Win Tickets to the Hot Dog Hootenanny

Posted by The Serious Eats Team, April 29, 2009 at 6:25 PM

From left: Bacon-wrapped hot dog with egg and cheese from Crif Dogs, Ed chomping down, and the Bulgogi dog from New York Hotdog & Coffee.

All right, all you hot dog-loving serious eaters, listen up. The Hot Dog Hootenanny is coming up this Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Astor Center. It's $25 for plenty of hot dogs, beer, and Prosecco. It's a great deal, but we are also giving away a couple of tickets right here.

Just listen to this array of hot dogs you'll be able to sample:

Classic Chicago-style dogs, actually shipped in from Chicago by the good folks at Vienna Beef, garnished with sport peppers, celery salt, day-glo green relish, pickles, and tomatoes, on a poppy seed hot dog bun, of course.
The Bulgogi Dog from the good folks at New York Hotdog & Coffee.
One of Crif Dogs' finest.
And, of course, New York's all-beef natural casing dogs, accompanied by mustard, relish, and onions.

And noted hot dog author and frankfurter-ologist Bruce Kraig will guide us through a tasting of even more hot dogs:

Red Hot Chicago beef
Thumann's beef-and-pork
Hofmann Snappys
Carolina Red Hots
Oscar Mayer supermarket dog

To enter the contest, just tell us your favorite regional hot dog style (here's a cheat sheet). We'll pick one winner at random who will receive a pair of tickets. Or, go ahead and buy tickets here »

Comments here will close at 3 p.m. ET on Friday, May 1. One entry per community member. The standard Serious Eats contest rules apply.

Comments are Closed.

Tags: Astor Center, contests, events, hot dogs

Comments are closed: 131 Comments:

Flint-style coney, with the classic dry sauce made from organ meats on a Koegel's Vienna, topped with chopped onion and yellow mustard.

LunaPierCook at 7:06PM on 04/29/09

Oh, and I can't be there, so if I win Robyn Lee gets my tickets.

LunaPierCook at 7:07PM on 04/29/09

A large part of me wants to claim BBQ slaw, but ultimately a Chicago Dog will emerge victorious.

James Boo at 7:19PM on 04/29/09

speeds dog in Boston -- class of its own.

newyorker at 7:23PM on 04/29/09

Michigan Red Hots (Upstate New York)
except I'm thinking they were called Texas Red Hots,
and were in Kingston NY

guido at 7:29PM on 04/29/09

Chicago style!

cinn0mon99 at 7:30PM on 04/29/09

New York dirty water hot dog, the kind they have to fish out from the murk. What can I say, its a nostalgia thing...

Aynsl156 at 7:35PM on 04/29/09

Rutt Hutts...nothing like a deep-fried dog!

momstheword at 7:37PM on 04/29/09

Can't go wrong with a Chili-cheese dog. Gotta have a Coney.

christeenie at 7:58PM on 04/29/09

italian style, jersey!!!

hanahana at 8:05PM on 04/29/09

BBQ slaw dogs!!!! At the place in my parents' neighborhood they put bbq sauce into the slaw (meaning they use less moyonnaise, giving it more delicious bite) and slather it onto a dog with just the right amount of juice and char. Om nom nom.

lg7788a at 8:19PM on 04/29/09

Definitely going with Connecticut, but my place was Capital Lunch when I was growing up. The meat sauce looked questionable, but a dog with that sauce, mustard and cheese was soooo yummy.

MissC at 8:29PM on 04/29/09

Homewrecker, West Virginia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js1jfYZxCvs

hirokotabe at 8:32PM on 04/29/09

Chicago dogs for sure... never had one in Chicago, but the examples I've had at various establishments totally beat out any NYC dog I've had.

jangie at 8:35PM on 04/29/09

Love Chicago dogs. Drag it through the garden, extra neon green relish.

annerska at 8:43PM on 04/29/09

Slaw dogs anyday! But only if it is a Zeigler's Original Recipe weiner.

bobows at 8:49PM on 04/29/09

As a nod to my southern roots, I grew up on coneys.

