Year of the Dog

Man, time flies when you are having fun. In case you have forgotten, after two summers of driving at least 19,000 miles to have a hot dog at each of the 30 MLB ballparks, I took last summer off and watched A LOT of games on MBLTV (which is totally worth the price by the way). I designed a hot dog for each team/stadium that somehow depicted their personality. Sometimes it was a player that inspired me, sometimes the team name or their location. I would then eat that hot dog while watching them on MLBTV (did I mention it is well worth the price?). I called it the Virtual Baseball Tour, or VBT for short.

I intended to be finished by the end of the regular season. But like some writers get writer's block, hot dog creators can also get wiener block. I moved the deadline to the end of post season play, then the new year, and then to the start of the 2017 season. And I am proud and embarrassed to say that, after moving the deadline several times, I/we have finished our VBT. A hot dog creation and a beer pairing for the same are in the archives of this blog. All you have to do is scroll backwards. Here is a reminder of the dog delicacies in case you have forgotten (in the order they were posted):

Pittsburgh Pirates-The Willie Stargell

Toronto Blue Jay-The Pizza Dog

San Francisco Giants-The Golden Gate Dog

Chicago White Sox-The Zloty Dog

St Louis Cardinals-The Hill Dog

Detroit Tigers-The Delhi Dog

Los Angeles Dodgers-The Vin Scully

Oakland A's-The BART Dog

Chicago Cubs-The Underdog

Colorado Rockies-The Mile High Dog

Arizona Diamondbacks-The Snotty Sonoran

San Diego Padres-The Poor Man's Surf and Turf

Tampa Bay Rays-The Cool Ray Dog

Minnesota Twins-The Double Dog Dare Dog

Cincinnati Reds-The Breakfast of Champions Dog

Cleveland Indians-The Ricky Vaughn

Milwaukee Brewers-The Beer Brat Dog

Miami Marlins-The Big Fish Dog

New York Mets-The Big Apple

Baltimore Orioles-The Sponge Bob

Seattle Mariners-The Sushi Dog

Boston Red Sox-The Green Monster

Los Angeles Angels-All Dogs Go to Heaven

Washington Nationals-The Politician

Houston Astros-The Apollo 13

Philadelphia Phillies-The Balboa Dog

Kansas City Royals-The Meat Bomb

New York Yankees-The Fugetaboutit

Atlanta Braves-The Dixie Dog

Texas Rangers-The Nolan Ryan

I had a lot of fun creating these dogs, I hope you tried at least a few. If not, the recipes live forever in cyberspace on this blog.

That makes two trips to all 30 MLB ballparks in two consecutive summers, not to mention a TON of minor league stadiums. Then the summer of the VBT. What's next? I will continue to update you on hot dog happenings in and around all of baseball. There is always new and crazy dog coming out. And I have a serious backlog of Hot Dog Hotspots to get out to you. I am also planning an April minor league road trip mainly in the Carolinas and surrounding area. If you live near a ballpark in the southeast, drop me a line and maybe we can catch some action at the diamond together. Or you can introduce me to the best hot dog in your town. Oh, and I will be catching some Grapefruit League spring training games in Florida in late March.

But as of first pitch for the regular season I will be a broken man. It's a really cool thing to say that you have caught a game at EVERY major league ballpark. But when the 2017 season opens, I will have only been to 29 of 30. The Atlanta Braves are setting up shop in new digs called Sun Trust Park this season. I have one chance to catch a game there on my road trip: April 19. But with it being a new ballpark and early in the season, it will be tough to get a ticket without having to sell a kidney. But hey, I have two kidneys and only really need one, so it's possible. Atlanta Braves, if you are listening, do a brother a solid and sell me a ticket for under $30. I am not picky about seat location.

So here's to a great 2017 season. There's new grass on the field and baseball has never been better. But it is ALWAYS better when watched with a dog in your hand.

VBT Turner Field/Sun Trust Park: The Dixie Dog

Time for the dog that does dual purpose. When I came up with the idea of creating a hot dog for every ballpark, the Atlanta Braves were playing at Turner Field. Now that ancient stadium has been abandoned by the Braves. It was all of 17 years old (as a baseball venue). Now the Braves are moving into ultramodern new digs called Sun Trust Park. While no one loves new ballparks more than I, I also believe in retiring them when they are no longer viable. Wrigley Field in Chicago and Fenway Park in Boston are both over one hundred years young for comparison.

