What possible combination could be better than meat and bread? The hot dog is a wonderful invention that has been around for a very long time. Hot dogs are a global food with roots in both Germany and America. There’s so much versatility with the dish and countries across the world have put their own unique spin on them.
Here are 5 popular regional hot dogs that you have to try.
1. Chicago Style Hot Dogs
A lot of the time when someone says the words hot dog your mind will envision the American version of the food. Have you ever wondered why that style of hot dog first comes to mind? Well, you can learn more here about the history of the hot dog and get to know the facts as the origin of the hot dog is a highly debated topic. Anyway, The Chicago signature hot dog is big, sloppy and colorful due to bright yellow mustard and big red tomatoes. It uses an all-beef sausage from Vienna that is boiled and placed in a poppy seed bun. It is then covered with mustard, onions, tomatoes, pickles and relish to top it all off. One bite of this and all your hot dog fantasies will be fulfilled. Remember to save space for the fries as chances are any Chicago-style hot dog you buy is going to come with a bucket load of fries.
2. German Bratwurst Hot Dog
Another particularly popular style of hot dog is the German bratwurst hot dog. People often confuse bratwurst as being the German term for a hot dog, but it actually is a type of German sausage that is made from pork, and occasionally either beef or veal. When it comes to cooking methods, bratwurst can be roasted, boiled, fried, or grilled. They are a little heavier than your standard frankfurt but they also come with much more flavor. You will often find the sausage cooked in beer and served with either caramelized onions or a pickled topping such as sauerkraut. The name originates from the word brät – which means chopped meat, and Wurst which is sausage. If you ever find yourself in Germany traveling through places such as Munich and Berlin, it will be extremely easy to get your Bratwurst hot dog fix as there are food trucks pretty much on every street corner.
3. Czech Parek v Rohlíku Hot Dog
The lesser-known Czech Parek v Rohliku hot dog can be found at food carts, stores, and even gas stations across the Czech republic. What makes the Czech version unique is that it places a long, thin sausage inside of a bread roll known as rohík. The roll is equally long and it engulfs the sausage like a warm hug. Typically this is served with ketchup or mustard, other versions also incorporate fried onions or cheese in the roll too. This hot dog is really easy to eat and you do not have to worry about your toppings falling out of the other side as the only hole in the bread is the one you put the sausage in. It is thought that a butcher called Václav Masopust invented párek v rohlíku in 1972.
4. The French Hot Dog
If you like cheese then the French hot dog is exactly what you need in your life. It is a simple style of hot dog but do not let that fool you into thinking it is not delicious. Often food carts, cafes and restaurants will use a Toulouse sausage and place it in a freshly baked french baguette, this will be topped with a dash of spicy mustard but more importantly, the sausage will be drowned in a delicious, melted Gruyère cheese. If that doesn’t get your taste buds tingly then nothing will! Other cheeses can be used too, but to get the authentic French hot dog experience then Gruyère is the one to go for.
5. Colombia, Perros calientes (Hot Dog)
Last but certainly not least there is the Colombian version of hot dogs. This version comes with a pink sauce, which is a mix of mayonnaise and ketchup, shredded Costeño cheese, a tropical pineapple salsa, bacon bits and if you are feeling really adventurous you can request to have a quail egg on top too. The Colombian Perros Calientes is bursting with flavor and it is a must-try for all hot dog fanatics.
So there you have it, 5 of the tastiest and most popular regional hot dog styles from around the world that you have to try.