National Hot Dog Month 2014

HEY! It's July and that means it's National Hot Dog Month. Watch the video to see what's going on!

National Hot Dog Month is Coming!

July is almost upon us, which means one thing: it's almost National Hot Dog Month. As in years past, each day I will feature a different hot dog joint every day in July. There are two cookouts on the docket- one on July 4 and one on July 20. Featured at the cookouts - you guessed it - HOT DOGS!

This year's tour features all "new" hot dog joints. There are a couple of "old friends" that have new places, but there is not one repeat (other than Casey's on the 31st). 

This year's tour also features hot dog venues in 9 (possibly 10 if I can bomb down to NYC for a day) states: California, Florida, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Vermont.

There will be iconic establishments, hot dog trucks, hot dog carts, and just about any venue you can imagine.

Videos of each featured stop on the tour will be published daily on Hot Dog Stories, so join in on the hot doggin' fun and HAPPY NATIONAL HOT DOG MONTH!

Announcing The 2013 National Hot Dog Month Tour

July is only a month away and that means it's almost time for The 2013 National Hot Dog Month Tour! Each day in July, a different hot dog joint will be featured.

The 2013 National Hot Dog Month Tour Schedule

This year, the tour will feature all new hot dog joints! There may be a few "old friends" featured, but they will have to have a new "twist" to be included in the National Hot Dog Month Tour. 

The geographic reach of the tour is expanding too. This year, there will be hot dog joints from Florida, New Jersey, California, and all six New England states. I am also possibly going to New York for a trip too!

Each year, the tour gets a little bigger. I hope to do a National Tour some day and hit iconic hot dog joints in every state (can't wait to try Hawaii)!

As usual, all my adventures will be video taped and displayed on Hot Dog Stories and The Hotdogman Channel on Youtube.

If you have a suggestion for a hot dog joint in New England, New York, or California (San Fran area), please let me know in the comments. I can't guarantee I'll visit this year, but it's nice to have a good list!

Here's a video preview of the tour.

If you like Hot Dog Stories, please consider helping out with some gas money for our journeys. Every little bit helps!

American Coney Island in Las Vegas

American Coney Island has been a Detroit institution since 1917. It's one of those Greek owned hot dog joints that has been serving a spiced hamburger sauce, called Coney Island Sauce, on hot dogs for a long time. If you go to Detroit, and you want a hot dog, this is the place to have it.

I have visited American Coney Island in Detroit, many years ago, in an "unofficial" capacity. In January, I'll be visiting the American Coney Island Las Vegas location for Hot Dog Stories!

American Coney Island is the next 3rd generation hot dog joint to take its act "on the road" and bring some old school, hot dog flavor to a melting pot city. They opened up a Vegas location recently. Las Vegas is a tourist town that allows people to experience cultural phenomena from all aspects of life: the hot dog is no different!

Since I will be in Las Vegas, speaking at Affiliate Summit West, from January 12-15, I decided to plan a visit to American Coney Island to do a Hot Dog Story. 3rd Generation owner Grace Keros gave me a call and rolled out the red carpet for the Hotdogman!

I will be visiting the location and "doing my thing" there in a few weeks. 

Details will surely follow!

Shark Tank's Daymond John answers THE QUESTION

As you may know, I author The Shark Tank Blog. The other day, I had the privilege of being invited over to Babson College where ZBoard won Consulting Services From Shark Tank's Daymond John, Babson College & Startup America.

They had the requisite press conference, which I attended, followed by a nice lunch.

I got to meet the entrepreneurs who created ZBoard, the Start-Up America principles, and of course, Daymond John himself. We chatted about entrepreneurship, his philanthropic endeavors, and the Shark Tank.

I would have been remiss had I not asked him "THE QUESTION."

For the video answer, head on over to Hot Dog Stories!

100 Different Hot Dog Joints

For the past few years, I have been traveling around to different hot dog joints and doing Hot Dog Stories. My travels have taken me to 8 states and Canada. A milestone was looming on the horizon: my 100th different hot dog joint!

