July is National Hot Dog Month, and according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, whether you call it a wiener, a red hot, a frank, or a ripper, chances are, you have a favorite hot dog.
And you’re not alone. The council estimates that over seven billion hot dogs will be eaten by Americans between Memorial Day and Labor Day. During the Fourth of July weekend alone (the biggest hot-dog holiday of the year), 155 million will be downed.
But how do we eat those hot dogs? Bruce Kraig, a culinary historian and the author of "Man Bites Dog: Hot Dog Culture in America," said that the variety of ways that we make, cook and dress hot dogs is a clear reflection of the ethnic groups that make up the U.S.
"It's an immigrant food to begin with," said Kraig. "And then successive waves of immigrants took up the hot dog business and added their ethnic flavor to it." Whether it's the use of beef over pork, or the addition of kimchi or curry, you can see, and enjoy, those cultural stamps.
And of course, Wisconsin figures heavily in the history of hot dogs. There may not be anyone who grew up in the 1960s or ‘70s who doesn’t know the Oscar Mayer Wiener song. It’s more than a commercial, it’s a cultural touchstone. There’s even a less traditional version is by comedian David Sedaris, singing as Billie Holiday. Other Wisconsin companies that are part of hot dog lore and history include Klement’s, Usinger’s, and Gilbert’s Craft Sausages.
But zeroing in on the sandwiches themselves, there are unlimited ways to enjoy those little tubes of meat. Parade Magazine’s slideshow of different American variations covers many that highlights in “Man Bites Dog.” Chances are, you’ll spot at least a few that get your mouth watering.
