Italian hot dog

Last updated
Italian hot dog
Type Hot dog
Place of origin United States
Region or state New Jersey
Main ingredients Italian roll or pizza bread, hot dog, bell peppers, onions, and potatoes

An Italian hot dog is a type of hot dog popular in New Jersey, United States, made by Jimmy Buff and his wife Mary Racioppi. [1] His family continues the restaurant Jimmy Buff's to this day. [2] Other restaurants like Joe Joe's Italian Hot Dog in Toms River serve Italian hot dogs but Jimmy Buff's is nonetheless most widely known in New Jersey as the restaurant that first served Italian hot dogs and is most famous for their Italian hot dog. [3]

Contents

Preparation

There are numerous ways to prepare an Italian hot dog. The basic dish consists of a cooked (usually deep-fried) hot dog placed in an Italian roll or pizza bread, and topped with a combination of fried bell peppers, onions, and potatoes. [4] [5] [6] The Italian Hot Dog is a New Jersey tradition similar to Philadelphia's cheesesteak or other regional sandwiches. [1]

Locations

The restaurants that serve Italian hot dogs are mainly based in New Jersey. Jimmy Buff's restaurant is based in Kenilworth. Another branch of the restaurant was open in West Orange. [2] Joe Joe's Italian Hot Dog in Toms River serves Italian hot dogs as well. Charlie's Famous Italian Hot Dogs in Kenilworth also serves Italian hot dog. Dickie Dee's based in Newark, Tommy's Italian Sausage based in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and St. Anselm, based in the borough of Brooklyn in New York also serves Italian hot dogs. [3]

History

James "Buff" Racioppi, founder of Jimmy Buff's in Newark, New Jersey, invented the Italian hot dog in 1932. [7] The hot dog while indeed was invented by Jimmy Buff, his, Mary Racioppi first made the dish. Mary had made the Italian hot dogs for Jimmy and his friends while they were playing cards, where Jimmy Buff coincidentally got his nickname “Buff” from, because of the way he played his cards at the card table, translated from Italian to English he was nicknamed “Buff”. The hot dog was so popular amongst Jimmy's close friends inside and outside of the card table and relatives that Jimmy and his family had made the restaurant known as Jimmy Buff's. The Italian hot dog was one of the first dishes in the menu. In no time the dish became the centerpiece of the restaurant and had become a customer favorite. Even to this day over 80 years later the Italian hot dog along with its contemporary the Italian sausage is still widely popular at Jimmy Buff's and even take turns outselling each other. [2] The original restaurant in Newark had shut down, but there have been other restaurants run by Jimmy's family and other practitioners in the art of the Italian hot dog that are still keeping the Italian hot dog meal alive. [3]

Variations

A person eating an Italian hotdog Vienesa Italiana - Completo Italiano - Chilean Hotdog.jpg
A person eating an Italian hotdog

In New Jersey, there are many variations on the original Italian hot dog, typically involving replacing the hot dog with another meat such as sausage, cheesesteak, hamburger, or chicken. Sometimes french fries are used in place of the potatoes. Commonly, the dogs are dressed with spicy mustard and ketchup. Some variations also include hot dogs where everything inside even the hot dog is deep fried. While you can use ketchup for the Italian hot dog it is frowned upon by locals, as Hank Shaw a New Jersey native himself says, “I've even heard of a few versions of this sandwich that use ketchup, a condiment which, when combined with a hot dog, will get you whacked in most parts of Jersey.” [8] One popular variant in Belleville uses two long hot dogs, french fries, fried peppers and onions, topped with tomato sauce and placed in a 12-inch-wide (300 mm) pizza bread roll. The roll, spelled "apizza" and pronounced "abeetz", is cut along the side into a pocket.

A&W Hot Dogs and More used to sell an Italian dog which consisted of a Polish sausage in a hot dog bun, topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.

