From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. In this slim and highly readable study, food historian Kraig (Cuisines of Hidden Mexico) produces arguably the definitive work on one of America's classic foods. From the first evidence of processed meat in the Upper Paleolithic (some 20,000 years ago), Kraig traces the gilded ancestry of the lowly hot dog, finding it interwoven into cultures around the world. Ingredients differ from country to country, as do toppings: in Montreal, a hot dog isn't fully dressed until it's doused in an herb-laced tomato sauce; Venezuelans and Columbians prefer onions, mustard and crushed potato chips. Kraig's attention is focused largely on the United States, where the hand-held delicacy is firmly embedded in the national palate. An impressive inventory of regional variations showcase the food's versatility, and stories of industry giants like Oscar Meyer and the evolution of all-important casings make for entertaining reading and retelling, especially over the grill with tongs in hand. 40 color plates.
Review
"An exemplary book . . . the definitive authority on the small subject of hot dogs. Amusing and scholarly at the same time, it tells how sausage snack was instrument of social mobility and that the bun replaced the white gloves originally used to hold the sausage."
(Guardian (UK))"Scholarly yet clever and entertaining, Bruce Kraig probably knows more about the history of the hot dog than anyone, and he meticulously dismissed the many myths about the origin of the frankfurter, the bun, and its name. He does a good job of explaining how hot dog culture spanned the nation and even the world."
"A near-microscopic account of the travels , the types, the very elongated being of the hallowed hot dog. It's an immersive history, heavily illustrated with well-chosen photos from 100 years of wiener culture." (Grand Forks Herald)