SpatulaQueen at 8:55PM on 04/29/09

And if I win, the tickets will go to the post directly after this one. I don't think I could justify a flight to NY for hot dogs (at least my wife couldn't.)

bobows at 9:00PM on 04/29/09

kosher dogs: specifically the 1/2 lb Speed Dog from Roxbury, MA

Danny Fox at 9:07PM on 04/29/09

Kosher dog with casing

will214 at 9:42PM on 04/29/09

The only way to eat a hot dog: Hebrew National kosher, boiled, on a toasted Martin's potato long roll, with spicy brown deli mustard (preferably Ba-Tamp-Te), new kraut (also Ba-Tamp-Te), and just a dab of sweet relish.

DrGaellon at 9:46PM on 04/29/09

Chicago style is a winner for me

BaguettenBrie at 9:50PM on 04/29/09

kosher or split. Nathans or Walters in westchester.

jeffsayyes at 9:52PM on 04/29/09

Wiener's Circle or Superdawg in Chicago, but then, as jeffsayyes says, there's Walter's. They had a branch on Long Island for a few years, and hearts were seriously broken when it closed.

jscheck at 10:05PM on 04/29/09

Slaw dogs a la WV!!!

2nd hirokotabe... it's like eating an arm.

thygodsays at 10:09PM on 04/29/09

Anyone who has tasted a Pink's hot dog knows that it is the king, hands down!

Paystyle at 10:11PM on 04/29/09

Kosher-style!

irishnyc at 10:44PM on 04/29/09

Chiiiiiicago dog. Thinking about it right now. Mouth is watering.

rightcharlie at 10:52PM on 04/29/09

Texas Wieners from Coney Island (NOT Coney Island Lunch, those imposters) in Scranton, PA. With their chili sauce. At least four of them, but as many as six. Depends if you get fries or not.

growler at 11:01PM on 04/29/09

kosher or kosher-style, split & griddled, dressed with sauerkraut & onion sauce & mustard ~~ I'm also fond of F&B's "famous gourmet hot dogs"

petitesoeur at 11:14PM on 04/29/09

The Chilean Completo. Normally its a dog + slightly toasted bun + fresh chopped tomotatoes + lots of avocado + lightly grilled onions + great cheap very yellow chilean mustard + chilean "Aji" sauce + mayo. Personally, I hold the mayo and add "Pebre" another hot sauce. My grandmother also sometimes added some crab on-top. I want one now!

pabloh at 11:17PM on 04/29/09

kosher style (nyc)

foodinmouth at 11:21PM on 04/29/09

Chili Half Smoke from Ben's.

Jewbacchus at 11:27PM on 04/29/09

"new york system" from the great, small city of providence (they're good hot dogs, but i mostly just like that they have nothing to do with new york, and are no kind of system)

ephraim at 11:30PM on 04/29/09

kosher.

andyk02 at 12:01AM on 04/30/09

Kosher and Kosher-style

gusto at 12:03AM on 04/30/09

Kosher, love the snap! Mustard and sauerkraut.

jemile21 at 12:06AM on 04/30/09

I like kosher-style!

pupilindenial at 12:06AM on 04/30/09

Brought up Jewish in Jersey, I like a Kosher style footlong with ketchup and saucy onions.

beetiger at 12:17AM on 04/30/09

chicago style!

gurizzy at 12:18AM on 04/30/09

deep-fried crif dog goodness all the way!

leeter at 12:19AM on 04/30/09

Chicago. You can't beat all the toppings!

dgl440 at 12:19AM on 04/30/09

The Puka Dog from Hawaii=) Yummmmmmmm

ThuyTBird at 12:22AM on 04/30/09

Chicago style!

wencheung at 12:28AM on 04/30/09

UniDogs, from UniMart in upstate Ny where I went to college. Fully-loades known as a Charlie Dog (I have absolutely no idea why), but like a 7-11 dog covered in everything including chili and jalapenos, cheese sauce, onions– you get the idea, wrapped in foil, so you spend most of the night eating chili out of the foil crannies.

superdlux at 12:35AM on 04/30/09

Kosher-Style all the way!

