pepper. A hot dog served with all available condiments is known as a hot dog with "the works".
Other variations are found. A hot dog served with the addition of cheese is known as a "cheese hotdog" or simply a "cheese dog". "Cheese dog" may also refer to a hot dog that contains processed cheese within the hot dog itself. A hot dog served with the addition of chili is known as a "chili dog". A hot dog served with both of these would be a "chili cheese dog". Chili dogs and cheese dogs are popular foods at carnivals and amusement parks.
A hot dog on a stick fried in corn batter is commonly called a corn dog. A corn dog might be eaten plain or with mustard. Corn dogs are widely associated with state fairs and other public gatherings.
Hot dogs are usually made of beef or a mixture of beef and pork, although specialty hot dogs can be found made of chicken, turkey, or even vegetables. Hot dogs are often identified as to their primary ingredient; therefore a hot dog consisting only of beef is known as an "all beef hotdog", one consisting of turkey meat is known as a "turkey hotdog", and one made of Polish sausage is called a "Polish dog". After seasoning, curing and smoking or cooking, they are usually sold with the casing removed. They can be grilled, steamed, or boiled before serving. Regular hot dogs are 6 inches in length (15 cm). Twelve inch (30 cm) or "footlong" hot dogs are popular in some regions.
Hot dogs are the most widely consumed form of sausage in America. Scandinavia, especially Denmark, is famous for its hot dogs, as is Chicago and, of course, all American baseball parks.
Associated with Chicago in particular is the so-called Chicago-style hot dog, traditionally a Vienna beef hot dog topped with chopped onions, diced tomatos, a dill pickle spear, pickled hot peppers ("sport peppers"), pickle relish, mustard, and celery salt, and served on a poppy seed bun. Although outside Chicago this style of hot dog is universally associated with the city, equally popular within Chicago is a "Maxwell Street"-style hot dog, usually served on a plain bun with fried or grilled onions and mustard.
History
The invention of the hot dog, like the hamburger and ice cream cone, is often attributed to the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition. However, similar sausages were made and consumed in Europe, particularly in Germany, as early as 64 A.D., and the earliest example of a hot dog bun dates to New York City in the 1860s. The hot dog's association with baseball also predates the 1904 World's Fair. St. Louis Browns owner Chris von der Ahe sold them at his ballpark in the 1880s.
Hot dogs were frequently known as frankfurters or franks until World War I, when the name was changed due to anti-German sentiment (see freedom fries). After the war the original name returned to common usage.
Takeru Kobayashi is the world's fastest hot dog eater. In 2002 he beat his previous record by one half of a hot dog, consuming 50.5 Nathan's famous hot dogs in 12 minutes. On July 4, 2004 he set a new record when he ate 53.5 in the same amount of time.