When the Roadfood.com Massachusetts group decided to have a meetup in my hometown, I couldn't resist. I had been meaning to get to this place for a while.

I'm talking about Spalla's Chicago Dogs in Natick, MA!

I went there and met the Roadfood.com crowd and the owners.

Chicago hot dogs were on the agenda!

For the whole story, head on over to Hot Dog Stories.

100th Different Hot Dog Joint: Spalla's

Hot Dog Stories is my website where I post photos and videos of my trips to hot dog joints all over the place. The tag line for the site is "eating hot dogs wherever I am."

I have had hot dogs in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Montreal, New Jersey, New York, Florida, and Nevada. In the coming year, I plan on expanding my geographic reach.

Today marks a milestone for Hot Dog Stories; I will be visiting my 100th different hot dog establishment! I thought long and hard about where I wanted to go. 

I have been meaning to go to a local deli called Spalla's in Natick for a while now. They recently added Chicago Hot dogs to their menu and a full line of Vienna Beef products (including Italian Roast Beef). It was definitely on my "short list" of places in consideration for visit number 100.

When the RoadFood.com crowd announced their monthly Boston meet-up was going to be held at Spalla's, that sealed the deal! I enjoy meeting up with other foodies and hot dog aficionados. Chicago Hot Dogs are also one of my favorite topping styles.

At approximately 6 PM tonight, I will down a Chicago Hot Dog at Spalla's, completing my first 100 different hot dog joint visit close to home.

After this visit, I only have one more planned for 2012 (of course plans sometimes change). In 2013, I'd like to get closer to 200- maybe even get there! There are several "tours" in the works, but nothing is etched in stone.

Until then, happy 100th!

Hot Dog Joint #99 at The Framingham Food Truck Festival

In my never ending quest to eat hot dogs wherever I am, Little Miss and I went to the 2nd Annual Framingham Food Truck Festival last Saturday.

The day marked my 99th different hot dog eaten at a different hot dog joint for my website Hot Dog Stories. Number 100 will be this Thursday (stay tuned for an announcement).

We explored the festival, sampled some food, and got a hot dog at Kismet Catering from Natick, MA.

It was an excellent day.

Get the full story on the Framingham Food Truck Festival on Hot Dog Stories.

Framingham Food Truck Festival Today

Little Miss and I are off to the Framingham Food Truck Festival today where I will be eating at my 99th different hot dog joint. I'll have that story up on Hot Dog Stories in a day or two.

In the mean time, here's last year's video of the Festival.

Enjoy.

Framingham Food Truck Festival Tomorrow

The Second Annual Framingham Food Truck Festival is happening on Saturday, October 6 at Shopper's World in Framingham. The event was such a success last year, they're doing it again.

This year, a mobile food trailer known as Trolley Dogs from my hometown is making an appearance!

I will be cruising the grounds with my trusty camera and I'll be visiting my 99th different hot dog joint (the aforementioned Trolley Dogs- no relation to Zippity Do Dogs which used to be called Trolley Dogs) for Hot Dog Stories!

Hot Dog Stories' 100th venue will be featured next week! Details will follow, but it is going to be a special, communal type of event.

Stay up to date with Hot Dog Stories on the Hot Dog Stories Facebook Page- head on over and give it a "like."

New Blooper Video

There's a new Blooper Video on Hot Dog Stories that highlights some of the more amusing moments from the 2012 "season."

Over the course of the next week, I will be visiting my 99th and 100th DIFFERENT Hot Dog Joints for Hot Dog Stories!

Stay up to date with Hot Dog Stories on the Hot Dog Stories Facebook Page- head on over and give it a "like."

As always, stay tuned!

Ready for the New Jersey Hot Dog Tour

I have been looking forward to attending the 9th Annual New Jersey Hot Dog Tour since tour organizer John Fox invited me last spring, and the day is finally here!!

