No other street food is probably as universally loved as hot dogs. Wherever you are in the world, whether in the streets of London, Berlin, New York or Sydney, you’re sure to find a hot dog stand that serves the best-tasting sausages in a bun.
And because you’re here, we’re guessing you’ve already tasted hot dog heaven and want to find out more about this delectable delight. No worries. We’ll satiate your appetite as we list 10 interesting facts about this tasty treat.
The origin of hot dogs is still widely debated today. Various claims and tales exist as to how this dish came to be. Many trace its origin to Frankfurt, Germany, where frankfurter or pork sausages that closely resemble hot dogs came from. People of Vienna (or Wien in German), Austria also claim they invented the dish, referring to the term “wiener” to back their claim.
America is hailed as the hot dog capital of the world, and for good reason. Americans consume about 150 million hot dogs on the Fourth of July (their Independence Day) alone. They were also found to have spent approximately $2.5 million on sausages in 2013.
Franklin Roosevelt served hot dogs to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth during their first visit to the United States. Roosevelt hosted an American-style picnic for the British monarchs at Hyde Park. Sure enough, these delectable treats made it to the menu, much to the royal couple’s delight.
The world’s longest hot dog is 1,996 feet long. It was manufactured by Sara Lee Corp. in honour of the Summer Olympics in Atlanta. And guess what year it was? Yep, it was 1996!
Hot dogs are not as exotic as others make them out to be. The ingredients of these tasty treats have been the constant subject of humour, rumour and urban myths. Some even went as far as to suggest that they’re made from earthworms! Fortunately, there’s no truth to this. Hot dogs are actually made from a combination of meat (mainly pork or beef), making them a good source of protein.
In Australia, the most popular toppings are mustard and ketchup. Australians rarely eat their sausages without toppings; adding relishes or sauces make the dish even tastier!
Nowadays, hot dogs aren’t just for the streets or sports arenas. They’ve truly evolved from being a working class street food to being a classic culinary treat, often being served by corporate catering companies in business events.
World’s most expensive hot dog costs $169. Tokyo Dog in Seattle, USA currently holds the world title for the most expensive hot—or should we say haute—dog ever sold. The pricey dish, called the Juuni Ban, contains smoked cheese bratwurst, Maitake mushrooms, butter Teriyaki grilled onions, Wagyu beef, shaved black truffles, foie gras, Japanese mayonnaise, and caviar on a brioche bun.
Mickey Mouse’s first words on screen were “Hot dog!” It was in the 1929 animated short film The Karnival Kid that Mickey Mouse first spoke, marking his transition from the silent screen.
Hotdog days are celebrated around the world, including Australia, USA, Great Britain and Canada, with July designated as the National Hot Dog month. Activities such as eating contests, carnivals and parades are organised around this month.
There’s no denying the appeal of hot dogs to our taste buds. It’s not surprising why many food catering companies, not just in Sydney or elsewhere in Australia, are tapping this classic dish and making their own versions of this tasty sausage in a bun.
Are there any fun facts we’ve missed? Feel free to add to our list below.