Hot dog

A hot dog is a form of sandwich, also called frankfurters, frank, weenie, wienie, wiener, dog, and red hot. It is made using a German-style frankfurter or dachshund sausage that is either boiled, fried or grilled. This is placed inside an elongated soft bread bun that has been split vertically along its length. A variety of toppings may be added, the most common of which are tomato ketchup and mustard. Other toppings may include salad, chili sauce, relish, onions and sauerkraut, grated shredded cheese and spices such as celery salt or pepper. The American hot dog market is worth over $3.9 billion annually. July is American National Hot Dog Month and 1.5 million hot dogs are consumed on the 4th of July alone.

There is some disagreement about the origin of the hot dog and its names. The sausage is German. The city of Frankfurt in Germany claims to have been the creator of the sausage some 500 years ago. The sausage was take to American by German immigrants. On such immigrant, Charles Feltman, a butcher, opened a shop selling these sausages in 1867 on Coney Island in New York City. He is recorded to have sold 3,684 dachshund sausages in his first year alone. He served his sausages inside a milk roll.

The Colombian Exposition in Chicago, in 1867, popularised the consumption of sausages. By 1893, these sausages had become popular snacks at ballgames. However, the dog was yet to receive its name tag. There are several legends surrounding the etymology of the words 'hot dog.'