BajaNomad

Short Histiory of the Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dog (w/pics)

Gypsy Jan - 7-2-2009 at 02:35 PM

If you want to see the pics, go to this link: http://masaassassin.blogspot.com/2009/03/short-history-on-me...

"The Hot Dog was first introduced to Mexico in the 1943 by a couple of American entrepreneurs who purchased a concession stand at the Plaza Mexico City bull ring. The entrepreneurs figured Hot Dogs were such a hit with baseball fans in America, they should be just as popular with bullfight fans in Mexico.

It is believed the bacon wrapped Hot Dog with all the trimmings began to appear in 1956. An unidentified Hot Dog cart in Mexico City's Parque de la Alameda began serving bacon wrapped dogs to employees of the newly constructed Torre Latinoamericana. At the time Torre Latinoamericana was then the tallest building in Latin America, and the fourth in height in the world outside New York.

Today you will find the Hot Dog all over Mexico, depending on the region you will see variances on the types of trimmings used and what the dog is called. In California I often hear the bacon wrapped Hot Dog being referred to as a TJ Dog, Tijuana Hot Dog, Street Dog, Dangerous Dog, and Dirty Dog.

I remember in Mexico back in the eighties sinking my teeth into my first bacon wrapped Hot Dog. Crisp thin bacon wrapped around a sizzling Hot Dog, nestled inside a pillow soft steamed bun, topped with ketchup, mayo, mustard, fresh chopped tomatoes, chopped onions, chopped grilled onions, chile on the side, and paired with ice cold Mexican Coke in a glass bottle, sheer heaven!

Bacon Wrapped Hot Dog

If you have never had a bacon wrapped Hot Dog the execution is fairly simple. The Hot Dog itself is pretty basic, what really makes it special is the combination of toppings. The carts I frequent use Rosarita brand Hot Dogs and thin sliced bacon. Buns are usually Bimbo brand and should always be steamed. I have seen some vendors in U.S. grill the buns to a crisp but in my opinion the crisp texture should be provided by the bacon not the bun. It’s a matter of personal preference but cheese, or anything other then the essentials I described do not belong in the mix.

Bacon Wrapped Hot Dog

Bacon Wrapped Hot Dog

One of my favorite spots that has perfected the classic as I described is located in Ensenada just stumbling distant from Hussongs Cantina at the corner of 2nd and Ruiz. The cart is run by Yolanda, who has been serving up savory bacon wrapped Hot Dogs for 14 years.

Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs Yolandas Ensenada

Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs Yolandas Ensenada

Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs Yolandas Ensenada

In the United States my favorite rendition of the bacon wrapped Hot Dog is without a doubt the Sonoran Hot Dog available at hundreds of stands in Tucson. The big difference in the Sonoran dog is the bread. The Sonoran Hot Dog is encased in a roll-like bread. The toppings are basically the same as I described above with an addition of jalapeño purée and beans. Some better known stands I usually hit in Tucson are Guero Canelo and BK Hotdogs.

Sonoran Hotdogs

Some spots in Tucson even pair each Hot Dog with a bacon wrapped Chile Guero.

Sonaran Hotdog w chile

So what about my hometown of San Diego? Well San Diego street vendors are virtually non existent, and the sit down places I have tried fall a little short(Sorry Lucha). Los Angeles has some great street vendors however its interesting now because the city has declared an all out war on bacon (See Video). Bacon is a potentially hazardous food,” says Terrence Powell of the LA County Health Department. I Guess it’s so good its illegal! Unless Baja bans bacon you will find me in Ensenada at the corner of 2nd and Ruiz. Where is your favorite spot?"

DENNIS - 7-2-2009 at 02:50 PM

..........................................................YUMMY...................................................

bajasammy - 7-2-2009 at 03:17 PM

Hey Jan!

My buddys and I 'stumbled' over to Yolanda's during the Baja 500 Weekend - boy they really hit the spot after a few cold ones at Hussongs!

Thanks for the bacon wrapped history.

Russ - 7-2-2009 at 03:34 PM

Our BWHD guy here in Chivato has closed for the summer starting tomorrow. So the timing on this post really Sucks! Maybe I could talk the restaurant into having them a night or two a week. So far most of the places I had them in this area use the soft sweet rolls.
Thanks for the history tho!

bajajudy - 7-2-2009 at 05:05 PM

Here they are called calientos. The really irony is that they wrap bacon around turkey hotdogs...talking about unclear on concept. I have a friend who used to take his all beef hotdogs to Miquel to wrap in bacon and cook. I have no idea what Miguel thought of this but he did it willingly and charged the same price. I always get them with everything....and dam(n) the torpedos.

