40 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY october 5-11, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com Few foods are as mired in controversy as the hot dog. Sure, you might consider it a humble, rather harmless item—a childhood favorite, a ballpark tradition. And you’re probably aware of the rancor aroused by pineapple on pizza or ordering a hoagie in hero country. But just try squirting ketchup on a hot dog. You’ll be summoned by courts from Chicago to New York…if you manage to get past a scowling Clint Eastwood. There is, however, an even greater point of contention: Is the hot dog a sandwich? The late Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg weighed the evidence and answered in the affirmative. On the other hand, the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council issued a resolute no. While etymologists at Merriam-Webster settled on yes, a majority of Americans remain unconvinced, with most polls finding around 60 percent against. “Everybody can have their own opinion—I guess,” says Joleen Green of Lucy’s on Lighthouse, with a grudging tone. “I say no.” Lucy’s serves hot dogs with relish, smothered in chili, Chicago-style— pretty much any which way it can be presented. The fun Pacific Grove spot is one of the few establishments in Monterey County that elevates the dog to signature status. Cali Glizzy in Salinas is another, where Oscar Alcala hedges, but sides with the opposition. By his definition, a sandwich places ingredients between bread, while a hot dog piles them on bread—a distinction that others have used to frame the debate. Still, Alcala admits, “it’s a tough question.” Just when the matter became a point of national contention is not known. People have been dining on sausages—the hot dog is part of the sausage family—and on sandwiches for centuries. Meat between slices of bread took on its name in the 1700s, thanks to John Montagu, the Earl of Sandwich, while the first modern franks were served in the 1860s, according to Michael Quinn of the Coney Island History Project. Yet as Barry Popik, a consulting editor for the Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America has noted, it was common in the late 1800s for diners to call for a “hot dog sandwich” (or a “frankfurter sandwich”—another point of dispute). Even after the turn of the last century, school boards were complaining of student diets that consisted of hot dog sandwiches. And as late as 1923, Fannie Fox’s Cook Book uses the phrase. Eventually, the “sandwich” bit fell out of use. “No one says ‘hot dog sandwich,’ I agree,” observes Todd Fisher of The Meatery in Seaside, where they stock artisan dogs. “But if it’s between two pieces of bread, I think I would put it in the sandwich category.” One possible answer to the question rests on the bun. Fisher points to hoagies, subs, the Philly cheesesteak and other favorites clearly part of the sandwich classification, all of which come on a joined bun rather than on two separate pieces of bread. He even goes so far as to say, “The hamburger is technically a sandwich.” A corn dog, mounted on a stick, is definitely not a sandwich, Fisher explains. Once a bun becomes involved, however, things change. “I tend to be, what’s the word?— obvious? Sensible?” he adds. Even Alcala pauses when the variables are considered. “You’re making me think about it,” he admits. So there is clearly enough evidence to lump hot dogs with other sandwiches, despite the patriotic impulse to label all-American foods like burgers and dogs as entities unto themselves. That’s where the NHDSC drew the line, stating: “Perhaps at one time its importance could be limited by forcing it into a larger sandwich category (no disrespect to Reubens).” It’s a controversial matter, Green agrees. Ultimately, however, it’s one with a clear solution. “Who wanted to know that in the first place?” she asks. “All we know is that it’s delicious.” First course The question of whether or not a hot dog—like this one from Lucy’s on Lighthouse in Pacific Grove—is a sandwich is among the most controversial culinary conundrums. Trivia For Good…Head to English Ales Brewery on Monday, Oct. 9 for an evening of trivia that supports children living in East Garrison. The first round starts at 6:30pm but participants can order off the special trivia night menu starting at 6pm. Participation is $40 per person, which includes an appetizer and a drink. A portion of proceeds will go to The Kiwanis Club of East Garrison’s “Adopt A Family” program. 223 Reindollar Ave., Marina. 883-3000, englishalesbrewery.com. Birthday Bash On The Bay… Old Fisherman’s Wharf is celebrating its 178th birthday on Sunday, Oct. 8. Stroll the wharf and enjoy various festivities from 1-5pm. Get a free piece of birthday cake in front of Abalonetti Bar & Grill at 3:30pm, a free piece of candy from participating candy stores for the first 178 attendees and birthday bites from participating restaurants, all while listening to live music and taking advantage of fun photo ops. Old Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey. 238-0777, montereywharf. com. Wine Not…Live this harvest season to the fullest with a Monterey County Winery Trail Passport. Passports ($45) include four tastings to be redeemed at eight participating wineries, any time in the month of October. Passport holders will also receive 10-percent off bottles and two entries for a drawing to win two VIP tickets to Monterey County Vintners & Growers Association’s annual winemaker’s celebration. Purchase passports at montereywines.org. Rosé weather…October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and McIntyre Vineyards will be donating 15 percent of proceeds from sales of their 2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir to the Breast Cancer Awareness Group of Monterey County. This is the perfect wine to sip during Monterey’s summer-feeling-fall, and an opportunity to support a great cause. 169 Crossroads Blvd., Carmel. 6266268, mcintyrevineyards.com. Night Owl…Have yourself a night at the museum on Friday, Oct. 13 at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History. See the sights after hours while eating tacos and tamales from Mando’s, tequila tasting with The Tequila People, tasting wines from Scheid Family Wines and Bernardus Vineyards & Winery, sipping beer from Alvarado Street Brewery or savoring mocktails from The Tap Truck. Purchase tickets at pgmuseum. org/night-owl. 165 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. 648-5716, pgmuseum.org. By Jacqueline Weixel morsels Send a bite to eatanddrink@mcweekly.com “All we know is that it’s delicious.” Eat + DrinK Daniel Dreifuss Frankly Speaking Is the hot dog a sandwich? Probably, but it depends on who you ask. By Dave Faries
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