American hot dog revolution

American hot dog revolution
Let's be frank: Nowadays, it's what's on top that inspires a region

Written by
Polly Campbell

Any list of All-American foods being prepared this Independence Day would have to include the hot dog. It’s a friendly little dish that’s easy to grill, cheap to buy and beloved across the country.

You know what else is All-American? Ingenuity – and taking a good thing and making it better.

That’s what’s been happening to hot dogs lately, as chefs at all levels get creative with the tube steak. They’re topping them with ingredients that likely have never shared a bun with a frank.

At Senate Restaurant on Vine Street in Over-the-Rhine’s Gateway District, they make a new hot dog every day and name it after whatever pop buzz is in the air.

At nearby Tot Dogs, they expand the repertoire by offering Italian, chicken and andouille dogs along with salsas, slaws and all kinds of cheeses.

The Good Dog on Main Street, Downtown, starts with old-fashioned natural casing dogs and goes from there.

Mayday in Northside has beefed up its hot dog menu lately (if that’s the right terminology for a place that includes a vegan dog) with all kinds of toppings, including a house apricot ketchup.

There are two food trucks, Mr. Hanton’s and Gene’s, that specialize in topped dogs (though their toppings are fairly traditional).

Even Great American Ball Park has added fancy dogs at the Machine Room, including one based on a Vietnamese banh mi.

So, for your summer grill-outs, take a tip from those eateries. Keep the grilling simple, but get elaborate with the toppings. You can put out a random selection and let your friends create their own hot dog – and own names.

To get your imagination started, we asked restaurant owners to share with us a their favorite dog topping recipes. They are loosely re-created in our photos.

Note: lot of local restaurants use the all-beef dogs made right downtown at Avril-Bleh & Sons on Court Street. They also make an all-pork and a natural casing wiener.

Read the entire article by clicking the link below:

http://communitypress.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20120704/LIFE01/307040018/American-hot-dog-revolution?odyssey=nav%7Chead