Sigma_Greg at 12:40AM on 04/30/09

Slaw dogs for me -- and it's a combination I never tried until adulthood, so nostalgia plays no part in this preference. For hitting that childhood taste memory like a Proustian madeleine , it's a Nathan's with mustard or a Sabrett with onions.

RABensam at 12:55AM on 04/30/09

The best dogs (and sausages and the like) are from the Toronto street carts. They are cooked on little fires in little carts and are the best g**damn thing I have maybe ever eaten. I've been propositioned by ladies because of the grilled meats I was carrying.

Toronto street meat FTW!

Helldog at 1:35AM on 04/30/09

coney dog!

stella343 at 7:49AM on 04/30/09

Kosher style at 2AM in the morning.

eschk at 7:59AM on 04/30/09

Gray's Papaya, baby. Well-grilled, soft bun, mustard and sauerkraut. Any hot dog is good, but those are heaven.

klg19 at 8:11AM on 04/30/09

Kosher style for sure - solves that craving I get about two times a year.

hindyg at 8:12AM on 04/30/09

Dodger all the way.

Runningwithbeaters at 8:58AM on 04/30/09

either kosher style or Ben's half smoke

zwsilverman at 9:20AM on 04/30/09

KOSHER STYLE!

cwc213 at 9:27AM on 04/30/09

The half smoke, but this may be because I live only a few blocks from Ben's. :)

rbear at 9:28AM on 04/30/09

Chicago style or classic midwestern corndog. mmmm

drivenbyfood at 9:28AM on 04/30/09

I live right by the bulgogi dog place but I've never tried it!!!

My favourite is chicago style though!

buffaloplease at 9:30AM on 04/30/09

I love chili dogs! I love chili and I love hot dogs! It's the best combo ever.

lisaxp at 9:32AM on 04/30/09

Speed's 1/2 lb kosher hot dog, Boston MA. Topped with onions, homemade chili, mustard, special sauce, relish. yummo!

miper241 at 9:37AM on 04/30/09

Italian Hog Dog from North Jersey!!!

Bosmer at 9:38AM on 04/30/09

Rutt's Hut ripper. Deep fried till a blistered goodness

ESNY1077 at 9:43AM on 04/30/09

When I was young, my dad and I used to go hiking in the New Jersey 'backwoods.' He taught me how to light a fire, and we'd grill Hebrew National over a teepee of oak branches. A regional style? Well, if not a style, then definitely imbued with the terroir of Sussex County.

Lower Yeast Side at 9:44AM on 04/30/09

chicago style all the way

qkatie at 9:45AM on 04/30/09

Kosher-style hot dog in a split-top bun. Nothing says summer quite like that.

cds345 at 9:48AM on 04/30/09

has to be kosher style

markosxman at 9:49AM on 04/30/09

I love the North Jersey fried dogs.. gimme a couple of rippers any day!

Erisgrom at 9:51AM on 04/30/09

Chicago, but mostly because I like the color of that crazy relish.

moviemaven at 9:55AM on 04/30/09

Red Dogs from maine. there is no hot dog that is superior to that wonderful snap the natural casing gives you.

bobmcsmith at 9:55AM on 04/30/09

Definitely a fan of the Coney. Mmmmm chili, mustard, onions, definitely cheese = heaven! Now I want one (even at 10am mmmm).

citygrits at 9:56AM on 04/30/09

I love Toronto style! i had 5 hot dogs while i was there for a week. I miss Toronto hot dogs so much!

