We've been doing this since 1976 and have taken it as far as we can so it's time for some fresh faces and new blood.
We'd like to talk to you about the future of this world class collection of hot dog art, cookware, memorabilia, promotionals, toys, etc.
Please take a minute or two to check out our web site and blog (links on the right) and contact us at your convenience.
Thank you.
J Frank Webster
The Hot Dog Hall Of Fame
TUBESTEAK TV:
"No Reservations" with Anthony Bourdain - The Travel Channel
1) Southwestern USA
In this episode, Mr. Bourdain starts out in the LA area (Riverside), stops by the Salton Sea (Bombay Beach - Population 270) for a pattie melt at the only place to eat in town (the first he ever had), has a date with a date farmer in Indio ("The Sex Life of Dates"), zips out to Phoenix, where he has "The Big Unit" that 2 foot long hot dog the Boy checked out for us recently at Alice Cooper's restaurant, visits a museum dedicated to a decommissioned 60's ICBM rocket complete with launch silo, did some on-the-road RV BBQ, stopped by Hatch, New Mexico for some chili pepper dishes (red & green enchiladas), goes white water rafting, does a roadside BBQ (grilled radicchio and lamb), also in New Mexico (they drink Tecate beer, from approximately 15 miles from here), stop by that place that serves the 72 ounce steak for free, if you can eat it in an hour and eventually ends up at rocker Ted Nugent's spread in Texas where he shoots up the countryside (with an AK-47) with the Motor City Mad Man (Nugent came to fame with The Amboy Dukes out of Detroit) and they dine on sausage, brisket, venison & wild boar...
2) Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada)
And Mr. Bourdain once again demonstrates his love of a good hot dog, Canuckistanian style (he'd make a great celebrity partner; anyone know how to contact him?)...
He pals around with 3 of his chef buddies for most of the show then visits JapaDog, where the specialty is hot dogs with unusual toppings, such as shredded seaweed.
JapaDog's web site: http://www.japadog.com/
3) Washington DC
In this episode, Mr. Bourdain visits Ben's Chili Bowl (the same place President Elect Obama had the half smoke just before the Inauguration), meets the owners, sees the first copy of their new book about 50 years in the weenie trade (there's a photo of Hillary Clinton's visit in the book), visits The International Spy Museum and learns how to do a "dead drop"...
4) Chicago
This time out, Mr. Bourdain does Chicago, having meals at a number of local favorites, including, of course, deep dish pizza.
He also stops by Hot Doug's for a Chicago style hot dog, which he claims to like more than a New York style dog and he samples Hot Doug's French fries cooked in duck grease and his Foie Gras hot dog as well.
5) Hawaii
In this episode, Mr. Bourdain visits Puka Dog (Hey! That's my job!) after dropping $3K on a vintage Hawaiian print shirt.
He also does a short interview with owners Dominique and Rick.
See Puka Dog's web site here: http://www.pukadog.com/
6) Iceland
In this episode, Mr. Bourdain goes dog sledding, rides a pony, tries fermented shark, tosses back a few drinks and has a late night frank at the same weenie stand (Baejarins beztu) visited by Bill Clinton several years ago.
And evidently (according to Bourdain), Mr. Clinton had his heart surgery a couple of weeks after this historic hot dog (pylsur)...
7) Sweden
In this episode, Mr. Bourdain does Sweden, trashes Abba, samples the local gourmet scene, makes reindeer sausage and stops at a late night weenie stand after drinks.
He has a Tunnbrödsrulle (hot dog with mashed potatoes, shrimp salad and various condiments in a thin, flour tortilla type of bread).
The dog itself was grilled in a panini cooker and Mr. Bourdain says it was "...the most disgusting thing ever and I love it."
As in the episodes mentioned above (Hawaii, Iceland), Mr. Bourdain samples hot dogs virtually everywhere he goes and he'd make a great celebrity partner / spokesman (anyone got his email address?)...
8) Hudson River
Host Anthony Bourdain once again illustrates why he'd be the perfect celebrity spokesman / partner for The Hot Dog Hall Of Fame when he travels through the Hudson River Valley in this episode.
One of his first stops is a floating weenie stand (Dick's Dogs) while he and a couple of his yachting set friends take a sail boat up the river.
After that, he stops at various resorts, restaurants and other points of interest along the historic waterway, including a local sausage maker.
See their web site here: http://www.quakercreekstore.com/
Mr. Bourdain also stops by a taco truck, visits the CIA (Culinary Institute of America), matches wits with an 11 year old girl (and loses!) and finishes off his trip with lunch with comedian Bill Murray, who lives on the river, just outside of New York City.
And then there are giant hot dogs in Chile, Ted's Hot Dogs in Buffalo, NY, The Sausage Shoppe / Skyline Chili in Cleveland, Ohio, Amerindo Batali's (Mario's dad) salami shop in Seattle, currywurst in Berlin, Gray's Papaya in NYC, a torta shop in San Francisco and Hiram's Hot Dogs in New Jersey...
NOTE: Above reviews are excerpted from "The Frankfurter Chronicles" (The Newsletter with Relish) 2008 / 2009 / 2010
