367191 Sat Feb 03 01:51:17 -0800 2007 30 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 2255809 Lunch on the run yesterday was a plain ol' hot dog from the What's Up Dog on Bush in SF's Financial District. Even though it was rather late in the lunch hour, the grilled dog served up instantly seemed in fresh and in good form without telltale dessication from holding too long. All beef, it had a snappy casing and nice spicing. The bun was a bit dry, not toasted, but good integrity. When I asked the source, the employee didn't know but volunteered that it was different than the usual bun in use and might become a replacement. I would vote for it. Sat Feb 03 01:51:17 -0800 2007 10039 Melanie Wong 1 2255811 Grilled with grill marks? Usual toppings? Celery salt or poppy seed bun anywhere in the establishment? Polish, hot links or italian sausage on the menu? Sigh, I do love a good hot dog. >Menu here- http://whatsupdogs.com/menu.html I think I like their selection- will give it a try. I just read on the web somewhere they order from the same distrib as Top Dog Sat Feb 03 02:00:42 -0800 2007 2255809 40489 P. Punko 2 2256744 Not cross-hatched grill marks, but a brown sear stretching the length of each side. Sat Feb 03 12:32:48 -0800 2007 2255811 10039 Melanie Wong 2 2257686 Love of an haute dog is universal. Sat Feb 03 19:47:33 -0800 2007 2255811 10255 Gary Soup 1 2255812 The menu shows a relatively correct Chicago-style dog (not on steamed poppy seed bun) AND they have slaw for a slaw dog. A friend recommends eating a super spicy hotlink with cole slaw- the hot and cool forming a nice mix. Sat Feb 03 02:06:28 -0800 2007 2255809 40489 P. Punko 1 2257579 I have never been too thrilled with them dogs although better than most. Still looking for the most flavorful steamed dog and bun. Sat Feb 03 19:08:30 -0800 2007 2255809 52212 Lori SF 1 2261215 This is across the street from my office and I'll often opt for WUD for a reliable cheap bite for lunch. (If you are used to eating hot dogs in the East Bay, don't get confused and order a "Top Dog". They don't like that.) Mon Feb 05 10:40:36 -0800 2007 2255809 64004 Squeat Mungry 2 2261232 Heheh, what I liked about the test bun was not only the texture but the size. A frank can get lost in the sesame seed buns that Top Dog uses, this was the right proportions for a hot dog. Mon Feb 05 10:43:26 -0800 2007 2261215 10039 Melanie Wong 1 2261263 I agree the dog/bun proportion is better than at Top Dog, and I prefer the seedless bun. Maybe next time I'll see if they'll toast the bun on the grill for me. Mon Feb 05 10:49:54 -0800 2007 2255809 64004 Squeat Mungry 2 2261351 It sounded like this bun as still in "beta", so do speak up about it since you're a regular. Mon Feb 05 11:05:34 -0800 2007 2261263 10039 Melanie Wong 2 2261413 Hey Squeat, good to see you on CH! Did you bring my friend Tana with you? I recently publicly lamented that you weren't on CH in the context of a thread about the best screen names... (just say it aloud, folks). Mon Feb 05 11:15:25 -0800 2007 2261263 10255 Gary Soup 3 2261674 Hey Gary! Tana's active on that other board (haven't seen you over there much, lately), but I don't think she cares too much for the CH interface. Good to see you, too. Melanie, I will definitely speak to them about the bun next time. I'll report. (Heh. Finally figured out how to use the 'reply' feature.) Mon Feb 05 12:06:51 -0800 2007 2261413 64004 Squeat Mungry 4 2263095 Tana doesn't care much for me, either. If I posted as much on the other board as I do here, the total daily post count for the California (+ Nevada and Hawaii) board over there would be at least double what it is. Mon Feb 05 17:56:33 -0800 2007 2261674 10255 Gary Soup 1 2261945 FYI, I have asked about the source of the sausages and they informed me that they source from the same place that Top Dog in Berkeley does. I used to frequent Top Dog regularly after late nights as a student at Cal, so I knew that lemon chicken dog tasted utterly familiar! Mon Feb 05 13:17:55 -0800 2007 2255809 51559 funmarysf 2 2262393 Maybe they use the same local distributor, but it's been my understanding that the various sausages and franks that Top Dog uses are from a variety of producers. I do know that the bockwurst at Top Dog, which is my favorite and usual order, is made by Schwarz Sausage . . . one of the reasons I was so happy to stumble upon the Sausage Factory Outlet on Mission. Mon Feb 05 14:49:43 -0800 2007 2261945 10039 Melanie Wong 3 2263149 TD's website confrims this: ".... we continue to seek out the best sausage from the best