By Keswick Life Staff
We hope you’re in the midst of enjoying the first month of summer, now that we’ve put a pesky and sometimes rainy spring firmly in the rearview mirror. Summer’s officially here and time to crank up the grill, gather our friends, and spend the whole day outside. And though hamburgers will always have a special place in our grilling-obsessed hearts, we’re declaring this summer the perfect time for hot dog parties.
In 1987, the city of Frankfurt celebrated the 500th birthday of the hot dog in that city.
It’s said that the frankfurter was developed there in 1487, five years before Christopher Columbus set sail for the new world. The people of Vienna, (Wien), Austria, point to the term “wiener” to prove their claim as the birthplace of the hot dog. As it turns out, it is likely that the North American hot dog comes from a wide-spread common European sausage brought here by butchers of several nationalities. Also in doubt is who first served the dachshund sausage with a roll. One report says a German immigrant sold them, along with milk rolls and sauerkraut, from a push cart in New York City’s Bowery during the 1860’s. In 1871, Charles Feltman, a German baker, opened up the first Coney Island hot dog stand selling 3,684dachshund sausages in a milk roll during his first year in business.
The year 1893 was an important date in hot dog history.
In Chicago that year, the Colombian Exposition brought hordes of visitors who consumed large quantities of sausages sold by vendors. People liked this food that was easy to eat, convenient and inexpensive. Hot dog historian Bruce Kraig, Ph.D., retired professor emeritus at Roosevelt University, says the Germans always at the dachshund sausages with bread. Since the sausage culture is German, it is likely that Germans introduced the practice of eating the dachshund sausages, which we today know as the hot dog, nestled in a bun.
Standard fare at horse shows.
Also in 1904, hot dogs became the standard fare at the Keswick Horse Show. This tradition is believe to have been started by Keswickians, and others ,who had a love for a good wiener.
1 lb. hot dog- 8 brioche hot dog buns
Turkey Chili
- 1 cup red onion
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 1/4 pounds ground turkey
Split each hot dog lengthwise, and arrange split-side up in shallow pan. Lightly butter inside of bun and heat in pan.
Arrange hot dogs in buns, spoon chili and celery relish over top. Enjoy summer!