Summer’s hottest dogs just dropped in time for grilling season.
The patron saint of summer is found sizzling on a grill and paired with a smattering of condiments. Hot dogs are a deeply nostalgic and transportive American staple, eliciting memories of Fourth of July cookouts, New York street carts, and Friday night football games.
The age-old question still stands: Is a hot dog a sandwich? If so, doesn’t it deserve a more elevated cheese pairing than shredded cheddar or nacho sauce? Whether you want to jump headfirst into the debate, one thing is clear: Everything is better with cheese.
While cult classics include styles like Chicago, Seattle, and Sonoran, there is an emerging culture of avant-garde hot dogs. Stevie Lee Webb of Wedgewood Cheese Bar in Carrboro, North Carolina, shares his favorite combos employing everything from raclette to a washed-rind goat’s milk cheese from Blakesville Creamery.
Prior to opening Wedgewood, Webb experimented with raclette pop-ups in his community, attracting lines around the block for his German-inspired frankfurters with a scrape of raclette and a squeeze of curry ketchup. Now, raclette makes regular appearances in his shop.
| Raclette Dog | Johnny Sunrise | Pizza Dog | Americana Dog | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bun | White, Enriched | Brioche | White, Enriched | Potato |
| Wiener | Frankfurter | Bratwurst | Sabrett | Hebrew National |
| Cheese | Raclette | Washed-Rind | Mozzarella | American Cheese Sauce |
| Sauce | Curry Ketchup or Lusty Monk Mustard | Lusty Monk Mustard | Marinara | Heinz Ketchup and Mustard |
| Toppings | Grilled Onions + Cornichon Relish | Giardiniera + Crispy Prosciutto | Pepperoni + Torn Basil | Crumbled Bacon + Fried Onions |
Stevie’s Guide to Elevating Hot Dogs
- Sometimes more is just more. If you’re buying quality dogs or brats, don’t overpower your base with toppings.
- If you’re making a bratwurst, poach it with its toppings (beer, sauerkraut, etc.) and properly salt it for a juicy and succulent bite.
- Balance the meatiness with a tangy sauce or relish and one other deli element like pepperoni, prosciutto, or a funky cheese.
- The first scrape of raclette is never a good one. Rest assured, the second will be better.
- Hot dog opinions run strong. For some, ketchup is blasphemy. Keep your plate open to personal flourishes.
Amber Chase
Amber Chase brings a breadth of food knowledge, a hearty work ethic, and a very high gluten tolerance to her journalism career. Her years have been shared between Charleston, South Carolina, and Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In a past life, she co-owned a bakery, starting her mornings at dawn and returning home covered in flour and coffee grounds. Her other full-time gig is parenting her daughter, Nova, who will no doubt grow to be her superior.