sausage-makers who, born to a tradition of taste, we believe, tend to serve it better. Calabrese? How ya gonna top S.F.'s award-winning house of Molinari? Buon Gusto! Or that little Portuguese plant in San Leandro that makes but two products, one of which, the linguiça, we are proud to say, stands pork shoulder butt higher than any of its competitors in the Bay Area. Then there's the cooked bratwurst from Saag's — as authentic an old-world European taste as you're likely to find. And from another quality third generation producer, Schwarz of S.F., bockwurst unsurpassed!" http://www.topdoghotdogs.com/ Mon Feb 05 18:13:25 -0800 2007 2262393 10255 Gary Soup 4 2263394 Thanks for tracking that down. I wonder who the San Leandro linguica maker is? TD used to use Santos linguisa, but I don't think that plant is still operating after the late owner gunned down the federal inspectors... http://www.sanleandrobytes.com/attractions/santos_linguisa.html Mon Feb 05 19:37:56 -0800 2007 2263149 10039 Melanie Wong 5 2263550 Amaral? Mon Feb 05 20:35:12 -0800 2007 2263394 10255 Gary Soup 6 2263570 The 2-product description sounds more like the old Santos than Amaral. http://www.amaralsausage.com/ Maybe TD's site is out of date. Mon Feb 05 20:50:44 -0800 2007 2263550 10039 Melanie Wong 5 2263769 I'm sorry but I am just search-burned. But I read in the last month somewhere like maybe the Chron or East Bay Express or something ... or maybe I heard it on tv ... the San Leandro place is kaput ... something is replacing it ... or it is being torn down or something. Mon Feb 05 23:52:07 -0800 2007 2263394 10264 rworange 6 2263771 Amaral or Santos? Both are/were in San Leandro. Tue Feb 06 00:02:24 -0800 2007 2263769 10039 Melanie Wong 7 2264817 My search skills fail me, though I just gave it a quick shot ... I guess that's in bad taste to say. I'm guessing Santos. I wasn't so interested in Portuguese food back in 2000 when this happened, and when I recently read (heard?) about the sausage factory being torn down I was feeling sorry I never tried them. I'm not sure if that was a good thing or not ... Conditions were horrid at Santos Linguisa Factory http://foodhaccp.com/msgboard.mv?parm_func=showmsg+parm_msgnum=1015522 Hmmm ... I don't remember seeing Amaral on my Portuguese food crawl. I'll have to keep my eyes open. Maybe I should trot over to Top Dog and see who is making the linguisa these days. Tue Feb 06 10:03:28 -0800 2007 2263771 10264 rworange 1 2621311 Does anyone know of any hot dog places in the Bay Area comparable to Pink's down in So. Cal? Fri Jun 01 12:56:59 -0700 2007 2255809 102118 mulanone 2 2621338 Most of the places that get mentioned are actually better thank Pink's, imo. Top Dog is still the gold standard for me...there's just nothing like it anywhere else in the California or the country, so far as I can tell. Fri Jun 01 13:04:14 -0700 2007 2621311 18466 a_and_w 3 2621891 Must try the hot dog places in SF. I don't think the line is nearly as long as Pink's. Fri Jun 01 15:43:04 -0700 2007 2621338 102118 mulanone 4 2622173 Anyone been to Rosamunde lately? Love their sausage selection but had a mildly negative service experience the last time I went a few months ago. Anyone have a more recent visitation? Fri Jun 01 17:51:38 -0700 2007 2621891 19731 Calvinist 5 2622469 Just was there today with a friend from out of town (to enjoy the Toronado Pub/Rosamunde dual experience before touring the Haight.) Had no issues with the service, and the Hungarian sausage I got was pretty darn tasty. Fri Jun 01 20:37:05 -0700 2007 2622173 10381 josquared 2 2674164 If you're ever cruising Highway 9 in the Santa Cruz Mountains, check out All American Hot Dogs in Ben Lomond. Nothing fancy, just great dogs (I'm partial to the Polish) and shave ice. Tue Jun 19 11:14:43 -0700 2007 2621311 106435 michele_CA 3 2674438 Thanks for the tip ... hot dogs and shave ice. Here's the address for anyone interested. All American Hot Dogs 9050-A Hwy 9 Ben Lomond, CA 95005 (831) 556-1163 http://www.benlomondba.com/dining.cfm Tue Jun 19 12:26:18 -0700 2007 2674164 10264 rworange 1 2675545 I'm a Marinite and always found Royal Frank on 4th street in San Rafael to be better than top dog, and then top dog better than the rest of the field. WUD I find ok, but not great. Is there anywhere you can find a serious, German-style bratwurst though? Better yet, kasekringer (ok I'm dreaming now)? Those Germans really put us to shame in this category. Tue Jun 19 17:10:51 -0700 2007 2255809 28603 holadayc 1 3230148 Adding links: Fri Dec 21 23:01:32 -0800 2007 2255809 10039 Melanie Wong