Costco Los Feliz Now Serving Kirkland...

[monku]

Noticed new signage and umbrellas today at Costco Los Feliz has switched over to Kirkland hot dogs and Polish sausage.

[wienermobile]

Had the Kirkland polish for the first time today at Hawthorne Costco and it was very good. To my surprise bigger than the Hebrew National and better spiced too (the Hebrew National polish was on the bland side to me). I'm a new fan.

[Akitist]

Anybody try the Polish yet? The HN was always pretty bland to me. Maybe I'll have to be the Guinea pig. IF the Burbank store has made the switch. Need to go to Costco this week anyhow.

[monku]

Always get the Polish and I can't tell the difference in taste between the HN and now to be known as " K+", except I noticed black specks in the K+ which I'm assuming was black pepper.

[Akitist]

Thanks for the info, Monku. I was hoping K+ would be spicier.

Burbank food court kitchen was closed for remodeling, to open Thursday. Signage is now Kirkland, and there are the new umbrellas.

[monku]

You want a spicy Polish sausage, go to Pink's...it's the spiciest Polish sausage I've ever had.
Wonder what they had to remodel at Burbank?
I had a feeling every Costco is going K+.

[ns1]

the firecracker polish @ Fab's is very spicy and very sausage-y

[monku]

From some past Fab's post someone mentioned they use the same Polish sausages that Weiner Factory used. I could handle that spicy Polish sausage.
Eating the one at Pink's brings tears to my eyes it's so hot.

[ozhead]

Likewise the location at Canoga and Roscoe. I tried the hot dog last week and was favorably impressed.

-----
Canoga Cafe
6200 Canoga Ave, Woodland Hills, CA 91367

[reality check]

The first edition of the Kirkland hot dogs & polish, weren't so good. But, I have to say this edition is very good.

[monku]

Where did this Kirkland versions 1.0 and 1.1 come from?

[reality check]

The current version says Kirkland PLUS, where the other version was just Kirkland. They taste different to me. I didn't care for them the first time I had them, maybe 6-8 months ago. But, today in San Dimas, I was impressed with the hot dogs.

[monku]

It was always sold and marketed as the "1/4 pound Plus"

"Plus" meaning 1/4 pound + 10% more weight (4.4 ounces rather than 4 ounces)

See references to "1/4 pound plus" in post from 2009
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/569644

From the Costco Connection 2009
http://www.costcoconnection.com/conne...

[reality check]

Whatever they call it, it tasted different to me. The key phrase there, to me.

[monku]

Maybe it tasted different because now there is no more HN at the Costco food courts.

[reality check]

No, you missed the point. The KIRKLAND hot dogs that were first served at the food court tastes different than the current KIRKLAND hot dogs.

[monku]

Looks like the change over has taken place at the Alhambra location too.

[taiwanesesmalleats]

Tried it a couple weekends ago and I enjoyed it. The spices are just a bit more pronounced in the Kirkland version of the polish. It also has an improved texture than I remember the Hebrew National having. Not sure how to describe, but maybe slightly firmer? A meatier texture?

[ns1]

Tried the KS polish the other day.

Definitely got more spices in it than HN. Still don't taste like a sausage though.

w/e, @ 1.65 with a drink I'm not gonna complain.

[taiwanesesmalleats]

Yep, if anything, I'd sing praise that they put out an improved product at the same price point.

[roadfix]

I prefer Dodger Dogs!

[reality check]

$2 on Tuesday at Infield Hot Dogs. Not sure if they are grilled or boiled at Infield.

[monku]

I don't think Farmer John's can claim:
" made with "100% beef with only fresh USDA Choice or better cuts" and "without fillers, binder, phosphates, corn syrup, artificial color and artificial flavors".

Besides mooing they oink.

[monku]

My mistake...there is no beef in a Dodger Dog.
http://www.farmerjohn.com/products/ho...

[lil mikey]

For an extra $1, you can get an all beef dog at Dodger Stadium.

[monku]

But it isn't a Dodger Dog.

[wienermobile]

I grew up on Dodger Dogs and used to love them. I don't know if my tastes has changed or the dodger dogs themselves have changed, but to me now they are one really bad hot dog. From now on I pass.

[monku]

Your tastes have changed...I think they've always been a poor excuse for a hot dog. I didn't grow up with them, but when I first had one I said no thanks after that first one years ago.

