Ketchup & Hot dogs

[hotdog maker]

There is NOTHING wrong with putting ketchup on a hot dog, It is purely personal. As for myself, I will always ENJOY ketchup on my hotdog.

[AdamD]

Its all good. People pick what foods they tend to get obsessive about. And then there are those that just eat what flavors they like no matter what. Its all good. I like my hotdogs made at home with Best's-ketchup, mustard and relish. Occasionally topped with a simple slaw or kimchi or chili and velveeta.
I love a chicago dog "dragged through the garden." If some one wants to focus on the meat and spice mix instead of the condiments. Good for them. Its all good.

[TheHuntress]

It's the ONLY time I will eat ketchup :)

[joonjoon]

I prefer my hot dogs with other condiments, but for a corn dog ketchup's the only way to roll.

[hotdoglover]

Proudly I embrace the label "hot dog snob".

I would sooner put ketchup on a steak from Peter Luger's than desecrate a hot dog with that stuff. Ketchup on a hot dog is an abomination. It just is. In fact, our Creator prohibited the stuff on the Holy Frankfurter. It was one of the Lost Commandments that was originally handed down to Moses.

I know that some argue "that's how I eat mine, and who are you to tell me otherwise?" Well, if you want to defile a perfect food, I can't stop you. I just wish that you wouldn't do it in public. It's a shameful act that years ago was only committed in the privacy of one's home. I have to admit that my son used to engage in this behavior. I was shocked and had to question my wife regarding the boy's paternity. Nonetheless he stopped this antisocial behavior when he turned 16. Part of it had to do with the maturing process, while the rest of it was because I had threatened to put him up for adoption. My wife and I spent a lot of time and effort administering some tough love in an attempt to turn my son around. I'm glad things turned out ok.

My daughter (22 and out of the house) never put ketchup on a hot dog. But for some inexplicable reason, she stopped eating meat at the age of 16. But that's another story for another day.

The topic of ketchup on a hot dog has come up frequently on Chowhound. I am an opinionated person, especially when it comes to hot dogs, beer, religion, and politics. But I have refrained, until recently, from commenting on this subject. Why? you may ask. Because it scares me. I've been reluctant to discuss the issue, but I feel like I can share something personal with my Chowhound family. According to my regular family, I spend more time on these forums listening to you people than them. Anyway, about two years ago I had the most horrible nightmare I've ever had. Fascists took over the country and the first thing they did was take away the right of law abiding citizens to own guns. Then they decreed that hot dogs must be eaten with ketchup. Michael Hoffman was right! He is a wise man who should be taken seriously. As leader of the opposition, I was arrested. The fascists wanted to make an example of me, so they put me on national television and tried to force feed me a hot dog with ketchup on it.

Just before they were able to pry my mouth open, I woke up in a cold sweat. I was so scared that I jumped in my car and drove to my childhood home. I crawled into bed between my elderly parents and even insisted that my mother go up into the attic and bring down my old teddy bear and security blanket. With the help of a loving family and a good therapist, I have been making progress dealing with my phobia.

This whole ketchup on a hot dog abomination should have been nipped in the bud. Because it wasn't, we are reaping the consequences. Reprobates have opened trendy hot dog restaurants (in New Jersey of all places!) and introduced all kinds of deviations from the traditional hot dog. In addition to ketchup, we now have such things as cream cheese, peanut butter, broccoli rabe, corn flakes, and eggs being thrown at us. And that's just some of the things. The rest I've blocked out, fearing a relapse and a possible return to the psychiatrist's couch. I shudder to think what might be next. The rumor going around in hot dog circles is that two twenty something guys are looking to open their own place soon. Their goal is to outdo the existing hot dog eateries where the focus is the crap piled on the dog rather than the dog itself. Proposed toppings include raisinets, gummy bears, rice crispies, oatmeal, and sweet tarts.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

[joonjoon]

HDL, I love you.

[hotdog maker]

Again this is your opinon. Live and let live..

[hotdoglover]

Of course it's my opinion. But those lacking a sense of humor and an open mind often accuse me of trying to prevent people from putting ketchup on a hot dog. And calling me a nazi. This is America. You have the freedom to put pickles in your ice cream if you wish. Those espousing a "live and let live" philosophy are often hypocritical because they attack those who disagree with them. In your initial post you stated "I will always ENJOY ketchup on my hot dog." Well I do not. You and people who love ketchup on hot dogs disagree with me. My opinion is that ketchup does not belong on a hot dog. Yet I don't feel the need to tell you to "live and let live" because you disagree.

Do what you want. You could put dog poop on your hot dog for all I care. It probably goes better than ketchup anyway.

[jmcarthur8]

Thank you, thank you for the after-lunch laugh. Matter of fact, lunch was a hot dog with relish and yellow mustard.
The vice principal of my junior high school used to call them 'tube steaks'.

[srsone]

so i guess the gift basket from heinz is out for an xmas gift?