When I get on the bus today, I'll be bringing along my cameras and filming the tour for posterity on Hot Dog Stories. As an added bonus, somewhere in New Jersey, I will be making my 100th stop at a different hot dog joint!

Here's the first video of the weekend!

Assisted Living Hot Dog Story

Way back on July 2, at Zippity Do Dog in Framingham, where I stopped for the National Hot Dog Month 2012 Tour, I met a guy named "John" who works at Heritage Assisted Living in Framingham, MA. He was wondering if I would be interested in speaking at the "Men's Luncheon" sometime. 

Since I was pretty busy in July running around eating hot dogs, and I was in New York for the date of their August luncheon, we settled on September. Well the date is upon us, tomorrow as a matter of fact.

John sent me an email in which he said:

"We are hoping you would speak.  I  know the guys would be interested in hearing 

about your travels and adventures and anything to do with hot dogs. We will have hot dogs on the menu along with various side dishes."

I will be bringing my camera to do a little hot dog story with the guys.

All men who put ketchup on their hot dogs will be asked to join the ladies!

The New Jersey Hot Dog Tour!

Well, summer is almost over, but there are still hot dog joints to visit and more hot dogs to eat!

On September 22, 2012 I am taking the Hot Dog Stories show on the road to the 9th Annual New Jersey Hot Dog Tour! Each September, tour organizers John Fox and "Benzee" rent out a bus (this year there will be two) and drive around to different popular hot dog joints in Jersey. There are 9 or 10 stops along the way and some old school icons will be featured.

Here's a photo from the Hot Dog Nation Facebook Page of last year's big sign announcing the tour.

On a very cool note, somewhere in New Jersey, I will visit my 100th hot dog joint. I will be bringing some goodies for tour attendees and I hope to have something special for stop # 100.

Of course, the video cameras will be accompanying me. It should be a busload of hot doggin' fun.

Stay tuned for updates!

Hot Dog Bloopers

I posted a video with some bloopers from 2012 Hot Dog Stories. It's the featured video at the top of the page. Click HERE for Hot Dog Stories Bloopers.

Hot Doggin' in Maine at Nui's Delicious Dogs in Winter Harbor

The second stop on our little Hot Doggin' in Maine tour was the achingly scenic community of Winter Harbor, Maine. This little Down East Maine village of 500 or so people is breathtakingly beautiful; I didn't want to leave!

Winter Harbor, known for its annual Lobster Fest, is also the home of Nui's Delicious Dogs, a spiffy little hot dog cart in the parking lot of the Fisherman's Inn. Husband and wife Matt and Nui Johnson run the hot dog business, selling Maine Red Snappers, Pearl Franks, and Lobster Rolls.

I opted for a chili dog with cheese and Onion Crunch.

I chowed down!

Here's Matt and Nui with Matt's father, Carl, a two time Maine Chef of the year and owner of the Fisherman's Inn.

Get the full story on our visit to Nui's Delicious Dogs on Hot Dog Stories.

Hot Doggin' in Maine at WIENERS in Portland

Our first stop Hot Doggin' in Maine was at WIENERS, a little hot dog cart on the corner of Dana and Commercial Streets in downtown Portland.

Cart owner Jess Cady left the corporate world to sling Maine Red Snappers, burgers and "regular" hot dogs 8 years ago and has been firmly entrenched in the same location, just across from the harbor, since then.

Maine Red Snappers are pork and beef, natural casing franks that have been injected with dye to give them their garish color. Jess explained they are popular because they're the same color as lobster. They were originally dyed red to differentiate them from other purveyors' product "back in the day."

Mrs. HDM and I did our thing and chowed down! The food, atmosphere, owner and clientelle were all fantastic.

Get the rest of the story on our visit to WIENERS in Portland, Maine on Hot Dog Stories.

Back from Hot Doggin' in Maine!

Our annual trip to Maine to revel in a week sans children is complete. We always let out a cheer when we cross into Vacationland!