Another variation of the Italian hot dog is one made by Hank Shaw a New Jersey native, he had tried the Italian hot dog when he was 13 years old. What he adds to his Italian hot dogs is that he uses these ingredients, extra virgin olive oil, salt, potatoes which are then peeled and cut in ½ inch chunks, green peppers, a large onion, Italian seasoning, beef hot dogs, sandwich buns and mustard. [8]

Dickie Dee's take on the Italian hot dog is healthier than the typical hot dog. Dickie Dee's Italian hot dog is nearly identical to Jimmy Buff's, except Dickie Dee's uses peanut oil, while Jimmy Buff's Italian hot dog uses cholesterol free soybean oil to deep fry their ingredients. [2] [9]

In the media

Jimmy Buff's was featured in a season 9 episode of the Cooking Channel show Man v. Food , hosted by New Jersey native Casey Webb, in early 2022.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuisine of the Midwestern United States</span> Regional cuisine of the United States

Midwestern cuisine is a regional cuisine of the American Midwest. It draws its culinary roots most significantly from the cuisines of Central, Northern and Eastern Europe, and Native North America, and is influenced by regionally and locally grown foodstuffs and cultural diversity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hot dog</span> Sausage in a bun

A hot dog is a food consisting of a grilled or steamed sausage served in the slit of a partially sliced bun. The term hot dog can refer to the sausage itself. The sausage used is a wiener or a frankfurter. The names of these sausages commonly refer to their assembled dish. Some consider a hot dog to technically be a sandwich. Hot dog preparation and condiments vary worldwide. Typical condiments include mustard, ketchup, relish, onions in tomato sauce, and cheese sauce. Other toppings include sauerkraut, diced onions, jalapeños, chili, grated cheese, coleslaw, bacon, and olives. Hot dog variants include the corn dog and pigs in a blanket. The hot dog's cultural traditions include the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest and the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheesesteak</span> Steak and cheese sandwich from Philadelphia

A cheesesteak is a sandwich made from thinly sliced pieces of beefsteak and melted cheese in a long hoagie roll. A popular regional fast food, it has its roots in the U.S. city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meatloaf</span> Dish of ground meat

Meatloaf is a dish of ground meat that has been combined with other ingredients and formed into the shape of a loaf, then baked or smoked. The final shape is either hand-formed on a baking tray, or pan-formed by cooking it in a loaf pan. It is usually made with ground beef, although ground lamb, pork, veal, venison, poultry, and seafood are also used, sometimes in combination. Vegetarian adaptations of meatloaf may use imitation meat or pulses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corn dog</span> Deep-fried, corn-battered hot dog on a stick

A corn dog is a sausage on a stick that has been coated in a thick layer of cornmeal batter and deep fried. It originated in the United States and is commonly found in American cuisine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Remoulade</span> Mayonnaise-based cold sauce

Rémoulade is a cold sauce. Although similar to tartar sauce, it is often more yellowish, sometimes flavored with curry, and often contains chopped pickles or piccalilli. It can also contain horseradish, paprika, anchovies, capers and a host of other items.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danger dog</span> Hot dog wrapped in bacon and deep fried

A danger dog is a hot dog that has been wrapped in bacon and deep-fried. It is served on a hot dog bun with various toppings. Also known as a bacon-wrapped hot dog, it was first sold by street vendors in Mexico. Its origin has been placed in either Tijuana or Hermosillo, where it was originally served in a bolillo instead of a hot dog bun. These dogs are sold from carts that are ubiquitous along Avenida Revolución and the area surrounding the border in Tijuana, as well as the bar district in Ensenada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicago-style hot dog</span> Beef frankfurter in a poppy seed bun

A Chicago-style hot dog, Chicago Dog, or Chicago Red Hot is an all-beef frankfurter on a poppy seed bun, originating from the city of Chicago, Illinois. The hot dog is topped with yellow mustard, chopped white onions, bright green sweet pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, tomato slices or wedges, pickled sport peppers, and a dash of celery salt. The complete assembly of a Chicago hot dog is said to be "dragged through the garden" due to the many toppings. The method for cooking the hot dog itself varies depending on the vendor's preference. Most often they are steamed, water-simmered, or less often grilled over charcoal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuisine of Philadelphia</span>

