Beijing get Hot Dogs for the Olympics

Canadian-style Hot Dogs will be at the Olympics

With the Olympics only days away, Beijing is a city transformed. China's gritty capital has never been known as city of natural beauty. Companies have been pouring into China at the speed of light since the country was awarded the Games back in 2001. Visitors often ask if the food in China is edible and if they can find western dishes. If you can handle all the big franchises like Hooters, Applebee's, Burger King, Outback Steakhouse, TGI Friday's, Pizza Hut, McDonald's, KFC, Starbucks, Baskin Robbins and Dunkin' Donuts, etc., which are already in China, you should be fine. Of course, that is only part of the offering: Thousands of diverse Chinese food restaurants can be found around the city in addition to Indian, Korean, Thai, African, Afghan, Tibetan, vegetarian, Japanese and Vietnamese restaurants. Food should not be a problem. Despite this cornucopia of world foods, there was something missing. If there is one food that seems to be a perfect match with sports, it's the Hot Dog. Yet Beijing seemed to be Hot Dog-less with the biggest sporting event in the world around the corner. Luckily for those who appreciate a good Hot Dog, Canada has come to the rescue. Brent Shen, an employee with the Canadian Embassy in Beijing, teamed up with his partner to open Beijing's first legitimate Hot Dog stand just south of the Canadian Embassy. They actually rented the space without knowing what they were going to do. They decided on Hot Dogs 'cause there aren't any around. Beijing's most famous Hot Dogs used to be sold outside its infamous den of sin, a bar called Maggie's, frequented by the less-than-savoury -- and lonely -- foreign businessmen. The stand made the best Hot Dogs in town, but Maggie's was closed and the stand disappeared. That left Beijing with a Hot Dog deficiency. So Shen's decision to open a Hot Dog stand has been warmly welcomed by foreigners, Some people look and wonder and then come back and pick up a big one to take home for dinner. The locals are especially enjoying the nine kuai ($1.30) regular Hot Dogs, because they are cheap and affordable and they get a taste of American flavour.

Our thanks to:Cam Macmurchy, Times Colonist

The Hot Dog Kids

Steve's Snappin' Dogs in Denver, Colorado

Steve's Snappin' Dogs

These Hot Dogs have a fantastic taste unlike other Hot Dogs in Colorado, combining a natural casing with a flavorful blend of beef and pork with a smokey flavoring that "snaps" when you bite into it. They are nearly 1/4 pound and are served on a fresh, great-tasting Orowheat Coney-style bun. In addition to having top quality hot dogs and buns, we also offer great toppings, deep-fried skin-on french fries, beer-battered onion rings, and old-fashioned chili-cheese fries, as well as a low-carb menu that includes deep-fried green beans and carrot sticks with a touch of salt and pepper, a Hot Dog wrapped in crisp romaine lettuce or flour tortilla. They even have awesome veggie dogs, vegetarian garden burgers, and vegetarian green chili for you vegetarians out there. They can also cater your event with our mobile kitchen. Location:
3525 E. Colfax Avenue Denver, Colorado 80206-1816, Phone: 303-333-7627 Summer Hours Monday - Thursday 11 am - 9 pm Friday - Saturday 11 am - 9 pm Sunday 11 am - 7 pm Winter Hours Monday - Saturday 11 am - 9 pm Sunday 11 am - 6 pm, Web Site: http://www.stevessnappindogs.com

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The Hot Dog Kids

National Hot Dog Month

Did you know?

