The last Thursday in July is National Chili Dog Day (July 25)! Deciding what to eat in the heat of summer can be tough. Do you want chili or hot dogs? But sometimes you don’t have to choose. Enter the chili dog, a perfect combination of both! On National Chili Dog Day, we celebrate this amazing food that lets us enjoy the best of both worlds. We celebrate the chili dog!
History of National Chili Dog Day
The hot dog has evolved greatly since German immigrant Charles Feltman began selling “frankfurters on milk buns” at his snack stand in 1867. His hot dogs became very popular and eventually spread to the U.S.
When someone first thought of putting meat sauce and spices on hot dogs, it started a lot of new ideas and helped American food grow. It’s tough to say who came up with the chili dog idea because there have been so many versions across the U.S. since then.
In the early 1900s, Greek and Macedonian immigrants arrived in America with their traditional meat sauce recipes, escaping tough conditions at home.
They ended up creating the Coney Island dog, which is now considered the classic version of a chili dog. Although it’s called the Coney Island Dog, the dish didn’t start in New York. The immigrants who lived there mainly visited Coney Island on their trips.
At the same time, different kinds of chili dogs were being created in other parts of the country, Between 1918 and 1920, the ‘Texas Wiener,’ a hot dog topped with basic chili meat sauce, was invented in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
In Rhode Island, the Hot Wiener, also known as the ‘New York System Wiener,’ was created in the early 1900s. In Washington D.C., the Half-Smoke, a chili dog made with smoked ingredients, was developed.
Over the years, chili dogs have become a beloved part of American cuisine, showing up at street vendors, food stands, sports stadiums, diners, and restaurants. National Chili Dog Day is a time to enjoy and recognize the chili dog’s delicious flavor and its special place in American culture. Make sure to have some napkins ready before you dig in!
Also read, Peanut Butter and Chocolate Day – July 23, 2024
| 1700s (Sausages Make It Stateside) | Sausages are common street food in American cities |
| 1867 (Beachside Hot Dog) | Charles Feltman sells hot sausages in milk rolls at Coney Island |
| 1870s (San Antonio Chili) | Chili shows up in the U.S. for the first time in San Antonio, sold by a woman by nicknamed “Chili Queen” |
| 1880s (I’ll Have the Chili con Carne) | “Chile con Carne” appears on U.S. restaurant menus |
| 1916 (Nathan’s For You) | A former Feltman employee, Nathan Handwerker, opens his own Coney Island hot dog stand and sells hot dogs for a nickel instead of a dime |
5 interesting Facts About Hot Dog
- The hot dog eating record is 62 hot dogs in 10 minutes.
- Americans consume seven billion hot dogs from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
- Mustard is the most popular topping for hot dogs, with ketchup coming in second.
- Homer mentioned sausages in “The Odyssey”.
- Freeze-dried ice cream is the most famous space food, but hot dogs are a common food in space missions.
Frequently Ask Questions
Why Are There 10 Hot Dogs in a Pack?
Hot dogs are sold by weight and since standard hot dogs weigh 1.6 ounces each, 10 hot dogs fit perfectly into a one-pound package. This practice started in 1940 and is still used today.
What is another name for a chili dog?
Another name for a chili dog is the “Texas hot dog,” “Texas chili dog,” “Texas hot,” or “Texas wiener.” In New Jersey and Pennsylvania, these terms refer to a hot dog topped with chili or hot sauce and often served with various condiments.
You may also like to read, National Tequila Day – July 24, 2024
