Written by Michael Vyskocil
They are sold at ballpark concession stands and city street corners. Some individuals prefer toppings of relish, chopped onions, chili or melted cheese, while others are purists, insisting that only ketchup or mustard are appropriate condiments.
We think of hot dogs as a simple lunch, and for good reason. When grilled outdoors, popped into a bun, and garnished with the toppings of your choice, it is hard to beat them as summer afternoon fare.
In the world of andouille, bratwurst and toulouse, the frankfurter is perhaps the most familiar member of the sausage clan. Originally from Frankfurt, Germany, the frankfurter has become the unmatched all-American hot dog. And although beef is king in the world of frankfurters, other meats that are used are turkey, chicken, pork or a mixture of pork and beef.
The official date of the frankfurter’s debut in America is unclear, but the hot dog was introduced as a new food at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. A historically conscious New Yorker, however, could tell you that Charles Feltman, a German immigrant, began selling sausages tucked into rolls on Coney Island in New York around 1871.
The United States is home to several famous hot dog emporiums, such as Nathan’s Famous in Brooklyn, Hot Doug’s in Chicago and Pink’s in Los Angeles, but you do not have to look further than Carroll County to find great places to enjoy hot dogs.
Here are five of the best area sources for sensational hot dogs:
Harry’s Main Street Grille
You will think you’re in Coney Island when you see the sight of a Harry’s Coney Island-style hot dog. Harry’s tops a two-ounce hot dog with a generous topping of mustard, chopped onions, and the chili sauce that is a closely guarded secret, known only to owner Harry Sirinakis.
Harry’s hot dog is the specialty that turned a small luncheonette into a Westminster legend. Harry and Bessie Amprazis, Sirinakis’ grandparents, opened Harry’s Lunch in 1946. The recipe for the chili sauce originated with Harry Amprazis and was passed down to Harry from his father, George Sirinakis.
Harry Sirinakis says the sauce is made with only the best ingredients, including lean Angus ground beef. “We use around 250 pounds of beef per week for the chili sauce,” he said.
Although hot dog cooking methods vary, Sirinakis advocates grilling.
“I believe the only way to cook a hot dog is by grilling it,” he said. “A hot dog is designed to have a Ôsnap’ to it. The juices should burst when you first bite into it. You can’t get that by boiling or steaming it.”
Harry’s Coney Island-style hot dog is traditional, but customers can also order a “Harry’s Hot Dog” and substitute a variety of additional toppings (including cheese, cole slaw, bacon and sauerkraut) for the chili sauce. The Coney Island-style hot dog is available for $2.25, and the Harry’s Hot Dog costs $1.85.
Hot dog consumption at Harry’s is strong; he sells more than 1,500 hot dogs each week.
Harry’s Main Street Grille, 65 West Main Street, Westminster, MD 21157, 410-848-7080.
Tommy’s Sidewalk Caf
On a warm, mid-April Saturday afternoon, several shoppers passing in and out of the Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse in Westminster could not resist grabbing a hot dog at Tommy’s Sidewalk Caf. For some, the hot dogs sold at the stand are the highlight of any shopping excursion.
“I only go here because of the hot dog stand,” said Chris Craig of Taneytown.
“Getting hot dogs here is a Saturday tradition,” said Chris’s father, Mike.
Tommy’s is located in the front vestibule of the Lowe’s.
“We’ve been serving at Lowe’s for over a decade,” said owner Tommy Thompson.
Location is perhaps the dominant factor in the success of the stand.
“It’s a good location, and some people come just for the hot dogs,” said Tommy’s employee Karl Wantz of Hanover, Pa. “We also see people come back for seconds, almost like a Ôdessert’ dog.”
Tommy’s sells all-meat hot dogs for $1.50, Polish dogs for $2.50 and quarter-pound “big dogs” for $2.75.
But location and prices aside, there are a few other factors that contribute to a great-tasting hot dog. First, Tommy’s steams their buns; steaming softens them, creating a fluffy nest for the hot dog. Once customers make their selection, they can add a variety of tasty toppings, including ketchup, mustard, melted cheese, chili and sauerkraut.
As for the hot dogs themselves, Thompson said, “We use the same ingredients that we’ve been using since the stand’s inception.”
