The Hot Dog Companion: A Connoisseur's Guide to the Food We Love

Any book about hot dogs which ignores jalapeno peppers, ketchup, mayonaise and the Democrats has missed the essentially American flavour of this food. Maybe Graulich is a Republican and doesn't know better. They're used to eating pointy little sandwiches with the crusts cut off and stuffed with unmentionable fillings, while daintily sipping tiny cups of tea flavoured lightly with lemon. Good Democrats chow down on franks with beans washed down with keg beer; to go upscale they put their dogs in a bun, dress them with local flavours ranging from peanut butter to mayonnaise, chopped onions and jalapenos and quaff beer from a bottle. In short, hot dogs are pure Americana. They should be served in as many ways, as many places, as many flavours and to as many Americans as possible. When Tommy Jeff wrote about "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness . . ." it is safe to assume, had hot dogs existed then, he would have understood the meaning of happiness. Graulich wants to prove dogs deserve culinary status, which is like entering Hagar the Horrible in a Miss America pageant. It's a quirky challenge, and he does it with elegance, style and good taste. But really, do hot dogs have "good taste" or do they just have to taste good? Personally, I'd prefer some recipes; let's say for Chicago, New York and Mexican hot dogs. But, that may merely show I'm a cretin. Let's be honest, a hot dog is not an effete French (or Italian, or Portuguese or whatever) dish that must be prepared by an effete chef to the effete taste of a effete snob and served in an efficacious artistic display. Instead, like pizzas, hamburgers and baking powder biscuits with cowboy coffee, the hot dog is pure American inventiveness that gives everyone a taste exactly to their liking. Kinda like voting. Graulich succeeds admirably. The book is done with taste, style and beauty; the work of a true connoisseur. Can anyone expect more of a hot dog, or a book about hot dogs? It's so good even effete snobs may be encouraged to nibble. Fortunately, for the sake of Republicans, he even includes instructions on how to eat a hot dog. BUT . . . . . . . I still think someone needs to talk to him about jalapenos.

This lavishly illustrated volume is a thoughtful and fun tribute to America's fun food--the hot dog. It's a perfect coffee table--make that picnic table--volume for food lovers of all stripes. If the pictures don't get your mouth watering and your grill smoking, the author's description of famous hot dog joints around the country will. It's hard not to smile reading this beautiful little book.