Hot Dog!
Jim from Petoskey,
Michigan, asked why the humble hot dog has more than one name. As often happens
when naming food or drink, territoriality is involved.
Those who maintain that
the item was invented in Vienna call it a wiener. In German, that means of Vienna. Others tout Frankfort,
Germany, as the source of the delicacy. They opt for the name frankfurter – of Frankfort.
The appellation hot dog
seems to have been invented by Yale college students in the late nineteenth
century, a sarcastic reference to meat whose provenance was in doubt.
Disgustingly, some unscrupulous butchers in the 19th century (and
earlier) were buying slaughtered dogs
to add to their sausages. SeeBarry Popik’s column.
Speaking of
territoriality, many cities or regions have their own version of the hot dog,
and each claims to be the best. Visit the website of the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council for a rundown on hot dogs across America. I was raised in
Chicago, where it is a mortal sin to put catsup on a hot dog. Or even ketchup.
Listen to Mike’s program in real
time every Tuesday morning, 9:10 - 10:00 a.m. EST, by going to wtcmradio.com
and clicking on Listen Now.
You’ll
also find about two year’s worth of podcasts there under The Ron Jolly Show.
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