David Cox from Shark Tank answers the Question

I spoke to David Cox who appeared in episode 408 of Shark Tank. He told me all about his business, PC Classes Online and his friendship with comedian Bruce Vilanch. How they met is a very funny story and you can read it on the Shark Tank Blog.

David didn't fare so well in the Shark Tank, but his business is doing just fine.

I wanted to know what the Natick, MA native's answer to "The Question" was. Natick is home to Casey's Diner, the oldest continuously run family diner in the USA. Casey's is famous for their hot dogs!

As a Natick native, I would expect a certain answer, but I asked anyway:

"Do you put ketchup on your hot dogs?"

David answered: "I put rainbows, glitter, and unicorns*!"

I think David must be just a little too fabulous....

He later confessed to putting ketchup on his hot dogs. If we ever dine at Casey's, Pat will cut his hot dog in half!





*According to David, unicorns taste like chicken.
** No unicorns were harmed while writing this post.

National Hot Dog Month Day 31

National Hot Dog Month 2012 officially ended (for me) at Casey's Diner in Natick, MA. Casey's is the first place I remember getting a hot dog with my grandfather when I was four years old back in 1969. I have had hundreds of Casey's hot dogs since then. It was appropriate that this year's journey ended there.

There were other folks on hand today to provide commentary for the documentary style film I am putting together. Larry Cultrera from the Diner Hotline blog and author of Classic Diners of Massachusetts (The History Press)  was on hand to provide an historical perspective. Aaron Socrat, guest dogger on July 3, 2012 and former Natick Historical Commission member was there to provide insight into the process of Casey's being placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Drew Bennett came by today and took a ton of great photos which will be posted on the Hot Dog Stories Facebook Page.

Get the full story of the final visit of National Hot Dog Month 2012 to Casey's Diner on Hot Dog Stories.

Hotdogman vs. Hamburgerman

Casey's Diner is near and dear to my heart. It's located in my hometown of Natick, Ma, and I had my first hot dog there in 1969 when I was four years old. The Casey family has been selling hot dogs in this town since 1890, which makes them the oldest, continuously run, hot dog business in the world! Casey's is housed in a lovingly preserved Worcester Lunch Car, which the family purchased in 1922.

Here's fourth generation proprietor Pat Casey, hard at work during the lunch hour.

Pat took himself away from the dogs for a minute to help me do a little commercial for the upcoming National Hot Dog Month Tour.

While hot dogs are normally the fare for me at Casey's, there are plenty of other things on the menu too- including some of the best hamburgers on the planet.

I decided Casey's burgers needed some Hot Dog Truck love, but I thought burgers were a bit out of my realm, so I brought in an expert. I reached out to Burger blogger and chef Richard Chudy. He runs the Boston Burger Blog. 2-3 times a month, Richard ventures out to burger joints, orders up, snaps some photos and reviews burgers in the city. Richard enjoys burgers from the simplest "greasy spoon" variety all the way up to expensive, gourmet style burgers. When he's not munching on burgers, he runs the Skinny Beet with girlfriend Katie Barszcz from A Small Boston Kitchen. Together they do catering, give cooking lessons, and work as private chefs. Food is their life. Richard and I snapped a photo in front of Casey's before jumping into the belly of the beast.

Also along for the ride today was Drew Bennet from the Benspark blog. Drew is a mommy blogger supreme, lover of fine foods, and he's going to be riding shotgun with me on the National Hot Dog Month Tour this summer. He even managed to score us a bunch of new camera equipment from Kodak for the tour.

After exchanging pleasantries, we ordered up some of Casey's famous cheeseburgers. We each got a bacon cheeseburger with onions grilled in.

While the burgers were cooking, Drew Chowed Down on a Hot Dog. Hey Drew- don't eat the plate!

I Chowed Down on a hot dog too. I usually get one as an appetizer when I have a burger at Casey's.

Before long, the burgers were done. Richard took a bunch of close up pictures of his before eating it. He has very nice burger photos on his blog.

Richard Chowed Down on his burger like a true pro. Note the  forward hunch while Chowing Down; he definitely gets some style points there!

I of course chowed down too. Drew ate his so fast, I didn't get a picture!

Judging by the smile on Richard's face, I'd say he enjoyed his burger! 

We both gave Casey's burgers TWO THUMBS UP!

Drew wanted a picture for his site. He even did a post and video on the visit to Casey's too.