karriecherry at 10:01AM on 04/30/09

Kosher-style with mustard and a little kraut.

cannatar at 10:13AM on 04/30/09

Coney DOG!

stinkycupcake at 10:17AM on 04/30/09

Coney :)

nycvivi at 10:23AM on 04/30/09

Half smokes. I loved Ben's Chili Bowl when I was down in DC.

bjornsen at 10:28AM on 04/30/09

Completo - Chilean style

pickle at 10:34AM on 04/30/09

kosher dogs - no question!

ceforrester at 10:46AM on 04/30/09

Chicago, specifically the chicago dog at Superdawg outside downtown chicago. superdawg superfries and a chocolate shake. omg i am now starving

maggiesol at 10:54AM on 04/30/09

I LOVE that slaw dog. Just make sure that there's celery seed in the slaw!

tsemczuk at 11:00AM on 04/30/09

Chicago! Preferably from Budackis, Flukys, or the Little Island.

travers at 11:05AM on 04/30/09

Kosher-style, no doubt about it, with way too much sauerkraut!

misha at 11:06AM on 04/30/09

kosher with ketchup at grays on 8th street. best thing even. but i also like chili dogs (but thats probably because i loooove chili) and also the hallo berlin cart sausages (yea i know they're not hot-dogs per se but THEYRE SO GOOOOD)

korovka at 11:16AM on 04/30/09

Two Sabrett dogs from a hot dog truck, mustard and sauerkraut, with a can of Yoo-Hoo. Oh man.

uncleozzy at 11:17AM on 04/30/09

chicago style!

layatp at 11:25AM on 04/30/09

CHICAGO! And Hot Doug's popped that hot dog cherry for me last week. Yum.

cjburp at 11:35AM on 04/30/09

CT-style Rawley's works dog, charred until it's black, wooooo!!!! I can't tell you how happy I was to see Rawley's on that list. I didn't even know I liked hot dogs until I tried theirs. NY Kosher and Chicago are tied for second.

ironic_username at 11:46AM on 04/30/09

kosher with mustard!!

llama at 11:46AM on 04/30/09

Kosher-style! Come on people!

AlsoAlwaysHungry at 11:49AM on 04/30/09

Crif Dogs BLT Hotdog. Mind you I wouldn't mind getting my mitts on some of those Chicago style monsters!!!

Macser at 11:56AM on 04/30/09

Whoa, that cheat sheet made me want a Flo's Dog. My favorite, though, has to be the hot dog served at MSG during Knicks' games, just 'cause it's so fun to be there.

meganfra at 12:01PM on 04/30/09

kosher style. And as my user name indicates, I could use a pick me up.

metsfan09 at 12:01PM on 04/30/09

hate to betray fair nyc but chicago dawgs are delish (wiener's circle, anyone anyone?)

cdeegs at 12:07PM on 04/30/09

L.A. - Pink's dog piled with bacon and guacamole

mixedberries at 12:12PM on 04/30/09

I have to go with Kosher style.

But those Sonorans look damn good.

kggreenpoint at 12:22PM on 04/30/09

Got to go with the Kosher dog. It helps me believe that I'm not unknowingly eating strange parts of an animal. Besides, I like the snap from the skins.

hunrgy at 12:35PM on 04/30/09

kosher with mustard

Dedaa at 12:38PM on 04/30/09

Jersey rippers

cmballa at 12:44PM on 04/30/09

I love a classic NY-style kosher dog with a good snap. Some yellow mustard, and I'm good to go

Laurel E at 12:47PM on 04/30/09

Ben's Chili Bowl half-smoke

greenolivemedia at 12:50PM on 04/30/09

oh the chicago style.

the poppy seeded, kind of damp bun (it's gotta be steamed you know) the snap of the vienna beef, the crunch of the dill pickle spear, the tang of mustard, the zing of the onion, the sweetness of the tomato, the look of joy mixed with horror when you see the neon green, glow in the dark vienna brand relish, the punch from the sport peppers and the "just can't place it" taste of the final shake of celery salt.