Tommy’s Sidewalk Caf, (Located in the front vestibule of the Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse of Westminster), 777 Market Street, Westminster, MD 21157.
Twin Kiss (Finksburg)
Whether you crave a foot-long, a chili dog or a “double dog,” the Finksburg Twin Kiss can satisfy your craving for a home-cooked hot dog. In fact, as owner Brandi Paquette explained, “The Twin Kiss is known for its foot-long chili dogs and homemade root beer.”
The Twin Kiss has been family owned and operated in Carroll County for more than two decades. And customers who have been visiting this establishment can get their hands on juicy hot dogs any time of the year.
“When you think of hot dogs, you usually think of summer,” Paquette said. “But we offer hot dogs all year round.”
The Twin Kiss hot dogs are deep-fried. “We use top-of-the-line, all beef hot dogs,” Paquette said. When it comes to toppings, customers can select from the standard ketchup or mustard or create their own unique flavor combinations.
“I have one customer who likes a hot dog topped with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise, and another who likes ketchup, mustard, pickles and fried onions,” Paquette said.
A regular hot dog costs $1.25, and a chili dog is available for $1.85. For those who like the stoutness of a foot-long, you can get a regular foot-long for $2.50 and a chili foot-long for $3.10. The Twin Kiss can also prepare a “double dog,” which is a serving of two foot-long hot dogs.
Twin Kiss – Finksburg, 2977 Baltimore Boulevard, Finksburg, MD 21048, 410-526-5455.
Porky’s Hot Wiener & Barbeque
If you are driving through downtown Hampstead, the smell of pulled pork might make you think you are in the South. But in Hampstead, you can treat your taste buds to this Southern delicacy slathered over a delicious hot dog.
Porky’s Hot Wiener & Barbeque has been serving customers for more than a decade, according to Ashley Brennan, daughter of current owners Scott and Pam Brennan. The Brennan family have owned Porky’s since 2005. Brennan said that Porky’s serves more than 100 hot dogs a week, with many of them going to repeat customers.
On the menu are a variety of hot dogs. For $2, you can sample a “Maryland Dog,” topped with mustard and sauerkraut. For the same price, you can try Porky’s “Coney Island” dog, served with mustard, chili and onions, and a “Texas Dog.” According to Brennan, the Texas dog contains an edible casing, making it “a little thicker” than a regular hot dog, but it is similar to the “Coney Island” dog. Finally, for $3, treat yourself to a pulled pork hot dog, served with the signature Porky’s pulled pork barbecue on top.
Customers who prefer a simpler hot dog can also order a regular hot dog for $1.50 and select from among the more traditional toppings, including mustard, onions, ketchup and relish. One of the most popular topping combinations among customers is chili, mustard and onions, said Brennan.
Porky’s Hot Wiener & Barbeque, 1365 North Main Street, Hampstead, MD 21074, 410-374-3775.
Dougherty’s Ice Cream Parlor & Restaurant
A delicious hot dog can be a bargain at any price. The combination of a plump, juicy dog nestled in a warm bun and topped with a variety of familiar toppings yields one tasty treat. Every Tuesday night, at Dougherty’s Ice Cream Parlor & Restaurant in Taneytown, you can treat yourself to a hot dog for only 99 cents, according to owner Harry Dougherty Jr.
Dougherty’s (also known locally as the “Ice Cream Shack”) has been in business since March 2001, Dougherty said. Before he and his wife Jo Ann opened the ice cream parlor, Dougherty’s was formerly known as Bair’s Market, according to the Taneytown Chamber of Commerce.
If you are a 1950s nostalgia fan, you are in for a trip back in time at Dougherty’s. The interior is decorated in a 1950s ice cream parlor theme. Although Dougherty’s sells more than 30 flavors of ice cream sundaes, they also offer several types of hot dogs on their menu.
Customers can choose from among a regular all-beef hot dog for $1.25, a Texas Dog for $1.95, a Coney Island hot dog for $1.75, a foot-long for $1.95, a 1/3-pound all-beef for $2.25, and a 1/4-pound all-beef for $1.95. Of course, what would a hot dog be without toppings? Some of the toppings offered are chili, cheese, sauerkraut, mustard, relish, ketchup and onions.
Dougherty’s Ice Cream Parlor & Restaurant, 454 East Baltimore Street, Taneytown, MD 21787, 410-751-0300.
