Monday, August 20, 2012

Hot Dogs For Adults -- Spicy, Smoky Fare

Adult hot dogs at Wegmans
I'm looking to grill over Labor Day, but I want the best food that I can make with the least work.

Basically, I want adult hot dogs.  Or sausages.  Those will work for my plan to throw stuff on the grill and not worry myself with custom orders.

Over the past few years, I have become a chicken sausage fan.  All the flavor, a fraction of the fat from pork sausages.  The Harris Teeter spicy Italian sausage has been a staple, and I always pick up a half-dozen when I can get to the deli at Whole Foods.  Plus, I have advocated sausages from Laurel Meat Market, Boarman's, Family Market and others as your gateway drug to trying new markets.

My recent discovery was Hartmann's hot dogs at the far end of the deli at Wegmans.  They're cooked through when you buy them.  You just heat them on the grill, and they had a peppery, adult flavor -- absolutely worth whatever fat and other items are ground into the dog.  They actually taste smoked.

What should I try?  I will probably sample a few of the other Wegmans offerings.  They seem to tend towards European sausages with German names.  I'll probably splurge on a few Laurel Meat Market spicy Italians to split with friends.  And I'll try to get up to Oella for the best hot dog bun that you'll ever find.

What else do you recommend?  What do people buy at J.W. Trueth?  Anything from a package?  I have been burned by so many pre-packaged sausages.  Even expensive brands can be bland and slimy.

(Update: Last month, people put some nice advice in the comments to the hot dog bun post.)

10 comments:

Marcia said...

The fresh kielbasa at Treuth's is good on the grill (believe it's Ostrowski's).

Randy said...

Whichever hot dog/sausage you choose, one of my best friends in California swears by the spiral cut method of cutting/grilling your dog.

http://www.chow.com/food-news/119349/why-you-should-spiral-cut-your-hot-dog-for-grilling/

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Leah said...

I was sad (food wise) to move from Ellicott City to near Annapolis. Turns out I have access to a Wegmans and a Whole Foods in just a 10 mile radius. Whole Foods sells an uncooked sweet chicken italian sausage you may like.

Rob said...

I recommend you pick up some fresh chorizo from the butcher shop at Lily's Mexican. Oh wait, you said low fat...you should pick up some chorizo anyway. You could watch other people eat it.

Rob said...

Also, if you want to try pre-packaged, Giant sells Aidells brand chicken chorizo in flavors like Habanero & Green Chile.

Anonymous said...

I'm a big fan of the hots dogs from the Amish market.

Anonymous said...

Haute dog in Mount Washington has a great selection of high quality dogs.

Rent-A-Wreck said...

You can't go wrong at Laurel meat Market, they have about 8 different sausages made on rpemises, never any preservatives or fillers. The Spicy Italian is awesome and very spicy, the sweet italian has notes of fennel, and sweet sausage with onions and pepperes mixed in is great too. They offer a few types of turkey and chicken sausage too.

Alison said...

Try the Sahlen's hot dogs (not the skinless ones) from Wegmans. GREAT char-grilling dog.