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Hot dog! Wienermobile supports food pantries

By Claude Haton

CATSKILL — Hot dog lovers from all over stopped in at Catskill Tuesday to visit the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. The iconic symbol of what is arguably America’s favorite tubesteak was parked at the Wal-Mart lot in part to show their support for area charities.

“Everything we collect today will go to the local food pantries,” said Tara Oslick, wienermobile representative, as fans gathered for photos with the vehicle. A collection box for donations stood nearby.

But for the most part youngsters of all ages stopped in simply to see the vehicle and have their photos taken with it. Photos were available for download the next day from Oscar Mayer’s website. Teens giggled and goofed during the sessions. Some older folks sang the company’s theme song. One man even offered alternate lyrics.

The wienermobile is a year-round gig for the young people traveling the circuit.

“Once we graduate from Hot Dog High,” said Oslick, “They give us the keys and off we go.”

There are actually six full size wienermobiles on the road, based out of Madison, Wis., plus a new, smaller version built on a Mini Cooper chassis for 2008. Oslick, along with Ben Kopish, Magaley Estrella, and Beth Zambrano, have been assigned the northeast district which they patrol in ‘Big Bun.”

Hot dogs are one of America’s favorite cook-out foods and goes by many names depending on who you speak to. Wieners, weenies, frankfurters, red hots and tubesteaks top the list. They can be made from beef, pork, chicken, turkey or any combination of the above. They can be kosher for the devout, and there are vegetarian or ‘meat analogue’ versions for the PETA folks. They can even can be made from tofu.

Condiments also vary widely, from mustard, relish, chili, cheese and sauerkraut to onion and peppers and beyond. Opinions vary on which are appropriate and can be very strong.

For instance, in a 1970s Clint Eastwood film, while focusing a disapproving eye on a wiener-munching cohort at a murder scene, Dirty Harry Callahan states, “You know what really turns my stomach? Nobody, but nobody puts ketchup on a hot dog.”

Use of ketchup on a dog is widely considered taboo. It’s practically illegal in Chigago, which has more hot dog stands than fast food restaurants. Many vendors don’t even stock the condiment.

The wienermobile was introduced by the Oscar Mayer company in 1936, and the hot dog’s popularity has grown in part due to its appearance.

The frankfurter, with origins that can be traced back to the 1480’s and beyond, gained popularity in America around 1870 when a German immigrant began selling sausages in rolls on Coney Island. Oscar Mayer opened its doors in 1883 in Chicago.

The hot dog has been referenced in many films. In 1939’s “The Wizard of Oz,” Toto steals a hot dog from Professor Marvel, who chuckles amusedly, “From one dog to another, eh.”

The term hot dog has also grown as an expression, depicting delight or describing a person with ambition. “Hot Dog” was a television series in the 1970s starring Woody Allen and “Hot Dog, The Movie” was a ski bum film produced in 1980 and starred David Naughton. The film grossed $17 million.

In the 2008 film “Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium,” the title character tests a prospective accountant with the age-old question,” Why are there ten hot dogs to a package while there are only eight buns in a bag.”

The prospect suggests that one might drop a hot dog during preparation to which Dustin Hoffman’s character responds, “Oh, c’mon. Who drops a hot dog?”

Questions about the unequal portions dilemma were posed to the Oscar Mayer representatives in Catskill Tuesday.

“Well, you might snack on a raw one while you’re cooking them,” said one. (Hot dogs are actually already fully cooked, you just heat them up.)

Good answer, although some warn against eating dogs right out of the package. Another visitor commented that sharing with the family canine during preparation might account for inclusion of extra sausages. Again, from one dog to another.

Whatever the reason, some manufacturers have chosen in recent years to diminish the count while upping the weight of individual dogs. Bun length dogs have also appeared, promising mystery meat in every bite.

In either case, balance is restored to the universe with these options for those who require it.

The nutritional value of hot dogs is often a question of debate. The contents, that is, what part of the subject animal is included in your wiener, can often be a puzzle. In pork sausages, butchers are said to use “everything but the squeal.”

Perhaps the best advice is the aft-repeated adage which suggests, “It’s better that you don’t know what’s in a hot dog; It’s better to just enjoy the hot dog.”

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