Didn't I read about a Michelin restaurant with gourmet hot dogs? Or did I dream it? I am cynical about hot dogs.
Even the google questions in People also ask contribute to cynicism:
Is there such a thing as a gourmet hot dog? Why do Costco hotdogs taste so good? How to upscale a hotdog? What are the most expensive hot dogs?
Let's answer the last question: "This $169 haute dog now holds the "world's most expensive" title. This hot dog from Tokyo Dog in Seattle rings up at $169.00 -- That's one haute dog. It's the most expensive, in fact, according to Guinness World Records, which crowned Tokyo Dog with the world title.
Here's the description:" It is a 12-inch smoked cheese bratwurst topped wit butter-teriyaki grilled onions, maitake mushrooms, wagyu beef, foie gras, shaved black truffles, caviar and Japanese mayo on a brioche bun."
I remain skeptical. The descriptions focus on the toppings and not the bratwurst sausage. We could just eat the yummy toppings and have a wonderful dish.
I go in search of the most famous gourmet bratwurst by looking for the Michelin Guide recommendations. There's Bratwursthäusle in Nuremberg, with the label "best in the world." Besides the Michelin Guide our own PBS travel host Rick Steves recommends it. The second is Zum Gulden Stern, again with a Michelin Guide recommendation.
One still wonders as the pictures show a rather boring plate of bare sausages and sauerkraut. Not the sort of Michelin dish one would expect. Where are those yummy toppings?
We did get an answer to how hot dogs achieve gourmet, didn't we? Make them expensive.
Here's a picture that matches the topic. This was at the Hawk Watch quite a few years ago and this is a picture of the reflections in the side of the french fry wagon. I bet some hot dogs came along with the fries that day!
