The Best Hot Dogs
Photograph courtesy of Jason Perlow
Food blogger and technologist Jason Perlow applies his thorough geekdom to one of the most detailed hot dog surveys I've seen since, well, since he did this back in 2004.
Not only did Perlow round up 32 different brands of dogs from the East Coast and Chicago, he also roped in as judges the noted New York–New Jersey hot dog expert John Fox (aka "Hot Dog John") and Eric Eisenbud, proprietor of Amazing Hot Dog in Verona, New Jersey.
The results are and headspinningly detailed and span almost all the cooking methods—grilled, fried, boiled, griddled—but Perlow has broken down the winners in a nine-page PDF complete with judges' tasting notes. If that's not enough, there are two accompanying podcasts for you.
As an aside, I would like to call attention to the fact that Perlow's blog, Off the Broiler, has as its catchphrase "Food, Technology, and the Mind of Jason Perlow." This hot dog post and its accompanying media are the best representations of Perlow's foodie techie mind.
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6 Comments:
I'm glad you liked it, because I don't think I want to do another one of these until.. 2010 at least!
jperlow at 4:49PM on 07/03/07
Wow, people from New York/New Jersey think Nathan's are the best hot dogs... shocking... Next you'll tell me they think New York style pizza is better than Chicago style pizza!
SAMiller at 10:41PM on 07/03/07
Remember, we tasted all of these hot dogs blind and did not reveal them until after tasting a whole group of dogs at a time.
jperlow at 9:41AM on 07/04/07
SAMiller: I think it is important to note here, as we explained in the survey, that in the manner in which we conducted the tasting, the hot dogs were sampled on the initial bite without condiments, just simply grilled. New York hot dogs are spicier than their Chicago cousins, and for a very good reason -- Chicago hot dogs are designed for heavy condiment loading. An archetypal Chicago dog has spicy mustard, relish, celery salt, onions, sport peppers, pickles, lettuce and tomato on it -- an assertively spiced New York style dog such as a Nathans would throw a Chicago dog out of balance.
It should be pointed out, however, Leon's was our second favorite Pork and Beef dog grilled (it scored a 6 in overall subjective, which is excellent for a blander hot dog) and Red Hot and Vienna Beef scored a 7.25 and 6.67 respectively. Not bad when stacked up against beefier tasting, spicier hot dogs.
For what its worth, here is how I spent the last superbowl:
http://offthebroiler.wordpress.com/2007/02/05/the-superfans-tailgate-degustation-menu/
jperlow at 9:57AM on 07/04/07
Perhaps I was a bit too snarky. I guess what I should have said, it that it isn't surprising that people have a default of 'what things should taste like'.
It reminds me of when Cook's Illustrated did a blind taste test of mayonnaise:
So it doesn't shock me that, even in a blind taste test, people who grew up eating Nathan's, think that is what a hot dog should taste like.
Your survey is still very detailed and a very enjoyable read.
SAMiller at 3:57PM on 07/04/07
VIENNA BEEF!!!!!!!
Anyone from Chicago knows a true Chicago style dog requires Vienna Beef Franks . Drag it through the garden.
Food Hobo at 12:41PM on 04/11/08