July 22, 2008
A Real Smart Dog
In Toronto, a lot of people like to eat street meat. This is a fact. With a selection of sausages to brag about and toppings to tumble for, Toronto's meat reigns top dog even over bigger breeds like NYC. With juicy, succulent sausage and that perfectly-grilled, mustard-coloured bun, it's easy to dress your own decadent hunk of street meat. And when there's a million ways to craft the perfect wiener, you know someone's going to take their dog dressings over the top, creating a signature, structural work of art―a true masterpiece.
But for those wearing white (and not carrying a life-saving Tide-to-Go Pen), street meat can be a dangerous lunch decision. Just one last bite and―awww crap!―mustard stains all over your freshly-pressed khakis. That's where Neil Pasricha and his blog 1000 Awesome Things come in to save your lunch. After years of practice and honing his technique, he's come up with the baby-proof, spill-free street meat method―and that means making the toppings first priority. That's right: ketchup, mustard, and corn relish play the real under-dogs in this meal. While it's not as aesthetically appealing as a dog oozing with layers of onions and pickles that have sat out in the sun, exposed to bugs all day, it's effective. The goopy stuff is stuck at the bottom of the heap, where it belongs. Read all the drippy details in Entry #978 and see if you agree with the other 999 awesome things he likes. Even if his blog weren't awesome enough already, it still reminds us a little bit of other stuff some people tend to like, both awesome and not-so-awesome.
Photo by Jen Chan.
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NYC dogs suck. And people put ketchup on them. *vomit*
Coney Island dogs are good. Toronto dogs are better Chicago hot dogs are thew "weiners" and still champs.
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I do the same but in a different fashion. I put all my toppings on top of the sausage then I flip the sausage around. It achieves the same result as the 1000 awesome things suggestion except it allows all the toppings to smear themselves around.
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After what I've seen pigeons and seagulls doing on and in hot dog carts, particularly the condiment rack, I'll never eat a sidewalk hot dog again.
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Rek, if the ingredients of street meat didn't turn you off, why would pigeon/seagull shit?
My solution is to eat carefully.
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I kind of agree with Andrew. There is a "hot dog outlet" (or something like that) on Richmond just east of Church, south side. Every time I walk by I feel the gag sensation. The smell is horrible, imagine the smell of concentrated hot dogs and multiply it times 10. Ever since I started walking by there I have not had a hot dog, sausage or weiner again.
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Hot dogs ingredients are still mysterious and therefore somewhat safe as far as I'm concerned. But I saw what those seagulls were doing, and they could have done it at every absently-minded hot dog stand in the city for all I know.
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I think the reason it *seems* like everyone likes street meat so much has more to do with the fact that there aren't any other options!
At least in NYC there are more compelling options than the pedestrian weiner.
Let's start talking about creative additions to our street meat repertoire as opposed to just being creative with ketchup and mustard.
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What is the status of the Toronto street food expansion initiative?
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The City is aiming for "next spring," which probably means mid-2009 at the earliest but more likely spring 2010. Vanessa Lu wrote a pretty good update at the end of May.
This Friday is also your last chance to head up to Mel Lastman Square.
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The city's update on making street food options expanded, which was supposed to have begun this year, was something I'd looked forward to all throughout last winter. From the degree of press and buzz heard last year to relatively so little this year, it was frustrating to see no changes come round.
But one street meat vending option I'd like to see around here is the Japanese hot dog, as found in Vancouver's business district. Everything from Japanese mayo to different kinds of nori and dashi are available at this one stand. It was one of the best street dogs I can recall eating.
At the very least, rhetorically, why not more vendors with other toppings and seasonings in a fusion mix of regional palates to put on the venerable dog? Why no pita dogs, bagel dogs, tortilla dogs, or baguette dogs? Why no salsa, chutney, jerk, tahini, satay, or the like? Were there more variety along condiments and breads, I'd be eating more of the sodium-preservative-chock wieners without regard to my long-term health.
Seriously. Life is short. Eat happily. :)
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I knew I'd posted on this before:
You can also get mini pizzas, hamburgers, squid, dokk boki, really smelly insect larvae, strange pastries, and more.