We know savouring a hot dog is perhaps one of the most satisfying things in the world, but has the name of the dish ever seemed strange to you? Because truth be told, the bun and sausage along with the sauces look nothing like a ‘hot dog’. A popular American street food, hot dogs apparently have their roots in Rome. It is believed that the first hot dog travelled from Rome to Germany and the German immigrants brought the dish to the United States around the 1860s. Although the Romans would have never thought of ‘hot dogs’ when they first conceived a snack very simila, two interesting theories are there behind the peculiar name.
It is believed that the credit for the name of the dish as ‘hot dogs’ goes to Tad Dorgon who was a sports cartoonist for The New York Times. Before his contribution to the name of the dish, hot dogs were called ‘dachshund sausages’ or ‘red hot’. While on his walk in a street, Tad came across some vendors who were selling hot dogs by calling out “Get your dachshund sausages while they are red hot!”. This slogan kindled the cartoonist’s creative mind and he drew a barking sausage wrapped in a bun roll. Because the cartoonist couldn’t spell the word ‘dachshund’, he called the dish ‘hot dogs’. The cartoon became a hit and people began calling it ‘Hot Dog’ exactly like in the cartoon.
As per other popular legend, the name of the dish began as a joke. It is believed that the Germans brought their dogs with them which were of the dachshund breed. The Americans started joking about their weird-looking dogs and named the dish brought by them after the breed of the dogs.
Although the etymology of the word ‘hot dogs’ is still unknown, these are the popular theories behind the origin of the name of the dish. No matter what the real story is, we can't help but thank the Germans, Americans and Tad for the popularity of the dish. And now if you are craving some hot dogs, click here for the recipe.