no ketchup. no way.

six years in chicago will make a girl miss a good dog...hot dog.

missmolly512 at 1:03PM on 04/30/09

I prefer the original Viennese sausage called the Wiener Würstel. Preferably with some buttery boiled potatoes and or egg noodles and or spätzle. And some cabbage that has been braised slowly in beer with some bone-in smoked pork loin. And some Löwensenf mustard. With a lot of Lindener Speziel beers.

simon at 1:09PM on 04/30/09

kimchee dogs

ll2014 at 1:11PM on 04/30/09

Slaw Dog with Onions and BBQ Sauce. I'd get them from Red Hot Lovers in Ann Arbor, MI. That place is great (although, it changed ownership, so I don't know if it is any good still).

Nebagakid at 1:13PM on 04/30/09

Hands down, the Italian hot dog. Growing up in Elizabeth, NJ, Tommy's hot dogs are like your birthright!

michaelkroe at 1:20PM on 04/30/09

nyc city style - i might have to have one right now.

captunderp at 1:45PM on 04/30/09

I had a great hot dog in Denmark covered in all kinds of toppings. Closer to home I am a sucker for Auntie Anne's Pretzel dogs, they are so salty and delicious!

cesnyc at 1:53PM on 04/30/09

Chicago dogs can't be beat.

chieartgroup at 2:15PM on 04/30/09

kosher.. with mustard and sauer kraut.

kholcombe at 2:37PM on 04/30/09

My favorite's are Rutt's Hutt for pure dog with their sweet mustard relish, for a dog with toppings is Super Duper weenie for great added taste & Sper Dawg in Chicago for a dog "dragged through the garden." The Varisty with chilli in Atlanta and a half-smoke from Ben's Chili Bowl in DC. I do miss Spanky's and I get the Dine's fix from the Hasting's Farmer's Market.

hondo3777 at 2:51PM on 04/30/09

Definitely a slaw dog at the Varsity

24city at 2:54PM on 04/30/09

new york system- go lil' Rhody!

whitewhine at 3:15PM on 04/30/09

Half Smoke from Ben's Chili Bowl--yeah DC!

superplume at 3:34PM on 04/30/09

New York System (RI) is the winner! Faneek's serves the best.

ltrain at 3:36PM on 04/30/09

kosher!

lanes at 3:41PM on 04/30/09

kosher and grilled

picklesandchocolate at 3:46PM on 04/30/09

kosher style with casing, grilled on a potato roll with spicy brown mustard and kraut. Or nathan's @ Coney Island

sjpalmer at 4:45PM on 04/30/09

I'm obsessed with the good morning dog from Crif dogs.

ylin123 at 5:07PM on 04/30/09

Gotta go Chicago style. I love me some veggies on my hot dog.

jordachio at 5:21PM on 04/30/09

PS. In Mexico, I often enjoyed street dogs loaded up with salsa and thick sliced tomatoes and jalepeños – delicious!

jordachio at 5:23PM on 04/30/09

Chicago style. With only Vienna Beef dogs. Gotta have the little red specks and natural casing. Celery salt too. Poppy seed buns are impossible to find though.

madebytam at 5:33PM on 04/30/09

Classic Kosher Style please - ketchup, no mustard though!

greenwichgirl at 6:54PM on 04/30/09

Kosher dog with casing, clearly -- but there will always be a soft spot in my heart for a good old dirty water dog. ♥

kfarrel3 at 7:11PM on 04/30/09

Oh, and of course, ketchup AND mustard!

kfarrel3 at 7:12PM on 04/30/09

kosher style w/mustard

winkyj at 7:35PM on 04/30/09

From cart water with kraut and mustard! Yummy.

alicecpn at 9:02PM on 04/30/09

NYC style grilled from any of the Papayas with mustard.