Washington, take a bow.
In a bracket-style taste test meant to settle one of America’s big food debates, the Seattle dog was named the best regional hot dog in the country. It beat out famous styles from Chicago, New York, Detroit, Cincinnati, and West Virginia.
A World-Class Chef Just Judged the Best Hot Dog in America
Wirecutter, the New York Times product and lifestyle review site, organized the competition and brought in chef José Andrés as the judge. Andrés is not just any food personality. He is a James Beard Award-winning chef and the founder of World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit that has delivered hundreds of millions of meals to communities recovering from disasters. If anyone can settle a hot dog debate, it’s him.
Eight regional styles competed in the bracket. Chicago entered its famous dog with yellow mustard, neon relish, tomatoes, a pickle spear, sport peppers, and celery salt on a poppy seed bun. Ketchup was strictly off-limits. New York offered its simple steamed frank with mustard and onion sauce. Detroit, Cincinnati, and West Virginia also made strong cases for their local traditions.
Chicago and New York Didn’t Make the Cut — Seattle Did
In the end, it was Cincinnati versus Seattle in the final, and Seattle came out on top…