About a week ago I got a call from friend Libby, the fly fishing catering chef in Austin, inviting me down to help her with a big event she’s doing at Lake LBJ (yes, it’s Texas) over the weekend of the 4th.
Turns out she and her crew are doing uptown hot dogs at a big outdoor party for just over two hundred party-goers (one of the bigger regional tech companies apparently) and she’s found herself a bit short due to team vacations, etc. over the long holiday weekend. As flattered as I was for the invite, I couldn’t make it work, though it did inspire an interesting discussion with the boss here at the house as to our own 4th of July menu.
And after hearing some of the offerings Libby and her team were putting together, I was told we’re doing Buffalo Dogs and probably Rueben Dogs if not Frito Pie Dogs this weekend.
Prior postings here about anything other than All American mustard, onion and chili dogs has generated a fair amount of hostile commentary, even from the (in)famous Tom Chandler, champion of all things related to the California Slaw Dog back when he was still running The Trout Underground.
Regardless of what Tom C. and other hot dog traditionalists might think, the hot dog appears to be a pretty versatile canvas upon which to paint the hot dog masterpiece of one’s choice. None other than New York based, often dripping with condescension for flyover country cuisine Bon Appetite ran a piece this week on the very best hot dogs out there.
After this week’s chat with Libby, here’s 5 of the 7 hot dog variations she’s serving and that I’d put on the short list for this summer; whatever your choice it’s gotta be on a potato roll (Martin’s if you can get them) bun. Git ‘er done.
Buffalo Dog
Blue Cheese Dressing
A damn good slaw
Blue cheese crumbles
Hot sauce – your fave Louisiana-style sauce or Frank’sReuben Dog
Homemade Russian dressing (Putin’s favorite)
Caramelized sweet onions
Good sauerkraut
Baby Swiss cheese slices
A nice sweet pickle relishGrill-Blistered Shishito Dog
Grilled-blistered Shishito peppers (skewer in stacks to make it easy)
Sriracha Mayo (or other sweet chile flavor)
Crumbled Cotija cheese or pepper jack slices
Toasted sesame seedsFrito Pie Dog
Texas style no bean chili
Fritos (the original size)
Grated cheddar
Chopped sweets onions, cilantro, jalapenos or other peppersThe Banh Mi (Where’s Tom Chandler) Slaw Dog #2
Peanut Satay Sauce
Bahn Mi Pickled Slaw
Thinly sliced Fresno chiles
Chopped Cilantro
Crushed peanuts
Enjoy.