For the rest of the story of the Hotdogman meeting the Hamburgerman and to get Richard's take on Casey's burgers, Check out Hot Dog Stories.

Hamburger Stories and Lip Balm

Today is the day I meet up with The Hamburgerman and Drew from the Benspark blog at Casey's Diner. I will have photos and video of the event up tomorrow.

While a hot dog will be on the agenda as an appetizer, Casey's juicy hamburgers are the order of the day. Richard, The Hamburgerman, reviews burger joints all over the Boston area from the greasy spoon all the way up to the priciest gourmet burgers. I am interested to see where Casey's falls on his rating scale.

Since I will be spending most of the day on this outing, I am including a video I made for The Shark Tank Blog yesterday about Kisstixx, the chemically reacting,dual flavored lip balm that was recently funded on The Shark tank TV show. Their products are made in the USA and they are sure to add some flavor to your love life. The Hotdogman even manages a plug!

Enjoy.

Burgers for The Hotdogman

I am stoked. Spring is in the air in force after a very mild winter. That means The Hotdogman is going to be "out there" visiting hot dog joints in earnest (as soon as I am cleared to drive- still recovering from surgery). I will have many surprises this season to lead up to the National Hot Dog Month Tour this July.

Since my mobility is still limited, I am starting the new season close to home and heading out to Casey's Diner.

Tomorrow, I will be joined by Drew from the Benspark Blog and Richard, The Hamburgerman from the Boston Burger Blog. This Power Trio will chow down on some Casey's Burgers (always voted near the top for having the BEST BURGERS in Metrowest). I am sure I will have an "appetizer" or two as well.

I always enjoy meeting other food bloggers, so does Drew. We all like good food too.

It should be fun, so stay tuned....

Hotdogman meets Hamburgerman

As you surely must know if you are reading this, I am the Hotdogman. One of the privileges that comes with that title is I get to go eat hot dogs at various establishments and write about it- or shoot video. It's a fun job.

There's a guy here in the Boston area who has a similar gig, the only difference is, he blogs about another All American delicacy: the Hamburger. Richard from The Boston Burger Blog is someone I have been following for a while, and I decided to reach out to him and invite him out to one of my favorite spots for a hamburger, Casey's Diner.

Yes, Casey's. While Casey's is renowned for its hot dogs, they make a damn fine hamburger too. They are consistently ranked in the top burger joints in the area, and with good reason; the burgers are out of bounds delish. Richard has never been to Casey's, so next Wednesday, March 14, we are going to check out some Casey's burgers together. Drew from the Benspark blog will be tagging along. He's practicing for the National Hot Dog Month 2012 tour, he's going to be my side kick and camera man. 

 It is sure to be a fun and delicious visit. 

Stay tuned....

National Hot Dog Month 2011: Hot Dog Boy

A Hot Dog a Day Number 29: Casey's Diner in Natick, MA

On the 29th day of my quest to eat a hot dog a day at a different venue in honor of National Hot Dog Month, I stayed real close to home. I could have walked to the oldest continuously run hot dog joint in the state: Casey's Diner in downtown Natick, Massachusetts. The Casey family has been in the hot dog business since 1890. The fourth generation of the family is currently manning the copper kettle steamer that pumps out 800 hot dogs a day (and some 400 burgers too) inside one of the oldest existing Worcester Lunch Car Company diners in existence..

Casey's was placed on the National Register of Historic Places back in 1977.

Fourth generation hot dog man Pat Casey takes it all in with an easy going attitude and nearly constant smile.

Pat works the hot dog steamer and the take out window while two helpers work the counter and grill.

There are twelve seats at Casey's and a small shelf for the standing room crowd. Intimate would describe the place accurately.

Today's visit attracted some local media and this kid: Hot Dog Boy!

If you aren't in the mood for a hot dog, Casey's has the best burgers around! I will often get a burger with a hot dog for an "appetizer."

I was here for a hot dog a day, so I ordered up one all around and

CHOWED DOWN!

Happy National Hot Dog Month!!!

I will be returning to Casey's in the next month or two to do a full on video documentary. Pat promises to break out "the old guys" for the shoot. I will keep Hot Dog Nation posted.

In the mean time, stop by Casey's for a couple of dogs all around and tell Pat "the Hotdogman sent me."

Check out the video of my visit to Casey's on Hot Dog Stories.