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- Sep 4, 2011
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- 11,348
Damn that's a chili dog lolI present this delicacy up for the consideration of the resident elite gourmands. Pinky-fingers elevated, please.
Behold, the ‘Texas Red Hot’. At least, that’s what they’re sold as, here. Probably because most of Western New York wouldn’t know Texas from Shinola.
Depending on where in WNY you grew up, these were ‘sliders’, or ‘slimers’, or, in my neighborhood, ‘shit canoes’.
Three guesses why they were called that.
This wholesome foodstuff consists of the softest, least nutritious white hotdog bun available, chopped raw white onion, the meaner the better, mustard, what is - theoretically- chili sauce, and a grilled hot dog. And, by “grilled”, I mean cooked on one of those flat griddle cooktops that is the hallmark of every fine scarfing establishment or diner, usually used to cook pancakes or hash browns or shit like that. NOT an actual grill, where the dogs would be exposed to flame.
You eat them with shitty fries, as shown, preferably served in a greasy paper bag, and you slather them with malt vinegar and salt. Most places offer specials, which I strongly recommend you take advantage of. Louie’s does ‘buy-five-get-one-free’. Zorba’s does ‘buy-six-get-one-free’, but only on takeout, most likely because they don’t want you getting sick in the restaurant.
It is entirely likely that I can still eat a dozen of these in one sitting. As a youth, I would clear that and then slide down the street to D&L Bakery and purchase - and consume - an entire baker’s dozen of their still unbeaten jelly doughnuts.
Depending on where in WNY you’re from, you have a place that you know with total certainty makes these correctly, and therefore everywhere else that makes them is making them WRONG, despite all of them being nearly indistinguishable and indiscernible from one another other.
The example presented happens to be served at Louie’s, roughly a stone’s throw away from the Buffalo Bills stadiums (yes, that’s plural - Highmark Stadium aka ‘The Ralph’ has exactly one game left in it, before it’s replaced by the next monstrosity which sits RIGHT NEXT TO IT and apparently will also be called Highmark Stadium. I don’t know. I don’t get it, either. I don’t watch football.
Anyway, for me, despite enjoying these three shit canoes thoroughly, I will also tell you that they are TOTALLY wrong, because as everyone in my old neighborhood will tell you, the correct answer is actually available at Zorba’s. This is a conviction that my old neighborhood will fight to the death to maintain.
The employees used to wrap hot dogs in bacon and drop fry them, then make them chili dogs
My first job was at a local restaurant that is known for them
