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http://www.texas-wiener.com/ourworldfamoustexaswiener.htm

If this is the place, their site says they serve a Berks all beef dog.

Do you have an address? I get to PA about once a year for a beer festival in Adamstown. I believe Schiff's is a kosher dog from Boston that was just revived by the original owner's grandson. I would love to try them as I've heard that they are very good. Heard of Guttheinz but never had them.

I'm glad that you got the chance to experience (and enjoy) Charlies Pool Room. I would have to say that this is the most unique hot dog establishment I've been to. Their Hungarian sauce is different and a topping that people seek out. Sort of like the homemade relish at Rutt's Hut, the Texas Weiner chili at the Hot Grill, the special sauce at Flo's and so on. I don't eat onions so I haven't tasted the Hungarian sauce, but people I know rave about it. Combine that with the made to order dogs and the one of a kind atmosphere, and you have a winner.

Joe once told me that without the sauce it would be just another dog. I disagree. These dogs are prepared well in a frying pan, are fresh, hot and have a nice pleasing, though mild flavor. I get mine with mustard and a pickle on the side.

Charlies took a big hit when Ingersoll Rand in Philipsburg closed down. But thanks to the internet and sites like this one, Charlies became known to many new customers. As mentioned, it is very hard to find. I usually get lost when I come. But it's worth the long ride. Excellent article Hawk.

7-11's sell more hot dogs than any other eating establishment or restaurant. And in the last couple of years they upgraded to Oscar Meyer all beef. Not a great dog, but not horrible. And a lot cheaper than what you would pay for a dog the same size from the Windmill. But it's never acceptable to drown even one of these dogs in ketchup.

A former post I wrote (tongue in cheek) after being called a hot dog snob:

Proudly I embrace the label "hot dog snob".

I would sooner put ketchup on a steak from Peter Luger's than desecrate a hot dog with that stuff. Ketchup on a hot dog is an abomination. It just is. In fact, our Creator prohibited the stuff on the Holy Frankfurter. It was one of the Lost Commandments that was originally handed down to Moses.

I know that some argue "that's how I eat mine, and who are you to tell me otherwise?" Well, if you want to defile a perfect food, I can't stop you. I just wish that you wouldn't do it in public. It's a shameful act that years ago was only committed in the privacy of one's home. I have to admit that my son used to engage in this behavior. I was shocked and had to question my wife regarding the boy's paternity. Nonetheless he stopped this antisocial behavior when he turned 16. Part of it had to do with the maturing process, while the rest of it was because I had threatened to put him up for adoption. My wife and I spent a lot of time and effort administering some tough love in an attempt to turn my son around. I'm glad things turned out ok.

My daughter (22 and out of the house) never put ketchup on a hot dog. But for some inexplicable reason, she stopped eating meat at the age of 16. But that's another story for another day.

The topic of ketchup on a hot dog has come up frequently on Serious Eats. I am an opinionated person, especially when it comes to hot dogs, beer, religion, and politics. But I have refrained, until recently, from commenting on this subject. Why? you may ask. Because it scares me. I've been reluctant to discuss the issue, but I feel like I can share something personal with my Serious Eats family. According to my regular family, I spend more time on these forums listening to you people than them. Anyway, about two years ago I had the most horrible nightmare I've ever had. Fascists took over the country and the first thing they did was take away the right of law abiding citizens to own guns. Then they decreed that hot dogs must be eaten with ketchup. Michael Hoffman was right! He is a wise man who should be taken seriously. As leader of the opposition, I was arrested. The fascists wanted to make an example of me, so they put me on national television and tried to force feed me a hot dog with ketchup on it.

Just before they were able to pry my mouth open, I woke up in a cold sweat. I was so scared that I jumped in my car and drove to my childhood home. I crawled into bed between my elderly parents and even insisted that my mother go up into the attic and bring down my old teddy bear and security blanket. With the help of a loving family and a good therapist, I have been making progress dealing with my phobia.

This whole ketchup on a hot dog abomination should have been nipped in the bud. Because it wasn't, we are reaping the consequences. Reprobates have opened trendy hot dog restaurants (in New Jersey of all places!) and introduced all kinds of deviations from the traditional hot dog. In addition to ketchup, we now have such things as cream cheese, peanut butter, broccoli rabe, corn flakes, and eggs being thrown at us. And that's just some of the things. The rest I've blocked out, fearing a relapse and a possible return to the psychiatrist's couch. I shudder to think what might be next. The rumor going around in hot dog circles is that two twenty something guys are looking to open their own place soon. Their goal is to outdo the existing hot dog eateries where the focus is the crap piled on the dog rather than the dog itself. Proposed toppings include raisinets, gummy bears, rice crispies, oatmeal, and sweet tarts.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Oops! Ed posted while I was still posting. Sorry.

Daniel,

Do you by any chance put ketchup on a hot dog? I don't think it goes well on a hot dog and tends to mask it's flavor. For that I'm called a hot dog snob. Which is pretty funny since to me that sounds like an oxymoron. Personally I don't care if someone puts dog poop on their hot dog. It probably goes better than ketchup. But some people act as though I'm trying to outlaw it. It seems that a lot people who prefer ketchup as their condiment of choice on a hot dog have a hard time with those who express the opinon that it doesn't belong.

yellowrice,

Ever try a Thumann's?

The Fenway Frank prior to this year was a bland pork frank that was cheaply made. The Red Sox made much of the fact that this year they upgraded the Fenway Frank. It is now made by Kayem and has much more flavor than the cheap dog they served prior to this year. Kayem makes quality hot dogs. I've had them in Maine and Connecticut.

Last time I was in New York (for the Hot Dog Hootenanny) I stopped at one of the Papaya King knockoffs. It was either Papaya Dog or Mike's Papaya; I can't remember which. It was clearly inferior to Papaya King and Gray's. The actual dog was smaller, about 12 to a lb. The others are 10 or supposed to be 10 though last time I was at the Papaya King in Clifton, N.J. the dogs looked smaller. The biggest difference is that the dog I had at whichever knockoff I visited was skinless. Skinless, small, and not prepared very well. It was a Sabrett though.

Another difference is that Papaya King's dogs are delivered refrigerated while the others get theirs frozen. It may or may not make a difference, but given a choice I'll take fresh.

Boulevard Drinks in Jersey City is very similar to Papaya King. Sabrett natural casing dogs, tropical drinks, similar looking place. They actually were grilling Sabrett's before Papaya King although Papaya King opened a few years before selling drinks. And Sabrett opened and was located in Jersey City before the company was sold and the plant was used in the Bronx.

New York dogs are great. Not just NYC where you have the Papaya's, Nathan's, Crif's, F&B, Katz's, Bark, and all the carts. But Central and Northern New York where you have the Coney restaurants, the Michigans of Plattsburgh, Zweigel's, Hofmann's, and Hartmann's German style as well as "White hots". That said, I would consider New Jersey, not New York as the hot dog capital of the world. We have more variety and styles as well as locally produced brands that are even better. Best's out of Newark makes a hot dog that is superior to Sabrett.

I don't eat onions, but family and friends like the red onion sauce described above. One that dates back to 1925 comes from Charlies Pool Room. See a description here: http://www.hollyeats.com/CharliesPoolRoom.htm

Yeah, that sounds pretty bad. Most of the time I prefer mustard only. That way you can really taste the flavor and quality of the frankfurter which is supposed to be the focus of the experience. I'm pretty sure that they use very good hot dogs at Miller Park. Either Usinger's or Klements. Do you know which?

Hey! You got the same name as me!