I much prefer my hotdog on a bun with nothing else. That said, I would rather be eating a brat than a hotdog.
Fries and all these extra sauces, huh? There’s a place in Minneapolis that serves fries with basil aoli sauce…mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
i’m hungry now.
KP- God, it’s been a long time since you’ve been here!
Average Budapest salary now is around 70,000 Forints
monthly. It’s 280 Ft to the US dollar. But that’s the official figure. Tax evasion is a national sport here, so the truth is probably closer to 90,000 Forints or so.
Lenin Korut no longer exists. It is now, well I’m getting conflicting accounts from my Hungarian colleagues here, either it is Erzsebet krt or Terez krt, or perhaps both. (They run into each other.)I’ll see if Szondi’s still exists. I’m curious … But I betcha if they’re still around they have ketchup! No, the dollar no longer stretches as far as it used to, but it’s still cheaper than the West. Property prices are going up at a huge rate, but are still a bargain. I live in Buda, at the base of Rozsadomb and I only pay $200/mo for my flat. It’d be worth around $700 in Chicago, and God knows what in NYC. As for “pulykamell” it means “turkey breast.” There is no rhyme nor reason for this name. I applied for a yahoo account with the mission of obtaining a name that did not require strange symbols or numbers. Everything on the face of this planet was taken, including: “ratatouille,” “solipsism,” “cevapcici,” “paprikas,” “paprikash” etc, etc, etc. I finally hit it on “pulykamell.”
Brats vs. Hot Dogs – Yeah, I must say, it pains me to admit that I prefer brats over hot dogs normally. But if I ever, EVER, saw anyone put ketchup on a bratwurst, why that’s even worse than on a hot dog! It’s just plain inconceivable.
It is permissible, by my decree, to put anything you wish on a french fry, although the true mark of a well-made fry is that it does not require a condiment.
I like mayonaise on my hot dog.
or chili, cheese, and about half the time, onions.
Or plain. Just the dog and the bun.
I used to put catsup in cottage cheese, but now I prefer it plain.
The only thing to put on eggs is that fine Louisiana concoction, Tabasco®!
Pulykamell – “Turkey breast”?? That’s too, too funny. You see, one of my favorite dishes was a dish made of turkey breasts, and I’ve been trying to remember what it was called. (I could remember what it was called in German, and since the ‘proper’ name was staring me in the face, unrecognized, I guess I must’ve always ordered in German)
I think the last time I was there was in '86 – which, I suppose was a long time, but with the classic ‘thirties looking back on his twenties’ hindsight, it seems like just a few years ago.
Tax evasion and under-the-table income was a national sport long before they announced the Privatization Act. Oh the memories! The doctor who invited me over drove a Mercedes, and I always wondered how managed that on $9/mo. He mumbled something about Italy (where the worked 6mos/year) But one didn’t ask too many questions about unexplained wealth anywhere in the Warsaw Pact back then.
I’m 100% behind you on the Brats. I don’t even consider them in the same category as hot dogs. It’s funny, but in some cities (Zurich comes to mind) which I know well, and which have wonderful places to eat – the first thing I think of when I get off the train is the brat place near the trains station.
What are some good national Brat brands? I sometimes buy a local brand - it’s okay (especially compared to some of the travesties I’ve tasted here) but the links are just 6 inches (15 cm) and very thick. I prefer a long thin brat – <i>mit semmeln und senf, natuerlich!</i>
I tend to agree about the ketchup/catsup rule. I do make one exception, which is putting catsup and horseradish on grilled dog.
French dressing on fries is also good.
But if we ARE going to have standards, I MUST TAKE EXCEPTION!!
NOTHING is served with wings!! NOTHING!!! Too hot for you? Don’t eat them! No celery, no fungus cheese dressing, NOTHING!!!
P.S. I have never found a decent wing outside of the East. I’ve tried plenty in Chicago. Chicago knows dogs, Chicago knows pizza…Chicago don’t know wings.
Time for lunch!
Bucky
I watched a friend of mine put ketchup on his baked potato today. As I gagged, he asked me why – you put catsup on fries, don’t you?
I suppose he’s correct, in theory. But something still strikes me as inherently wrong about putting katsup on a baked potato.
Everyone knows you put molasses and parmesean cheese on baked potatoes.
Bucky – You are absolutely wrong about bleu cheese dressing. Although I tend not to put anything on wings, bleu cheese is 100% the correct way of serving it. If you
don’t believe me, go to the famous Anchor Bar in Buffalo,
birthplace of wings, and tell me that they don’t serve it
with bleu cheese. And, yes, they are there for dipping the wings in, not just the celery sticks in case there is any confusion. I have a Buffalonian in the office to back me up on this one.
