Texas Wiener
Encyclopedia
The Texas hot dog, Texas chili dog, Texas hot, or Texas wiener is a hot dog
with chili
or hot sauce
; it served in various regions of the United States in variations with assorted condiments.
before 1920 and in Altoona, Pennsylvania
in 1918 originally called Texas Hot Wieners. The "Texas" reference is to the chili sauce used on the dogs, which actually has a stronger Greek cuisine influence due to the ethnicity of the cooks who invented it. It is considered a unique regional hot dog style
. From its origins, the invention spread to the Pennsylvania cities of Scranton
and Philadelphia. Altoona's original Texas Hot Dogs shop is still open today, having two locations: Downtown Altoona and 58th Street by the Logan Valley Mall.
The wiener, also referred to as an all-the-way dog and a hot dog with everything in Pennsylvania and "All the Way" in New Jersey, consists of a hot dog covered in Düsseldorf mustard
(as opposed to the Coney
, which uses yellow mustard), diced onion
s, and chili sauce
.
Texas hots can be found sporadically around the Northeastern United States; their presence is noted in New York State (Nick Tahou Hots
), Connecticut (JK's Texas Hot Wieners), and others. Some of those are in North Jersey, like the Hot Grill on Lexington Avenue in Clifton, and Johnny & Hanges on Maple Avenue in Fair Lawn. The two common aspects of these restaurants are that they (1) serve hot dogs with chili, "chili sauce", or a similar meat-based sauce, and (2) they were originally founded by Greek immigrants.
. Seneca Texas hots has packaged a package of spices for home use. This version of a Texas hot is available at most Greek diners in Western New York State.
Another popular town offering "Texas Hots" style hot dogs and hamburgers is Jamestown, NY. Johnny's lunch popularized the idea in the early - mid 1900's. By Adolf John Colera. In the late 1960's, his son Samuel Colera opened AJ's Texas Hots. Both restaurants are still currently in business and are a very popular spot to enjoy lunch, and a local tradition in Jamestown, NY.
Hot dog
A hot dog is a sausage served in a sliced bun. It is very often garnished with mustard, ketchup, onions, mayonnaise, relish and/or sauerkraut.-History:...
with chili
Chili con carne
Chili con carne is a spicy stew. The name of the dish derives from the Spanish chile con carne, "chili pepper with meat". Traditional versions are made, minimally, from chili peppers, garlic, onions, and cumin, along with chopped or ground beef. Beans and tomatoes are frequently included...
or hot sauce
Hot sauce
Hot sauce, chili sauce or pepper sauce refers to any spicy sauce made from chili peppers and other ingredients.-Ingredients:There are many recipes for hot sauces - the common ingredient being any kind of peppers. A group of chemicals called capsaicinoids are responsible for the heat in chili peppers...
; it served in various regions of the United States in variations with assorted condiments.
Texas wiener
The Texas wiener was created in Paterson, New JerseyPaterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
before 1920 and in Altoona, Pennsylvania
Altoona, Pennsylvania
-History:A major railroad town, Altoona was founded by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1849 as the site for a shop complex. Altoona was incorporated as a borough on February 6, 1854, and as a city under legislation approved on April 3, 1867, and February 8, 1868...
in 1918 originally called Texas Hot Wieners. The "Texas" reference is to the chili sauce used on the dogs, which actually has a stronger Greek cuisine influence due to the ethnicity of the cooks who invented it. It is considered a unique regional hot dog style
Hot dog variations
This is a listing of regional variations on the hot dog. Different areas of the world have local variations on the type of meat used, condiments and means of preparation, which are enumerated below.-Alabama:...
. From its origins, the invention spread to the Pennsylvania cities of Scranton
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton is a city in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, United States. It is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the largest principal city in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area. Scranton had a population of 76,089 in 2010, according to the U.S...
and Philadelphia. Altoona's original Texas Hot Dogs shop is still open today, having two locations: Downtown Altoona and 58th Street by the Logan Valley Mall.
The wiener, also referred to as an all-the-way dog and a hot dog with everything in Pennsylvania and "All the Way" in New Jersey, consists of a hot dog covered in Düsseldorf mustard
Mustard (condiment)
Mustard is a condiment made from the seeds of a mustard plant...
(as opposed to the Coney
Coney Island hot dog
Coney Island hot dog refers to a natural casing beef hot dog, topped with an all-meat beanless chili, and diced or chopped white onions with one or two strips of yellow mustard. The variety is a fixture in Jackson, Flint, Detroit, and southeastern Michigan...
, which uses yellow mustard), diced onion
Onion
The onion , also known as the bulb onion, common onion and garden onion, is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Allium. The genus Allium also contains a number of other species variously referred to as onions and cultivated for food, such as the Japanese bunching onion The onion...
s, and chili sauce
Chili sauce
Chili sauce is a condiment, similar to ketchup but with onion, garlic, and spice. Despite its name, it does not contain chili peppers and thus is not hot....
.
Texas hots can be found sporadically around the Northeastern United States; their presence is noted in New York State (Nick Tahou Hots
Nick Tahou Hots
Nick Tahou Hots, originally known as Hots and Potatoes, is a Rochester, New York, landmark restaurant featuring a dish called the Garbage Plate. The restaurant was founded in 1918 by Alex Tahou, the grandfather of the current owner , and named for Nick Tahou, the founder's son, who operated the...
), Connecticut (JK's Texas Hot Wieners), and others. Some of those are in North Jersey, like the Hot Grill on Lexington Avenue in Clifton, and Johnny & Hanges on Maple Avenue in Fair Lawn. The two common aspects of these restaurants are that they (1) serve hot dogs with chili, "chili sauce", or a similar meat-based sauce, and (2) they were originally founded by Greek immigrants.
Texas hot
The Texas hot is a regional specialty in Western New York and parts of Pennsylvania. This Buffalo regional favorite consists of hot dogs smothered in a spicy meat sauce with mustard and chopped onion. This creation was initially popularized by Seneca Texas Hots of Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. Seneca Texas hots has packaged a package of spices for home use. This version of a Texas hot is available at most Greek diners in Western New York State.
See also
- Hot dog variationsHot dog variationsThis is a listing of regional variations on the hot dog. Different areas of the world have local variations on the type of meat used, condiments and means of preparation, which are enumerated below.-Alabama:...
Another popular town offering "Texas Hots" style hot dogs and hamburgers is Jamestown, NY. Johnny's lunch popularized the idea in the early - mid 1900's. By Adolf John Colera. In the late 1960's, his son Samuel Colera opened AJ's Texas Hots. Both restaurants are still currently in business and are a very popular spot to enjoy lunch, and a local tradition in Jamestown, NY.
External links
- A Brief History of the Hot Texas Wiener (Library of Congress / American Memory)
- Geography Quiz: Where's the Texas in the Texas Wiener? (The New York Times)