- July is National Hot Dog Month.
- In 2007, consumers spent more than $4.1 billion on hot dogs and sausages in U.S. supermarkets. - There’s some dispute over the origins of the hot dog in the U.S., but historians note that German immigrants brought “dachshund sausages” to America in the 1800s and even sold them from push carts in New York City’s Bowery in the 1860s.
- Perry Como, Elvis Presley, Buck Owens and Led Zeppelin all recorded songs titled “Hot Dog.”
- A summer staple, hot dogs are the frequent choice at sporting events around the country. Tied strongest to baseball, it’s estimated that professional ballparks will sell 30 million hot dogs this year.
- From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the Council’s consumption statistics show Americans typically eat seven billion hot dogs. That’s 818 hot dogs consumed every second.
- The top five hot dog cities in the U.S. based on retail sales:
1. New York - $103.6 million
2. Los Angeles - $86.5 million
3. Baltimore/Washington - $51.1 million
4. Philadelphia - $46.5 million
5. Chicago - $43.9 million

Source: National Hot Dog and Sausage Council

The Hot Dog Kids

Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs

Bacon Wrapped ( Mexican Style) Hot Dogs

Not quite Mexican and not quite American, the bacon-wrapped Hot Dog. You will find these Hot Dogs north of the U.S.-Mexican border in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California and some other places as well. It is a specialty of Mexico. In Southern California and in Los Angeles you will find the largest concentration of street vendors servicing them up all hours of the day and night. You can smell one from blocks away (mmm-good). The grilled bacon, twisted around a wiener, is topped with grilled caramelized onions and a mountaintop of diced tomatoes, ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise. Then one whole grilled green poblano chile is plopped on top. You take a bite and think, This is so good, you wonder if it is illegal!

Are thanks to:
Metblogs, LA Weekly and LA Observed






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The Hot Dog Kids

Vancouver, BC's Japa Dog

The Story of JAPA DOG

In May 2005 “JAPA DOG” Opened in Vancouver, BC. When President Noriki Tamura opened in the beginning as a Japanese style Hot Dog it was not particularly popular, but he kept after it and it is continuing to become a very popular item in Vancouver. There are also times when you will need to stand in line for your lunch or dinner. Noriki likes to be called Nori. He is from Tochigi and Japan. Following graduation from the department of economics at Aoyama-Gakuin University in Tokyo, he began working for Johnson & Johnson Ltd. and Recruit Ltd. in Tokyo and Japan. He was in the sales department doing Advertisement and Consulting. His clients were big companies of Franchise chains and small restaurants. He eats about 200 Hot Dogs a year!!! (he says he needs to lose weight). His hobbies are: Reading and Sports/Baseball (no wonder he likes Hot Dogs). His favorite Hot Dogs are: 1. Jalapeno & Smokey Cheese with extra cheese and Terimayo-style!!!! It is do delicious!!! 2. Oroshi with wasabi-mayo and chili sauce and Japanese hotpepper. 3. Misomayo

Check out the Japa Dogs whole menu
Japa Dog has been featured in magazines, newspapers, tour guide books as well as on the radio,TV-news and TV around the world on Anthony Bourdain: NO RESERVATIONS. Also many famous Hot Dog lovers have come and eaten at the Japa Dog: Steven Seagal, Peter Stormare, Daniel Dae Kim and Arnold Schwarzenegger came near Japa Dog (just near)
Check out this Video on Japa Dog

Japa Dog is in downtown in Vancouver at:
899 Burrard Street Vancouver, BC

Hours: Monday to Thursday:12:00 p.m to 7:30 p.m
Friday and Saturday:12:00 p.m to 8:00 p.m
Sunday: 12:30 p.m to 7:00 p.m

Out special thanks to: the CBC/Living Vancouver

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The Hot Dog Kids

The Dam Dogs of Rockford, MI

Dam Dogs

The Dam Dogs builds the only hot dog in town that you will eat with a fork. At the Dam Dogs, we pile the toppings on high, creating a hot dog experience like none other. With favorites such as The Rockford, The Hardy, The Croton, and The 6th Street, our focus is on quality not quantity. Located in a brand new location at 51 Bridge St., in downtown Rockford, The Dam Dogs is easily accessible from the Rogue River, the White Pine Trail, and the downtown areas. The Dam Dogs offers both an inside and exterior eating area. Whether hiking, biking, canoeing, or walking, The Dam Dogs is open year-round, so stop into our new location and experience a new take on an old summertime classic. At The Dam Dogs, "It's Love at First Bite!"

