Happy National Hot Dog Day
After Thanksgiving, My Favorite Holiday
As most of you know, the third Wednesday of July is National Hot Dog Day. This is certainly not my first post on the hot dog. As long as I can find a new angle to examine the hot dog…and a new establishment worthy of my Fine Dining designation…we will celebrate National Hot Dog Day. So, in this years’ edition, we focus on a bit of hot dog history, as well as take a trip to O’Betty’s Red Hot in Athens, Ohio. So, from the bottom of my heart…Happy National Hot Dog Day.
Take It to the Bank
When you do high level research on the origin of the hot dog, you will find it very uncertain. There are numerous conflicting sources on the invention and history of the hot dog. So, to ensure accuracy, you have to cross reference thousands of data sources to get the highest probability of accurate information. Well, PugsleyTonks did not do any of that. I read two or three things. And, based on that information, here are just a few facts on the origins of the hot dog that you can take to the bank…
- With 100% certainty, the food characterized by a dubious meat entombed in some mysterious casing is absolutely German in origin.
- With 99% certainty, the hot dog bun is American in origin. Multiple claims from mostly New York City or St. Louis take credit for putting sausages in elongated buns. But, wherever the exact location, the bun and dog combo starts in the USA around the beginning of the 1900s.
- With 100% certainty, the term “hot dog” is also American. Again, NYC always come up in this research. But, my favorite origin story gives credit to the students of Yale University. The vendors were selling sausages in buns on campus. The pretentious Yale students called them “hot dogs” due to their feelings on the unknown and dubious nature of the meat.
Now, let’s take a look at this year’s featured hot dog joint that embodies this culinary Americana classic…
At O’Betty’s…It just works
In the words of O’Betty’s own website...”The sassy and provocative Artists of Classic Burlesque exquisitely personify our tantalizing version of Great American Hot Dog.” Even after visiting O’Betty’s, I have no idea how these burlesque artists “personify” their hot dogs. So, I will not waste anymore thought on it. Simply put, at O’Betty’s…it just works. Painting a picture of O’Betty’s ambience is not easy. But, I will try anyway. First, picture the stereotypical burlesque parlor with scantily clad statues/pictures, lights, mirrors, disco balls, leopard skin curtains, etc…
Then you cram the walls with display case after display case completely filled with antique hot dog artifacts….
There are just too many hot dog artifacts to do the collection justice. Many were old hot dog cookers, hot games/toys and collectibles. I even saw an old kit for filling your own hot dogs…no thanks. Here is an extremely small sampling of their artifacts…
Again, while I may not completely see the link between classic burlesque and hot dogs…at O’Betty’s…it just works.
Don’t Forget the Hot Dogs
As this is a Fine Dining post, I better mention the hot dogs. Although this is probably an oxymoron, I have to say that their dogs seemed to be of high quality. And, there were many options to load them up. Just pick your favorite star of burlesque…
The meal did not disappoint. My first selection was the daily special, the Bombshell. The Bombshell was actually a brat with kraut and caramelized onions. My second selection was the Salome. It’s similar to the Chicago dog which is always one of my top choices.
I should also mention the dining room/museum hours. The dining room/museum is only open from 11a to 3pm. However, as this is a college town known for it’s partying, O’Betty’s maintains extended hours at their walk-up window. Thankfully, drunk/high undergraduates can stumble up to the window to get their loaded dogs until 3am. I suspect that many an OU graduate has consumed dozens of O’Betty’s hot dogs from the window without ever actually visiting the hidden treasures within the hot dog museum.
Wrap It Up
Once again, I would like to wish all my readers…Happy National Hot Dog Day. I hope this treasured holiday means as much to you as it does to me. These kinds of small hot dog joints, scattered across the USA, are as Americana as it gets. As long as I can keep finding these “Fine Dining” establishments (like O’Betty’s)…I will keep up my annual hot dog day post. Have a wonderful day. PT
I hope you have enjoyed reading “Happy National Hot Dog Day” on Traveling with PugsleyTonks.
This is still my #1 favorite hot dog joint https://travelingwithpt.com/pugsleytonks-is-all-about-romance/
Plan your visit to O’Betty’s Red Hot in Athens, Ohio http://www.obettys.com/
p.s. More if you want it
I was getting concerned that the post was too long so I officially ended it. However, if you still have room for more on hot dogs, here is one last snippet that I wrote on the historic importance of…
Hot Dog Diplomacy
Hot dogs have become an important tool for all modern day US Presidencies. In 1939, Franklyn D Roosevelt’s staff released a now famous picture of FDR grilling hot dogs. He not only grilled them…he served them to the sitting British monarch, King George VI. King George was most pleased with his hot dog and asked for seconds. From that point on, Presidents serving/eating hot dogs became a thing. Whenever practical, press teams love to publish pictures of Presidents eating hot dogs. Furthermore, the term “hot dog diplomacy” became an accepted political term. When a visiting head of state sits down with the President and eats a hot dog…It is considered a positive sign that negotiations/relations are in a good place.