But it's still the Braves, and you know where Atlanta is? In the deep south, that's where. Sometimes called Dixie. In Dixie everything tasted good if it's fried. And they love their barbecue as well. Toss in some potato salad and you have yourself a delicious down home southern meal. That's why it's all on the Dixie Dog.

Start with a large bun; you're going to need it. Grill the bun, put in a Hebrew National all-beef frank, put a few strips of fried chicken on top of that, douse in BBQ sauce, cover with potato salad and then sprinkle on as much fried okra as your bun will allow. It's everything Dixie loves on a plate, but on a bun. Extra credit if you can find a copy of Hee Haw on VHS to watch while eating. And don't blame me if your speech has a drawl after eating.

Beer pairing: None other than Dixie Beer of course. It's a good cheap beer available throughout the south. It used to be brewed in New Orleans, but the brewery took a real beating (and flooding) during Hurricane Katrina. It plans to reopen someday, and buying a few six packs of Dixie will help that day come sooner. At present, it is contract brewed at other locations. But nothing will make your meal feel more south of the Mason-Dixon Line than washing this dog down with a Dixie. 

VBT Yankee Stadium: The Fugetaboutit

Ahhh, the New York Yankees. A team you either love or hate. In fact, one of my favorite teams is whoever plays the Yankees. Not a fan. Not a fan of Yankee Stadium either. It looks a lot like old Yankee Stadium, of which I was also not a fan. Hate the New York weather, it's either too hot or too cold, and the crowds are horrendous. So what do I like about New York? The food. New York City is like the epicenter of an international food explosion. You can get ANY type of food at ANY hour of the day. If food it your thing, New York is for you.

You know what else New York is famous for? The strong accent and slang of its residents. You hear a New Yorker in a bar in Hong Kong and you immediately place the speaker as a visitor from the Big Apple. Food and accent is what makes the hot dog for Yankee Stadium. Allow me to introduce The Fugetaboutit. It combines one of New York's most memorable catch phrases (say “forget about it” as one long word after you have had twelve beers and you get the picture), with the knish, an iconic eastern European snack that has made a new home in NYC.

A knish is a dough pastry stuffed with any combination of sauerkraut, ground beef, mashed potatoes, and diced grilled onions. To make one, get the best sub roll you can find, slightly grill it on a skillet and then slap in a Hebrew National all-beef frank. Top the frank with mashed potatoes, sprinkle on ground beef, some grilled onions, a row of kraut and then add a meandering stream of spicy brown mustard. The knish tastes delish, and it's all on a hot dog. Unlike the Yankees, this dog is a winner and you don't have to brave the subway to enjoy one at home. And if you think you can give me any grief over dissing the Yankees....fugetaboutit.

Beer pairing: Try a Saranac Adirondack Lager if you can get your hands on one. It is brewed upstate in Utica but embodies the freshness of the Adirondack mountains and washes down a knish on a bun like no other. 

VBT Kauffman Stadium: The Meat Bomb

Back in the day, which for the record was long before I was born, most beef was transported via cattle drives. Cows were driven in herds from the southwest up famous trails like the Chisholm and Great Western, destination: Kansas. Meat is one of the early commodities that made Kansas great as most of the trails ended somewhere in the the vicinity. Because of its close association with the beef business, Kansas City became renown for its BBQ. Ask any Kansas City resident what you should eat while in town and it will nearly always be some sort of meat joint. Meat is king in Kansas City.

With its fleshy history, only one hot dog will do for the Kansas City Royals: The Meat Bomb. It is a combination of the tasty meats that belong on a bun. Here is the rundown on how to build your own bomb.

Toast the bun, it will need the extra firmness to hold all of that carnage together. Also, it is much easier to tackle if you split the bun and use the halves like sandwich bread. Start with two or three slices of bacon as a base, lay on a small slab of BBQ ribs, add three meatballs, douse with KC Masterpiece BBQ sauce (it comes in many flavors, use the one of your choice). Then lay on the star attraction, the all-beef Hebrew National frank. It's a challenge to eat, the meatballs will want to roll around, and keeping the frank centered on the bun is no small task. But trust me on this, one bite and you will be singing the them song to Rawhide. This bomb explodes with the flavor of the best of the world of meat.