And, wrong again, there is a wonderful wing place in Chicago called Buffalo Joe’s, which is wonderful except they serve it with ranch dressing. The owner is a native of Buffalo, and from my experience, they are every bit as good as wings in Buffalo, if not better than most. Trust me on this one. Served mild, spicy or suicide – big meaty wings, hot, pungent sauce. Perfectly deep-fried and crispy, no breading, SLOPPY AS HELL.
However, I will concede, this is the ONLY place I know in Chicago (actually, this is in Evanston) that has wings worth eating.
Anybody ever been to the O in Pittsburgh? Now, that’s the place to get a hot dog! And fries…
O! The memories! 
Chili, cheese and onions is the only way I can enjoy a hot dog. Can’t eat wings–too hot. (My tastebuds are SO wimpy that the nacho cheese at Taco Bell is too spicy for me.)
I have to admit that I am a certifiable Ranch Freak. (Fries without Ranch? Who are you kidding?) I will eat anything if you let me put Ranch on it. In fact, most food that I eat is just a conveyance to get the Ranch into my mouth. I haven’t actually broken down and just started eating the Ranch with a spoon–yet.
Oh my Christ, I’m pregnant!
I thought this was just a beer belly!
Green Bean, you are damning the O with faint praise.
For those who haven’t read my previous posts about the O, it’s in Pittsburgh, in the Oakland district, on the corner of South Bouquet and Forbes. They fresh-cut their fries with a unique machine, fry them in an equally unique oil, and serve them in tremendous portions. They have the standard cardboard baskets, but they fill them so they’re as tall as they are wide. You just have to see it. I’m sure I’ve taken ten years off my life there. The O is one big health and fire code violation, but it’s a carbo junkie’s dream.
For what it’s worth, here’s a picture of the building.
http://www.realpittsburgh.com/entertainment/1999/06/30/hotdog_01.html
I have some photos of Mr. Rilch and myself about to go medieval on some extra larges, but I don’t know where I’d post them, since I don’t have a webpage.
I know this is blasphemous in this thread but I don’t really like hot dogs.
WAIT!!
I have always wanted to, though. I love all the stuff that goes on them (except mayonnaise, ya freaks!) but I just cannot like the taste of hot dogs. I try to eat one every once and a while but I just don’t care for it.
I have been known to cut a hot dog into quarters (lengthwise) and just eat one of the slivers on a bun with all the condiments.
Is there a type of hot dog that I might like? Or is there a way to cook it that might work? The only hot dogs that I can actually say that I can eat and finish are hot dogs done on the outdoor grill and slightly over-cooked.
I feel so left out.
Fries? I can eat fries like there’s no tomorrow! (Well, not on this diet, I can’t!) I love fries in ranch dressing! I love fries in tarter sauce! I love fries in a tarter sauce-ketchup blend! I love fries dipped in McD’s hot mustard sauce! I like fries in A-1 sauce! I love fries with malt vinegar! I love fries in McD’s sweet and sour sauce! I just love fries!
BTW, I only read this thread because I am extremely hungry and for some reason, reading about good food tends to make the hunger pangs lessen.
“What is the problem with an all-beef dog?”
Nothing, pulykamell. As long as it’s the old fashion kind, with casing. I like them ok. I just prefer the original kind. Lot’s of flavor in them hog snouts. 
Peace,
mangeorge
Heh.
I like them with mustard, mayo, ketchup, pickle relish and chopped onions. 
Only time I ever have mustard on anything.
Or with chili, cheese and onions.
Huh? How?
You see, I used to live in Pittsburgh, and was a regular guest at the O on many a beer-soaked weekend eve. (Ya dip the fries in the cheese before the ketchup, goshdarnit!!) In fact, when my Ma came to visit, the O was the first place I took her. The lady appreciates a good hot dog, yes she does!
But I am no longer in the 'burgh…And there are many things I miss…and I could be here all day discussing them…
Green Bean, to damn something/one with faint praise means to compliment it, but in a half-ass way, like looking at “Starry Night” and saying, “That’s a pretty picture”. You said, “Now that’s the place to get a hot dog!” Then you added, “And fries…” without elaboration. The O is not a place; it is the center of the junk food universe!. No disrespect meant; just, if you’re going to mention the O, don’t “oh by the way” it!