[ipsedixit]

If they weren't called "Dodger Dogs" and you weren't stuck at Chavez Ravine, nobody would wax poetic about those things.

Now that you can bring outside food in, why people would still buy Dodger Dogs is beyond me.

Dodger Dogs exist to keep sweet relish, ketchup and mustard companies in business.

[monku]

Dodge-Them Dogs is more appropriate.

[wienermobile]

But were they always that bad? or did a winning team and Sandy Koufax just make them taste better?

[monku]

WInning team and maybe a couple bucks a piece might have made them more palatable. What do they cost now? $5?

Many beers could make them taste better too.

[ipsedixit]

weinermobile,

I don't think DD's have changed. It's just that when I was a kid, we really couldn't bring in outside food to Dodger Stadium, and back then there wasn't chain outlets on the Concourse levels. So we were stuck with Kool-a-Koos, stale nachos, peanuts, and those DD's.

When you're a captive audience, and those are your food choices, you sort of convince yourself that the DD's are one-of-a-kind. And in a way, they are. Just not a "good" one-of-a-kind.

[wienermobile]

Don't forget Carnation Frozen Malts.

[reality check]

The way Dodger Dogs have changes is the process of how they are made and stored. I remember seeing Dodger Dogs being made during the game. So they were fresher.

Now, they are made by the thousands and then stored in warmers for the entire game.

[perk]

Probably a combination of what used to be a winning combination!

[wienermobile]

NOOOOOOOOO.....Hawthorne near me just switched this week. The new umbrellas are up.

[wienermobile]

This is from the Costco News Letter:

The new Kirkland dog is "10 percent heavier and longer than the old," made with "100% beef with only fresh USDA Choice or better cuts" and "without fillers, binder, phosphates, corn syrup, artificial color and artificial flavors".

[reality check]

That same info was on a flyer, that was posted at the San Dimas location, food court.

I got to admit, I had to try it and it is much better than the old Kirkland brand. Not as good a HB, but if Costco held the prices for 25 years with HB brand hot dogs, you can't really complain about the switch.

[mc michael]

right but i'd have paid another quarter for HN

[monku]

I'm sure that may have been a consideration, but who know's maybe they're making an extra quarter now using their own brand.

[reality check]

Maybe they should have raised it to $2 and stayed with HN.

[monku]

I think jumping it up to $2 would have caused more controversy than changing over to Kirkland has.
I also believe that maybe HN couldn't keep up with their demand. It's possible there's more than one manufacturer of the Kirkland hot dogs.

[ipsedixit]

I also believe that maybe HN couldn't keep up with their demand. It's possible there's more than one manufacturer of the Kirkland hot dogs.
__________________________

Figured out who makes the Kirkland dogs. J Bar B Foods in Texas.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/776288

[monku]

Good detective work.

[reality check]

The San Dimas location has switched over to Kirkland brand. It was one of the few, that still had HB.

[subal]

The Fullerton store has changed over. Not sure if the Yorba Linda has yet. They said thet were trying to hold out!

[monku]

They said thet were trying to hold out!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appears the horse has left the barn for good.....

[mc michael]

The question is who makes the Kirkland dogs.

[monku]

Got to be someone big.
2008 they sold 82 million hot dogs world wide. 2009 almost 90 million world wide.

[carter]

Hebrew National, just without the marketing budget.

[mc michael]

I'll go for that.

[Mr Taster]

Well, it's certainly not hard to fact check this. Hebrew National hot dogs are spiced just like their salami. Other hot dogs really don't taste anything like them.

Mr Taster

[Phurstluv]

I believe Kirkland is Costco's home brand.

[reality check]

Yes, most people know that. The point is most Costcos are no longer serving Hebrew National hot dogs and Polish.

[Phurstluv]

Wondered why the strange post, I figured most people already knew that. Did not know they used to serve H-N and are no longer doing so.

[monku]

Price Club began serving the $1.50 Hebrew National hot dog and soda in 1985.

The change over to Kirkland began a couple years ago when Hebrew National could no longer keep up with the demand and/or Costco was trying to save money by switching to their own Kirkland brand.

[granadafan]

Well I applaud Costco for keeping the cost at $1.50 for a hotdog and soda. Can't beat that deal! The hotdog is decent, but not HN.

[monku]

I always get the Polish sausage and honestly I can't tell the difference between the Hebrew National and Kirkland.

[monku]

Costco Los Feliz

[ns1]

thanks for the heads up.