The cuisine of Philadelphia was shaped largely by the city's mixture of ethnicities, available foodstuffs and history. Certain foods have become associated with the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hot dog variations</span> Ways to serve the "hot dog" style of sausage from around the world

Different areas of the world have local variations on the hot dog, in the type of meat used, the condiments added, and its means of preparation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sausage sandwich</span> Sandwich containing cooked sausage

A sausage sandwich is a sandwich containing cooked sausage. It may consist of an oblong bread roll such as a baguette or ciabatta roll, and sliced or whole links of sausage, such as hot or sweet Italian sausage, Polish sausage, German sausage, North African merguez, andouille or chorizo. Popular toppings include mustard, brown sauce, ketchup, BBQ sauce, steak sauce, peppers, onions, sauerkraut, chili, and salsa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fried onion</span>

Fried onions are slices of onions that are either pan fried (sautéed) or deep fried — and consumed as a popular snack food, garnish, or vegetable accompaniment to various recipes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuisine of New Jersey</span> Cusine of the State of New Jersey

The cuisine of New Jersey is derived from the state's long immigrant history and its close proximity to both New York City and Philadelphia. Due to its geographical location, New Jersey can generally be divided by New York City cuisine in the northern and central parts of the state and Philadelphia cuisine in the southern parts. Restaurants in the state often make use of locally grown ingredients such as asparagus, blueberries, cranberries, tomatoes, corn, and peaches. New Jersey is particularly known for its diners, of which there are approximately 525, the most of any state. Various foods invented in the state, such as the pork roll, and salt water taffy, remain popular there today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Completo</span>

The completo is a hot dog variation eaten in Chile, usually served with ingredients such as chopped tomatoes, avocados, mayonnaise, sauerkraut, salsa Americana, ají pepper and green sauce. It can be twice the size of an American hot dog.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steak sandwich</span> Type of sandwich

A steak sandwich is a sandwich prepared with steak that has been broiled, fried, grilled, barbecued or seared using steel grates or gridirons, then served on bread or a roll. Steak sandwiches are sometimes served with toppings of cheese, onions, mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes, and in some instances fried eggs, coleslaw, and french fries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regional street food</span>

Regional street food is street food that has commonalities within a region or culture.

The Texas Tommy is an American hot dog dish in which a hot dog is prepared with bacon and cheese. Despite the name, it was invented in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, in the 1950s. It may be cooked by various methods, such as grilling and deep frying, and some variations exist. The Texas Tommy is a common dish in Philadelphia, the Delaware Valley, and South Jersey, and it is a menu item at various restaurants and hot dog restaurants in the United States. In Canada, this hot dog dish is often called the whistle dog.

References

  1. 1 2 Robert Sietsema (2013-09-24). "Dog Ziggity: New Jersey's Own Hot Dogs". New York Times .
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Jimmy Buff's Italian Hot Dogs". www.jimmybuffs.com. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  3. 1 2 3 "Hot Dog of the Week: New Jersey Italian Hot Dog". Serious Eats. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  4. Mercuri, Becky (2007). The Great American Hot Dog Book: Recipes and Side Dishes from Across America. Layton, Utah: Gibbs Smith. pp. 30–31. ISBN   978-1-4236-0022-0.
  5. Hank Shaw (2011-06-20). "New Jersey Italian Hot Dog". Simply Recipes.
  6. "Italian Style Hot Dogs". Food Network.
  7. Stern, Jane and Michael (2009). 500 Things to Eat Before It's Too Late: And the Very Best Places to Eat Them. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 96. ISBN   978-0-547-05907-5.
  8. 1 2 "New Jersey Italian Hot Dog". Simply Recipes. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  9. Dickie Dees In Newark For The Best Italian Hotdogs In New Jersey, archived from the original on 2021-12-21, retrieved 2021-05-19