When you go to Maine, it's important to know where you're going! Mrs. HDM and I headed up the Maine Coast for our annual vacation and our now new tradition of combining business with pleasure by Hot Doggin' in Maine along the way. We spent five glorious days in Vacationland, site seeing, swimming, biking, eating, and drinking.

Our first stop was at a cute little cart in downtown Portland called, very simply, Wieners. The specialty of the house was Maine Red Snapper franks.

Next up was our primary destination for the week "Down East" in Winter Harbor (pronounced Wintah Hahbah). We were guests of renowned Maine chef Carl Johnson and family, owners of the Fisherman's Inn Restaurant, Sunset House Bed and Breakfast and Grindstone Neck Smokehouse.

No trip to Maine would be complete without Lobster. Carl and his staff did not disappoint.

Carl had a few tricks up his sleeve. The photo above is a "Lobster Dog;" that's a baked, stuffed lobster stuffed with Maine Red Snapper franks and served on a hot dog bun!

Carl didn't stop there, he made a "Hot Dog Roulade." This is a quarter pound, Pearl frank, stuffed with Brie, wrapped in bacon, and served on a bed of home made chili!

The reason Carl is so into hot dogs is instead of opening the restaurant for lunch, his son and daughter in law operate a hot dog cart in front of the restaurant. They serve Pearl Franks, Maine Red Snappers, and lobster rolls.

We also had dogs at Wasses' Belfast, Maine location for some yummy fried dogs.

Last up was Hoss and Mary's in Old Orchard Beach, Maine for a grilled Pearl and Mrs. HDM's favorite: POUTINE!

I shot a bunch of video and will have five or six stories in the coming week (Mrs. HDM only lets me film and download on vacation- no writing or editing), so 

STAY TUNED!!!!!

An Affiliate Summit East Album

Affiliate Summit East 2012 has come and gone. When I go to Affiliate Summit West in Las Vegas, I fly. For a trip to New York from Boston, I use somewhat more "basic" transportation.

Despite all the jokes about the company, Fung Wah Bus is the best deal around for getting to New York City. At only $30 round trip, it costs less than one night of parking in New York!

I left at 6:30 AM and promptly dozed off. When I woke up, the New York City skyline greeted me!

Here's a view of downtown.

Fung Wah Bus lands in New York's Chinatown.

The sights and smells were tempting. There was so much delicious food everywhere, I was tempted to hang around!

I made my way to Grand Street Station to grab the D train uptown.

I haven't been on the New York City Subway in 25 years! It hasn't changed much.

The endpoint for my train was Coney Island. I'll admit, I was tempted.....

I got off right out in front of the Ed Sullivan Theater. I don't think Letterman was taping today.

I snapped this picture of the iconic Carnegie Deli. Once again, I was tempted!

I fought off the urge for a corned beef on rye and made my way to The New York Hilton, where Affiliate Summit was taking place.

I checked in and cruised the exhibit hall for a few minutes.

Then it was off to the Blogger's Lounge where I met up with my friend and Shark Tank Blog partner, Kirk Taylor.

John Chow was there too, sans the "I'm John Chow, Bitch" tee shirt. A bit later, I cruised the exhibit floor with John and filmed his shenanigans for him.

I had made arrangements to meet up with Nick Loeb, founder of Onion Crunch. He was one of the sponsors of the National Hot Dog Month 2012 Tour.

I scouted a hot dog cart near the Hilton, so we headed over there for a hot dog. New York city has more people in the hot dog business per square mile than anywhere in the USA!

Of course, some CHOWING DOWN ensued!

We both liked the hot dogs, probably because they were loaded with Onion Crunch! I did a Hot Dog Story on our lunch too.

Troy Landry, King of the Swamp from the TV show Swamp People, was a guest in the exhibit hall, so I posed for a picture and made a video.

Then I conducted my round table discussion on using Mass Media to Drive Blog Traffic. Zac Johnson and Moneca Yardley were among the attendees.

After that, it was back on the Fung Wah to Boston. Next up, Mrs. Hotdogman and I go Hot Doggin' in Maine!