From obscure history and lore to prominence in everyday meals, discover the secrets of a truly delectable fry, a heart-stopping hot dog, and a quintessential hamburger. Includes quotes from the rich and famous about their favorite fast foods, visits to celebrated restaurants, and tips and recipes on cooking.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
The true food of all good Democrats,
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This review is from: The Hot Dog Companion: All About The Foods We Love To Eat--With A Side Of Guilt (Fast Food Companions) (Hardcover)
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.
4.0 out of 5 stars
A well-written tribute to America's fun food,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Hot Dog Companion: All About The Foods We Love To Eat--With A Side Of Guilt (Fast Food Companions) (Hardcover)
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.
4 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Overlooked Pinks?,
By Jeff Ray (Salt Lake City, Utah) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Hot Dog Companion: All About The Foods We Love To Eat--With A Side Of Guilt (Fast Food Companions) (Hardcover)
Overall Mr. Graulich didn't do a bad job putting together a fairly informative book about one of my favorite foods. On the other hand, when he listed the hot dog stand locations, he included the Purple Turtle in Utah (I live only a few minutes from the Turtle and it is only a marginal dog) but failed to mention Pink's in Los Angeles. You don't think about Saturn without rings, you don't think about Abbott without Costello. You don't talk about Bill without Monica. You don't discuss hamburgers without MacDonalds (Although I didn't read Graulich's book, 'The Hamburger Companion' maybe he did.) You don't write about the American Civil War and leave out Lee or Grant or Lincoln. How in the world could a man write about hot dogs and not include Pink's in Los Angeles. They recently celebrated their 60th anniversary. Same spot, same great dogs. My grandfather ate there, my dad ate there, I eat there. They used to be open 24 hrs. And no matter what time of the day or night you went there was almost always a line. Their hours have changed slightly, but there's still always a line. Shame on you Mr Graulich, I am having a hard time to resist the urge to use the pages of your book to line the bottom my bird cage. You don't think of Lucy without Ethel, or Fred without Ginger, or Disney without Mickey . . .Hot dogs without Pink's? Never. jeff@grumpy.com P.S. My web address has nothing to with my attitude.
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