Asiadog - Manhattan

Thumb-Deep in Toppings
What kind of sadistic genius carpets a beef dog with cubes of barbecued pork belly?  I'd read the ingredients before ordering but somehow it didn't quite hit me until I had it in my paws.  There they were, cow and pig together, in optimal forms, cucumber and scallions sitting shotgun.  I really enjoyed it, staining my jeans in the process.  It was my first time eating an Asiadog, and it didn't take long to realize that the place is not so much about the dogs as it is about the additives.

Brats: Dogs & Wieners - Manhattan

Thirty?!?  Yes, Thirty!
A two dog lunch at Brats: Dogs & Wieners set me back thirty smackers!  Yep, you read that right - thirty beans!  I don't know doodlysquats about fancy-schwanks dogs but for that price they better leave me moist in the pants.  This is a high-end sausage spot that sports higher-end prices.  You have to ask yourself "do I want a high-end sausage?"  Suffice it to say that I left full, poorer and dry in the crotch.

Street Meat - Prague

Now, That's a Dog!
Pingles had to hold it with two hands. We shared one, loaded it up with onions and mustard and some ketchup for her half. This Klobasy, like a Czech version of kielbasa, was charred nicely and had a good, spicy kick to it. The first bite was perfect - a crunchy casing that finally gave way to a juicy burst of meat.

Heid's - Syracuse

This is How a Dog Should Be, Frenchies!
I promised to take Pingle to Katz's Deli in Manhattan to get her a real dog. Last week, I got her something even better - a frank and a coney from Heid's in Syracuse. Technically, it's located in Liverpool, NY - just outside Syracuse - so no hate mail please. Heid's uses dogs from Hofmann's in Syracuse, sorry Katz - you can't top that no matter how hard you try. Just take a look at these franks - their natural casings charred to a cancer-inducing crisp. My mom's is topped with sweet relish, the other with onions.

Schwartz's - Paris

Just Say No to Fake New Yorkery...
Pingle and I were walking in the Marais near rue de Rosiers when we got caught out in a pretty big downpour. We looked around for somewhere to duck outta the rain and settled on the nearest thing - Schwartz's. It's trying to be a NY Jewish deli, unfortunately way too hard. Pictures of John Gotti and Frank Sinatra on the wall are just some of the "over the topness" that good food could have made up for. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be. Pingle got a hot dog and fries that looked really good on the plate. I took a bite and simply told her "I'll take you to get a real dog next week in NY." Just imagine - this dog and fries cost close to 15 bucks!

Willie's Dawgs - Brooklyn

Dogs in the Slope
This is the last BK post for quite some time - I'm over in Paris now and loving it (not.) Anyway, as you might expect, prior to leaving I hit some spots that could be considered quintessentially American. Willie's Dawgs is a hot dog purveyor in the Slope which offers a variety of dogs and toppings that should satisfy most. They offer all-beef with a natural casing, a couple of natural beefs with and without natural casings as well as chicken, turkey and tofu dogs. I kept is pretty simple and old-school and ordered a "Mutt" (all beef with natural casing) with onions and mustard. It had a nice crunch thanks to the natural casing. I chomped it down within minutes.

Dogmatic - Manhattan

Piggies in Blankets, Flossy Style
Let's cut to the chase: Delicious! Delicious! Delicious! The name Dogmatic is misleading, these are not hot dogs, these are sausages. Here's how it works, you choose a sausage and a sauce from the list. You can pick any combo you like:

Crif Dogs - Manhattan

Dogs, Bacon-Wrapped, Deep-Fried to Boot
I learned about this spot by reading the NYC Food Guy blog. It was everything it was promised to be. I ordered the "Chihuahua" - an evil-genius concoction of hot dog, wrapped in bacon, deep-fried and slathered in sour cream and avocado. True love at first bite. The dog-bacon combo is crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside. If this doesn't call out to you, I am worried about you. Click on the photo for a close-up. Check out the rest of the menu.