Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest

[GA Russell]

When I was a toddler, being taken to Howard Johnson's for a hot dog was my favorite thing in the whole world.

My dad's uncle worked for Howard one summer.  This was shortly after the turn of the century.  Howard had a push cart at Cape Cod, and Uncle Fred had the second cart.

[paul secor]

1 hour ago, GA Russell said:

When I was a toddler, being taken to Howard Johnson's for a hot dog was my favorite thing in the whole world.

My dad's uncle worked for Howard one summer.  This was shortly after the turn of the century.  Howard had a push cart at Cape Cod, and Uncle Fred had the second cart.

 

[Eric]

10 hours ago, Scott Dolan said:

I am a huge In & Out fan, but only get to eat them when we vacation out west. I think they're the best fast food burger. 

Had one last week in Vegas.  Awesome!

[rdavenport]

Obviously no Howard Johnsons here, but the mere mention of the name makes me think of Zappa's "Billy The Mountain", with Flo and Eddie squeaking "Howard Johnsons Howard Johnsons Howard Johnsons" 

[Scott Dolan]

Actually, there's no Howard Johnson's anywhere. That chain has been defunct for quite some time. We had one in Lake Buena Vista right outside the Walt Disney World property that we'd stop and eat at when I was a kid. I don't remember much about the food, though. It was also one of the largest hotels in the area at the time.

9 hours ago, Eric said:

Had one last week in Vegas.  Awesome!

I wish they'd expand eastward. I'd LOVE to have them here in Missouri. 

[rdavenport]

Ah, didn't know it was defunct. 

[Scott Dolan]

Yeah, they were very popular in the 70's and 80's, but slowly started disappearing in the 90's. Seemed to coincide with the rise of monster chains like Applebees and Chilis. 

[JSngry]

We had Stuckey's

 

[Scott Dolan]

Yeah, I believe we had those as well. 

I guess Perkins is the neo Howard Johnson's. 

[GA Russell]

Joey Chestnutt won for the 10th time in 11 years with a personal best 72 dogs.

[Soulstation1]

 

Edited July 5, 2017 by Soulstation1

[Soulstation1]

If you date / marry a women who can eat 30-40 hot dogs / buns don't be surprised if your hot dog doesn't satisfy her

?

Edited July 5, 2017 by Soulstation1

[JSngry]

[Soulstation1]

 

[catesta]

On 7/3/2017 at 2:13 PM, JSngry said:

There's a whole Bell vs. Bueno thing in these parts that I just don't get. Say what you will about Bell, at least it doesn't taste like it was stepped on by some nasty-ass kitchen shoe.

My daughter is very pro-Bueno, but that just goes to show you that love conquers all (my wife being a salter of watermelon & cantaloupe being another).

My only experiences with Taco Bueno has been in Oklahoma and Texas. That Amarillo incident was a few years ago and I'll never go back. Was it ever good?

[Tom 1960]

.Since we are talking burgers and dogs, I was in San Diego last fall and visited the legendary Hodads in Ocean Beach for a double cheese burger. It was amazing. Strictly local outfit, but pretty awesome. Great vibe there as well.

Edited July 5, 2017 by Tom 1960

[JSngry]

13 hours ago, catesta said:

My only experiences with Taco Bueno has been in Oklahoma and Texas. That Amarillo incident was a few years ago and I'll never go back. Was it ever good?

They have a pretty staunch fan base, of which I am not, nor ever have been, a member. But people who like them like them a lot, and they do ok, businesswise. No shortage of locations or airtime.

[Brad]

On 7/3/2017 at 1:12 PM, Scott Dolan said:

My wife swears Five Guys burgers are really good. I've never eaten there. 

I am a huge In & Out fan, but only get to eat them when we vacation out west. I think they're the best fast food burger. 

Five Guys are good burgers. We ate at In and Out only once (in Irvine I think) and were unimpressed. 

Stuckeys, HoJo and the like are what someone remarked to me about Bob's Big Boy (where I briefly worked back in the 70s): "a glorified shit stand."

[Soulstation1]

Damn. I just picked up a Boars Head Pepperoni Stick

Yum haven't bought one of those in a  few years 

[Scott Dolan]

Boar's Head anything is top shelf. 

[Soulstation1]

I like the Blazing Buffalo Chicken 

 

[Scott Dolan]

One of the few things I miss about living in Florida is going to Publix and getting their Ultimate sub, made with all Boar's Head meats. 

[Dan Gould]

I get those on a semi-regular basis but if I left Florida, I wouldn't miss 'em that much.

(for those unfamiliar, its turkey, ham, roast beef with whatever fixens you want)

But if we're on this subject I gotta say, never ever understood the concept of oil/vinegar being added to a sub. My response when asked is always "it's a sandwich not a salad. No thank you."

[Scott Dolan]

Trust me, if you moved away from Florida to a town where you couldn't get Boar's Head meat, you'd be dreaming about that sub. 

[jazzbo]

3 hours ago, Dan Gould said:

But if we're on this subject I gotta say, never ever understood the concept of oil/vinegar being added to a sub. My response when asked is always "it's a sandwich not a salad. No thank you."

That's the Italian influence. I like it myself, have always had it on subs. I grew up in Philadelphia where "hoagies" are sold. . . there was a neighborhood sub place that every now and then the last few years we were there I was tasked with going and getting hoagies for dinner, special occasion (boy did I grow up poor!) I would walk three or four blocks  home and stick my nose in the bag and smell the herbs and the oil and vinegar they put on those excellent hoagies. That became a smell I loved and still do. In Austin the closest to those sandwiches of my youth I found were from a (chain I think) called Hog Island. Here in Chardon, Ohio the closest is the Jersey Mike's #13. . . but it's not as close or as good as the Hog Island "Old Italian." (I really miss food in Austin a LOT).