Address: 51 Bridge Street, Rockford, MI 49341
Phone: 616-863-9565
Hours: Mon - Fri 11:00am - 7:00pm

Sat 11:00am - 5:00pm Sun closed

Our thanks to:
TheRockfordNetwork.com
for the info and photos

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Hot Dog Kids

Address 51 Bridge Street, Rockford, MI 49341

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A good old fashioned hot dog stand

Happy Hound

a good old fashioned hot dog stand

The Happy Hound is one of those neightborhood food stands that has been around forever. I imagined that the the grandparents with grandkids visiting today ate there as kids themselves with their grandparents. It just has that feel.

It is a small free-standing building wtih some indoor seating as well as some tables on a patio. Probably the more interesting place for a foodie to eat would be the counter seating overlooking grill area. Besides ordering indoors at the counter, Happy Hound has a walk up window as well. Very charming, the idea that people would walk up and not drive through. I saw a number of folks chatting whle in line to order.

The menu board is simplicity: eight dogs, two burgers and one chicken sandwich. Sides are onion rings, French fries, chili and a salad. Even the eight dogs are basically variations on the basic dog.

My chili dog was very good, with lots of meaty chili and the requested extra raw onions. The dog had good texture and taste. The bun was so-so, looking like something from a grocery store. The fries were made in batches and are food service in origin, but OK.

Bottom Line: While charming, the Happy Hound is not the place for hot dog connoisseurs to make a trip to because the hot dogs are not unique or special. However, for families living in the Los Gatos area, the Happy Hound is recommended for its old fashion feel and absence of drive through.

Contact: 15899 Los Gatos Blvd, Los Gatos, CA 408.358.2444
Hours: Monday - Saturday 10:30 am to 9pm; Sunday 11 am to 9 pm
Our thanks to Food Notebook post by Carter Lusher. Photos by Carter using a HP R967 Photosmart camera.

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Hot Dog Kids

Hot Dog Statistics

In 2007, consumers spent more than $4.1 billion on hot dogs and sausages in U.S. supermarkets, that equals more than 1.5 billion pounds of hot dogs and sausages bought at retail stores alone. Americans will eat enough hot dogs at major league ballparks this year to stretch from RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. to AT&T Park in San Francisco. New Yorkers consume more hot dogs than any other city, beating out Chicago and Los Angeles. Chicago's O'Hare International Airport consumes SIX times more hot dogs, 725,000 more than Los Angeles International Airport and LaGuardia Airport combined. On Independence Day, Americans will enjoy 150 million hot dogs, enough to stretch from D.C. to L.A. over five times. During Hot Dog Season, Memorial Day to Labor Day, Americans typically consume 7 billion hot dogs or 818 hot dogs consumed every second during that period. U.S. soldiers in military posts around the world from Fort Meyers in Arlington, Va. to Okinawa, Japan to Aqaba, Jordon consumed 2.4 million hot dogs last year.

Our thanks to National Hot Dog & Sausage Council

Hot Dog Kids

U.S. Champion retains hot dog eating title

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. defending champion Joey Chestnut won the annual Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on Friday by downing 64 hot dogs in a competition that stretched into a first-ever overtime. Chestnut, of San Jose, California, defeated six-time champion Takeru Kobayashi of Japan in the annual event held at New York's Coney Island beach. The two were tied at 59 hot dogs a piece at the end of the regulation 10 minutes, forcing a sudden death overtime to determine which man could eat five more hot dogs in the shortest time. Organizers said it was the first overtime in the contest's history. Chestnut won the overtime, marking his second consecutive victory over Kobayashi. Kobayashi won the contest six straight times but lost the title in an upset to Chestnut last year. Thousands of onlookers were on hand for the Fourth of July Independence Day event which Nathan's has staged since 1916. The winner receives $10,000, a mustard yellow belt and a year's supply of hotdogs from Nathan's, which began in 1916 with a small Coney Island hot dog stand and now sells food products globally.