[bagelman01]

They make a lovely assortment of Mustards, relish and pickles.
The 57 varieties isn't all ketchup <VBG>

[srsone]

true..

but..
heinz is the only ketchup i like
only mustard i like is frenchs...

and usually for pickles and relish i get mt olive
or sometimes claussen pickles...

[TheHuntress]

:D Awesome.

[jfood]

Priceless, priceless, priceless.

HDL, I need a NJ hot dog favor. Could you post an email address on the blog page of my profile and i will dlete it asap.

BTW - I need to bring back close to 40 pounds of Best's Dons in 2 weeks. Getting major traction with my friends as their backyard grilled dog...mustard only.

Thx

[hotdoglover]

I couldn't do it. Maybe because I'm using a library computer. Feel free to contact me at [e-mail].

[DonShirer]

Since each person's taste is his or her own, I have no problem with people putting anything they like on top of hot dogs. In fact, some varieties of weiners carried by the local groceries cry out for something to disguise their blah taste. On a good dog, I do use a little bit of mustard and relish, but I don't expect anyone to call me on that, either.

[Akitist]

I don't like the stuff on anything. It is OK mixed with mayo as a dressing for iceberg lettuce, and is the base for some bootie-kickin' cocktail sauce but by its lonesome I pass it up.

However, I have no problem with anyone else slathering it on whatever. De gustibus and all that.

[laliz]

i love ketchup, mustard, and relish.

Never saurkraut or raw onions for me, please. Or tomato or sport peppers but to each his own.

[cookingasshole]

I slather mine with ranch dressing and velveeta

[sedimental]

:)
....... with a side of Cheeto's and a Miller beer? That's lawn mowin' lunch 'round hea!

[Crissup]

The original hot dog that most people our east eat is made from pork and lends itself well to ketchup. However, the Chicago dog was developed as a kosher alernative that could be eaten by Jewish people. Because of this, it does not contain any pork, and only uses good cuts of beef, no undesirable scraps or fillers. Thus, it's commonly accepted that Chicago dogs have a more delicate flavor that is masked by ketchup.

Over the years, as the food wars heated up between regions such as New York and Chicago, the fact that the Chicago dog did not require ketchup to make it palatable became a source of pride among Chicagoans, and thus started the firm stance that ketchup is *never* to be served on a proper Chicago dog. To do so can get one run out of town on a rail!

That being said, my wife is from New England, and grew up eating the standard sub-par grocery store dogs and always liked ketchup on her hot dogs. Though, as she continues getting acclimated to midwest living, she's begun skipping the ketchup and choosing mustard and tomato instead.

[hotdog maker]

That is fine, but I still say that all toppings on hot dogs are a personel prefference and everyone should be able to top their dog the way they want to with out being made to feel they are wrong or in some way breaking some rule.

[jmcarthur8]

You're right, hotdog, it is personal preference. Having lived in the Chicago area for many years, though, I will always be a purist about a Chicago dog. That said, I'm perfectly happy eating a dog with ketchup, mustard, relish, onions, sauerkraut, cheese, whatever..when it's not a Chicago dog.
It would be like putting ketchup on a good New York pizza, or a high-quality steak, or even a Philly Cheesesteak - some things have their own unique combination of flavors that don't need anything else.

[AdamD]

+1
Put whatever the heck you want on your dog! You are the one eating it.
Put as much of it on as you like. So what if the dog ends up being a vehicle for the condiments? To each his/her own.

[EWSflash]

+2, especially the 'to each his own' part.

[pinehurst]

Your wife must never have tried Pearl dogs. Those babies rock. Essems were pretty good, too.

[arktos]

I still don't understand how ppl can eat french fries with ketchup, which totally masks the wonderful flavor and texture. Oh well!! 'to each their own', I guess.

[italia84]

I like mustard on burgers sometimes. Not gonna lie.

[monku]

At McDonald's and many places mustard and ketchup are standard on their burgers.

[melo7]

Not everywhere. It's a regional thing.

http://aht.seriouseats.com/archives/2...

[monku]

Interesting mustard on a burger is a regional thing.

Growing up with the first fast food burgers in NY with Wetsons then McDonalds, they did have mustard, ketchup and onions.

[melo7]

It's funny because mustard on burgers aren't found on Long Island and NYC but it is upstate. I wonder where the mustard zone begins.

[monku]

It is an interesting phenomenon, thanks for pointing it out. And I grew up on Long Island.

[TongoRad]

The first time I experienced mustard on a Mc Ds burger was when I had one in Middletown, right off of Route 17. That was in the 1970s, though, but at least back then the zone was as far south as Orange County in the Catskills. Things may be different these days, though.

[rizzo0904]

Sweet and sour sauce is the only way to go on fries :)

[EWSflash]

A-1 is my favorite on fries. Not bad on hot dogs, either sometimes.

[bagelman01]

I don't eat Ketchup, I am allergic to Mustard. That said I only put sauerkraut on my franks.

BUT, both my 23 year old and 14 year old daughters eat their hot dogs with ketchup. The 23 y.o. only ketchup, the 14 y.o. Ketchup, mustard, relish and kraut. My wife doesn't eat hot dogs.

