Is there anything more iconicly American than a hot dog? Don’t sell me the whole apple pie line, I am not buying it. A dog has it all mixed and matched parts of beef and pork or turkey and chicken – a perfect melting pot – wasn’t that what America was originally called? Eat your heart out apple pie.

With that in mind there are countless variations of the frank from the dirty water dog schilled in NYC to the Chicago dog to Pinks in LA, every area of the country has a flavor all their own, equally claimed to be delicious. Growing up in New Jersey I had the best of two worlds.

Hopping on a train, I was able to snag a dirty water dog or hop down to the village to grab a recession special, but that’s not the point of the post. I grew up in Jersey and anyone worth their weight in the state, or at least North Jersey, can attest to the age-old question of which dog shack is better? The Hot Grill or Rutt’s Hut. For years I was a devotee of the Grill’s special sauce, but one chance experience turned me onto Rutt’s and swayed me forever.

If you never heard of Rutt’s or tasted on of their dogs, let me suggest a pilgrimage. For staters, the place looks straight out of the 50’s – and hosts a weekly car show for the era – and the dogs are equally unhealthy, deep-fried and split end over end. Sounds great right – again it’s simply American deep fried and served with a side of cold Bud.

Unlike many dog joints that ask you what you want, you simply have one choice mustard and relish. It may sound gross to some, but it is a taste that simply melts in your mouth.

Much like old-timers and the 50’s, I get very nostalgic thinking of Rutt’s. Living in Massachusetts, I am not sure if there is anything as unhealthy or delicious when it comes to dogs. So whenever I head home for a visit, I make sure to swing by and grab a dog or three, much to the dismay of my girlfriend.

Hungry? Hop on down to Route 21 in Clifton and grab a few, just don’t try to understand the guys behind the counter as they have a language all their own.

Is there anything more iconicly American than a hot dog? Don’t sell me the whole apple pie line, I am not buying it. A dog has it all mixed and matched parts of beef and pork or turkey and chicken – a perfect melting pot – wasn’t that what America was originally called? Eat your heart out apple pie.

With that in mind there are countless variations of the frank from the dirty water dog schilled in NYC to the Chicago dog to Pinks in LA, every area of the country has a flavor all their own, equally claimed to be delicious. Growing up in New Jersey I had the best of two worlds.

Hopping on a train, I was able to snag a dirty water dog or hop down to the village to grab a recession special, but that’s not the point of the post. I grew up in Jersey and anyone worth their weight in the state, or at least North Jersey, can attest to the age-old question of which dog shack is better? The Hot Grill or Rutt’s Hut. For years I was a devotee of the Grill’s special sauce, but one chance experience turned me onto Rutt’s and swayed me forever.

If you never heard of Rutt’s or tasted on of their dogs, let me suggest a pilgrimage. For staters, the place looks straight out of the 50’s – and hosts a weekly car show for the era – and the dogs are equally unhealthy, deep-fried and split end over end. Sounds great right – again it’s simply American deep fried and served with a side of cold Bud.

Unlike many dog joints that ask you what you want, you simply have one choice mustard and relish. It may sound gross to some, but it is a taste that simply melts in your mouth.

Much like old-timers and the 50’s, I get very nostalgic thinking of Rutt’s. Living in Massachusetts, I am not sure if there is anything as unhealthy or delicious when it comes to dogs. So whenever I head home for a visit, I make sure to swing by and grab a dog or three, much to the dismay of my girlfriend.

Hungry? Hop on down to Route 21 in Clifton and grab a few, just don’t try to understand the guys behind the counter as they have a language all their own.

Is there anything more iconicly American than a hot dog? Don’t sell me the whole apple pie line, I am not buying it. A dog has it all mixed and matched parts of beef and pork or turkey and chicken – a perfect melting pot – wasn’t that what America was originally called? Eat your heart out apple pie.

With that in mind there are countless variations of the frank from the dirty water dog schilled in NYC to the Chicago dog to Pinks in LA, every area of the country has a flavor all their own, equally claimed to be delicious. Growing up in New Jersey I had the best of two worlds.

Hopping on a train, I was able to snag a dirty water dog or hop down to the village to grab a recession special, but that’s not the point of the post. I grew up in Jersey and anyone worth their weight in the state, or at least North Jersey, can attest to the age-old question of which dog shack is better? The Hot Grill or Rutt’s Hut. For years I was a devotee of the Grill’s special sauce, but one chance experience turned me onto Rutt’s and swayed me forever.

If you never heard of Rutt’s or tasted on of their dogs, let me suggest a pilgrimage. For staters, the place looks straight out of the 50’s – and hosts a weekly car show for the era – and the dogs are equally unhealthy, deep-fried and split end over end. Sounds great right – again it’s simply American deep fried and served with a side of cold Bud.

Unlike many dog joints that ask you what you want, you simply have one choice mustard and relish. It may sound gross to some, but it is a taste that simply melts in your mouth.

Much like old-timers and the 50’s, I get very nostalgic thinking of Rutt’s. Living in Massachusetts, I am not sure if there is anything as unhealthy or delicious when it comes to dogs. So whenever I head home for a visit, I make sure to swing by and grab a dog or three, much to the dismay of my girlfriend.

Hungry? Hop on down to Route 21 in Clifton and grab a few, just don’t try to understand the guys behind the counter as they have a language all their own.

Is there anything more iconicly American than a hot dog? Don’t sell me the whole apple pie line, I am not buying it. A dog has it all mixed and matched parts of beef and pork or turkey and chicken – a perfect melting pot – wasn’t that what America was originally called? Eat your heart out apple pie.

With that in mind there are countless variations of the frank from the dirty water dog schilled in NYC to the Chicago dog to Pinks in LA, every area of the country has a flavor all their own, equally claimed to be delicious. Growing up in New Jersey I had the best of two worlds.

Hopping on a train, I was able to snag a dirty water dog or hop down to the village to grab a recession special, but that’s not the point of the post. I grew up in Jersey and anyone worth their weight in the state, or at least North Jersey, can attest to the age-old question of which dog shack is better? The Hot Grill or Rutt’s Hut. For years I was a devotee of the Grill’s special sauce, but one chance experience turned me onto Rutt’s and swayed me forever.

If you never heard of Rutt’s or tasted on of their dogs, let me suggest a pilgrimage. For staters, the place looks straight out of the 50’s – and hosts a weekly car show for the era – and the dogs are equally unhealthy, deep-fried and split end over end. Sounds great right – again it’s simply American deep fried and served with a side of cold Bud.

Unlike many dog joints that ask you what you want, you simply have one choice mustard and relish. It may sound gross to some, but it is a taste that simply melts in your mouth.

Much like old-timers and the 50’s, I get very nostalgic thinking of Rutt’s. Living in Massachusetts, I am not sure if there is anything as unhealthy or delicious when it comes to dogs. So whenever I head home for a visit, I make sure to swing by and grab a dog or three, much to the dismay of my girlfriend.

Hungry? Hop on down to Route 21 in Clifton and grab a few, just don’t try to understand the guys behind the counter as they have a language all their own.