(Reporting by Angela Moore and Ellen Wulfhorst, editing by Sandra Maler)

The Hot Dog Kids

NEWS FLASH!!

Joey Chesnut wins the 2008 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating contest. After a virtual tie with Kobyashi of Japan at 59 dogs apiece at the 10 minute mark (this year the contest was reduced from 12 min to 10). For the first time in history there was a tie. So it went into sudden death with a 5 dog eat-off. The first man to eat the 5 dogs would win the contest and that was Joey Chesnut who retained the Mustard Yellow Belt for the United States of America.
More info and photos coming soon.

The Hot Dog Kids

Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest
The 2008 event is scheduled for July 4, 2008 at 12 p.m. EDT. It will be televised live on ESPN.
George and Richard Shea, the two brothers who run the annual Fourth of July hot dog eating contest at Nathan’s on Coney Island, are considering changing the duration of the competition from 12 minutes to 10 minutes, and some competitive eaters are finding the new rule hard to swallow. George Shea told the Brooklyn Paper that the change is being weighed after an investigation into the traditional time limit unearthed a 1986 Times article that clocks the contest at 10 minutes.

Therefore all qualifying rounds will last just 10 minutes this year, and the ultimate July 4th battle will likely be shortened to that time as well. The change has outraged reigning champ Joey Chestnut, who didn't edge out six-time champ Takeru Kobayashi until the last few minutes of last year’s contest. Chesnut calls the change “ridiculous.”

The Hot Dog Kids

What could be more patriotic than the Nathan's 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest? The annual hot dog eating competition held at Nathan's Famous original and best-known restaurant on Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York. The competition is held each year on the 4th of July and is regarded world-wide as the most famous hot dog eating contest. The popularity of the Nathan's 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest has exploded to the point where now it's televised live on ESPN and draws millions of viewers.

There have been two main competitors at the Nathan's 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest, one is America's own Joey Chestnut of San Jose, Calif., who took the 2007 title back home by eating 66 hot dogs (that's hot dogs and buns) under 12 minutes for a new world record, beating his long-time adversary Takeru "Tsunami" Kobayashi from Japan. Takeru Kobayashi has taken the title seven straight times - from 2000 until losing in 2007 to Chestnut. But in 2008, at the online sportsbook BodogSports, Joey Chestnut is the favorite to win the Nathan's 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest, listed with odds 4/5. The San José State University student entered the competitive eating scene in 2005 with a break-out performance in the deep-fried asparagus eating championship, in which he beat high-ranked eater Rich LeFevre by eating 6.3 pounds of asparagus in 11.5 minutes. That same year, during Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest, Chestnut downed 52 hot dogs and buns, placing second behind Takeru Kobayashi.

The Hot Dog Kids

We're Back!



Hey just want to let you all know that we are back! We're so sorry that we have been out-of-touch for awhile. Hot Dog Girl and myself (Hot Dog Boy) have had some health things going on for the last couple of months. Seems that either she has been ill and in the hospital or I have. Whew! Guess we just haven't been eating enough hot dogs! You know what they say, " A hotdog a day keeps the doctor away"! Sooo.....being as July is National Hot Dog month and that this is none other than 4th of July we aim to get started right away! Viva La Hot Dogs!!

Now, on a serious note...We would just like to take a moment to say how proud we are to be Americans and to live in America where we are able to live in Freedom. We also recognize that Freedom isn't FREE and want to say Thanks to all those brave ones that have gone before us, those who fought and died and continue to do so everyday in order that we may enjoy our families, our celebrations our homes, friends and families and everything else we hold so dear. We live in Peace and we Thank you all so so much! We wish you all a very Happy, Safe and Dog Gone Great, 4th of July.... Now go Eat a Hot Dog!!

The Hot Dog Kids