When I asked my wife about the kids eating ketchup on the hot dogs, she explained that mothers often drown small cut up pieces of meat in sweet ketchup to get little kids to eat. She said that most kids outgrow the sweet stage by early adulthood and switch to savory (mustard). Said both her sisters switched from ketchup to mustard after college. When we have a family BBQ, I've noticed that the ketchup migrates from the food table to the kids table and spends the day there.

[pinehurst]

Makes sense. I find that some adults outgrow the safe/sweet/bland foods of childhood and some stick with them, finding comfort in the familiar. I once saw a grown man dump ketchup on a T Bone. Go figure.

[laliz]

I love to dip T Bone or any other steak (i.e. Ribeye, New York, etc.) in cold ketchup, AFTER I have poured Worchestershire on said steak. That's how I roll.

[pinehurst]

Who am I to judge? I am sure some of my food likes would make you scratch your head, too.

[italia84]

Oh God no. This one I can't stand. My partner always puts it on her hotdogs...not for me! Mustard and sauerkraut, and maybe those onions. I'm from New York, FWIW.

[DougRisk]

While I use mustard, in Central Jersey where I grew up, Ketchup on Dogs was very common.

[monku]

A previous discussion:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/300841

[Quine]

As well as this one:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/401965

[Will Owen]

Remembering how aghast some of the posters to those threads were at the very idea of getting ketchup and hot dogs anywhere near each other, I was really tickled the other night on the Top Chef Masters show when one of the finalists is saying, "Well, I'm doing a hot dog presentation here, and of course when you think of hot dogs you ALWAYS think of ketchup …"

As I think I mentioned on one of those, in our house (central Illinois) it was always hot dogs = ketchup, burgers = mustard. Except when I'm making meatloaf or compounding a barbecue sauce, that's the only time I ever use it.

[srsone]

i also grew up in new england...
ketchup,relish and cheese sometimes..all are fine with me...
not a fan of mustard on them..
and sometimes if they are really good ..just plain with a toasted bun...
i do miss the new england style buns tho...cant find them here in FL

my wife grew up in NC she likes mayo on hers...

and it has to be heinz......

[Naco]

Mustard, chili, and onions is what I always eat on a hotdog or a hamburger.

[chileheadmike]

Ketchup is evil. It doesn't belong on anything.

[jmckee]

Oh, nonsense. Jacques Pepin uses it in several ways. It's a staple in most households.

[chileheadmike]

Then he should turn in his Chef's card, go back to France and dump ketchup all over his froglegs.

I'm joking of course. Except about ketchup, I can't stand the smell of the stuff.

[EWSflash]

Then don't use it.

I promise to never to try to make you eat it or spike your food with it. You, in turn, must refrain from snotty remarks and making faces on the rare occasion I use it. Deal?

[chileheadmike]

Having some fun, relax.

[redfish62]

Ketchup is my first choice for hot dogs too, though I'll go with mustard sometimes. Beenie Weenies taste good without any mustard, so why wouldn't a regular hot dog?

[rizzo0904]

I'm in New England as well and I LOVE ketchup on my dogs! So do my sons. My hubby (from Jersey) uses ketchup too! It's the best!

[Scirocco]

I grew up in New England and always put ketchup on my hot dogs (sometimes by itself, sometimes with mustard and relish). In fact, I never knew that most people didn''t use ketchup until I was well into my 30s! I still don't know if I was the odd one out in New England too, but no one made fun of me. So at the very least, it must be more accepted there??

Then, I moved to the south and I found this very bizarre....hot dog sale at work, someone couldn't bring the chili for the hot dogs, someone else says, well, then we can't sell hot dogs because we don't have any chili. Huh? Apparently, they felt a hot dog was not edible without chili (or what they called chili). And don't get me started on those incredibly scary neon pink "hot dogs". That color just doesn't happen in the wild...

[David11238]

Amen. People will add everything but the kitchen sink on top of a hot dog, but ketchup, whose ingredients are made from combining most of said toppings-is wrong. Snobbery. Plain snobbery.

[TuteTibiImperes]

To me the big difference between ketchup on a hot dog vs. something like salsa, a slice of tomato, or something like chili with a tomato based sauce is the excessive overwhelming sweetness of ketchup. When ordering Chicago style dogs I always specify to go super light on the neon green relish for the same reason.

I like the taste of tomato with a dog, but I don't care for sugar. Perhaps a home made ketchup without any added sweetener would work, but then it would be more like a tomato chutney.

[David11238]

If it's personal taste, if you can't stand the taste, then so be it. Even I eat my Gray's dogs plain. The Sabrett hot dog has enough ingredients inside the mix, that to me, anything on top covers the taste. I don't even like ketchup on my fries for he same reason. But when some one says not to put ketchup on a dog or burger because of tradition/dogma, then it's getting silly and pretensious.

[Chowrin]

tomatoes like salt and vinegar more than they like sugar, that's for sure!