Beer pairing: Nothing will defuse the bite of this BBQ meat bomb like the crisp, cool taste of a Boulevard beer. Brewed in Kansas City, it is nationally available and comes in many varieties, but the Imperial Pilsner is recommended. 

THANKS A LOT!!!!

Blog About a Dog got its 100,000th view this week. 

Thanks for all of your time and interest in the great american hot dog and our national pastime. 

More delicious posts to come!!!!

VBT Citizens Bank Park: The Balboa Dog

Philadelphia is the City of Brotherly Love, unless your name happens to be Rocky Balboa. Then it is the city where you get your face bashed in movie after movie. While fiction, America's favorite underdog boxer will always be soundly connected to Philly and is probably only second to the cheesesteak sandwich as a city icon. There is that whole founding of our nation thing going on there, but nobody cares about that. No celebrity involvement to be found in Independence Hall.

I think Rocky is pissed Rolling Rock moved to NJ

You know what else Philadelphia is famous for. The Texas Tommy. Despite its Lone Star State moniker, this hot dog was invented near Philly and is a hot dog that is split down the middle, filled with cheese and wrapped in bacon. Personally, I think it gives the cheesesteak a run for its money and tastes better. Argue that point with a Philadelphian and you are likely to be dropped faster than Apollo Creed. You have been warned.

It is only fitting that the Phillies and Citizens Bank Park get a dog with two local legends in the bun. In this corner, allow me to introduce the Balboa Dog. Start with a large grilled bun and then grill up a Hebrew National frank, split it down the middle and fill with your favorite cheese. Laying in a slice or two of bacon serves two purposes. First, it is true to the original Texas Tommy, and secondly it pays homage to the hanging meat that Rocky Balboa used to pound on during training in the first (and best) Rocky movie. Top with sliced hard boiled egg. Another nod to the movie where Rocky downed raw eggs for protein and muscle building. I would have used raw eggs on the dog, except that it would be gross and that whole salmonella thing. Add some dijon mustard and enjoy.

The Phillies, just like the Rocky movies, started out strong a few years back but have had a really bad run as of late. Watching them play can be as painful as a few rounds in the ring with the Italian Stallion. Downing a Balboa Dog while catching a few innings will help ease the pain. And unlike for Rocky, there is always next year.

Beer pairing: Rolling Rock beer was brewed in nearby Latrobe until 2006. It still has a large following in the area despite moving to New Jersey (NJ? Really?). Served ice cold it is the perfect paring for the Balboa Dog. 

VBT Minute Maid Park: The Apollo 13

Gather 'round kids. Uncle Tom is going to tell you about once upon a time when America had an actual manned spaceflight program. It was tremendous. We even went to the moon! Now, we have some fiscal blackhole orbiting the earth that we hitch a ride to when the Russians allow us to ride in their rockets. It was a great time kids, America was great and the space program was a real source of national pride.

Once those mighty rockets rose off of the launch pad, their oversight was transferred from Kennedy Space Center in Florida to Mission Control at the Johnson Space Center in Houston Texas. Houston would manage the flight until its return home. Did you know that the first word ever received from the surface of the moon was “Houston?” Know you know how the Houston Astros got their team name.

But it didn't always go smoothly. Several astronauts gave their lives reaching for the stars, and three nearly did but made such a harrowing brush with death that they made a movie about it. Apollo 13 had a near catastrophic explosion on its way to the moon, they had to abort their planned lunar landing and barely made it back alive. With the exception of Apollo 11 (the first lunar landing), Apollo 13 is the most famous of all moon missions.

It is in honor of those brave souls that cheated death we introduce the Apollo 13 Dog. It's a bit of a monster so pay close attention:

Start with a very large bun. Lay a bed of pepperoni medallions, lay the frank on top of the pepperoni, squirt on some mustard, put in some diced onions, dash in some sriracha sauce, a bit of chopped jalapenos, some relish, shredded cheese of your choice, diced sweet peppers, some avocado, a few tomato wedges, some crushed potato chips, two spoonfuls of pinto beans, and top with a sprinkling of Tang. That's right, Tang. It's an astronaut themed hot dog you know.

You know how many toppings that is? You guessed it, thirteen. This is a loaded dog that will send you over the moon with processed meat pleasure. And trust me, the Tang tastes great on it.

Beer pairing: It's Tex-ass. Blast off with a six pack of Lone Star while plowing your way through the Apollo 13 dog.