BajaNuts - 7-2-2009 at 05:30 PM

those look yummy-

I watched the masaassasin video with Drew Carey about the street vendors in LA, and the health official said bacon is a "potentially hazardous food"-

A person can get just as sick from the grilled onions, hot dogs, or anything else the street vendor is serving sans bacon, if they don't clean their utensils and equipment properly. It's not all about the "3 compartment sink!". Someone could have a 3-compartment sink and if they don't follow proper cleaning procedures, customers will still get sick!

Raw bacon and wieners probably have about the same unopened package shelf life(both are filled with nitrates and preservatives), opened package shelf life and cooked "shelf life". I've seen more than one US restaurant that cooks off a bunch of bacon in the AM and then just leaves it sitting on a platter next to the grill for the breakfast rush.

Keep the raw food cold.....and fresh....., cook it to the proper temp and then keep it hot! It's as simple as that!

I just don't get the logic of these official!:fire:

And that woman had been living the entrepeneurs' dream of making money, supporting family, house, car, all the basic dreams of motivated people everywhere.

AAARRRGGGHHH!:mad:

ps- I wonder if the other street vendors are getting hassled as well. Ones who make things like TACOS or BURRITOS with MEAT!

docsmom - 7-2-2009 at 07:32 PM

Gypsy Jan,
Please do tell, where in Tucson are the stands you mention. I've seen some on 22nd, and one on Swan. Funny that I will eat off of any taco stand in Baja but am hesitant to eat off the hot dog stands in Tucson. What up with that I ask myself??????????????
So please share the locations. I'll go for a fix this weekend and toast you when I'm there.
Thanks,
Kath

Tucson Taco Trucks (or TTT, hee, hee)

Gypsy Jan - 7-2-2009 at 08:14 PM

Hi Kath,

I did not write this essay on B-W Hot Dogs, a blogger by the name of Masa Assassin did the research and put together the very scholarly and beautifully illustrated essay.

I have tried to relay your questions about the Tucson area taco trucks, but no luck at the moment because my computer doesn't talk to his "Contact" area on his blog page.

But, no worry, I will figure something out.

Regards, GJ

Woooosh - 7-2-2009 at 08:28 PM

Just in time for the big BBQ. Thanks. I was thinking of doing them gringo-style- but no mas!

Here Is the Link

Gypsy Jan - 7-2-2009 at 09:23 PM

To the Masa Assassin blog.

Kath, maybe you will have better luck with sending an email.

http://masaassassin.blogspot.com/

Cypress - 7-3-2009 at 06:23 AM

Back in the 50's my mama would serve 'em up with chili and all the trimmings.

lingililingili - 7-3-2009 at 06:39 AM

We made bacon wrapped hot dogs last year at our 4th of July bbq! They were a huge hit! We had all the trimmings but couldn't get the buns right!

By the way, in case anyone cares, IT'S COLD IN SAN FRANCISCO!!

capt. mike - 7-3-2009 at 07:58 AM

i'm now doing brats and red hots bacon wrapped - unbelievable! never having them naked again.
and - i found with the thin bacon you can successfully do them on a grill instead of a flat top. just tooth pick them while the bacon sets up.

also - split some jumbo jalapenos, steamed and gutted, set aside. then wrap them against the wurst with the bacon, peppers lengthwise. fantastic.

MasaAssassin - 7-3-2009 at 11:05 AM

Thanks for the kind words, the history was out their in bits and pieces I just tried to put in all together. Regarding the Tucson stands, they are in South Tucson down the street from each other.

Guero Canelo is at
5201 S 12th Ave
Tucson, AZ 85706
(520) 295-9005

BK Hotdogs is at
5118 S 12th Ave
Tucson, AZ 85706
(520) 295-0105

If you don’t want to go to a stand Guero has a very impressive indoor facility in North Tucson at
2480 N. Oracle Rd
Tucson, AZ 85705
(520) 882 - 8977

You can check it out on their site. http://elguerocanelo.com/

Gypsy Jan you now have me craving these, and it’s the perfect weekend for them. Have a safe and happy fourth everyone go out and enjoy some Hot Dogs!
;D

Not sure why my email link was not working but if you have any questions you can always reach me at masaassassin@gmail.com


[Edited on 7-3-2009 by MasaAssassin]