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On 7/1/13 3:28 PM, True North wrote:
On Monday, 1 July 2013 16:14:19 UTC-3, F.O.A.D. wrote:
Top Dog: Who Makes the Best Kosher Hot Dog in America?

By Eli Cohn-Wein





Memorial Day is almost upon us, and itï¿?s time to dust off that grill in

the garage, fire it up and lay some franks down on it. The question is,

are you really honoring the freedom your American forefathers fought for

if you just get the same pack of Hebrew National every time you want

some kosher dogs? What kind of freedom is that?



Thankfully, we live in a world with options, and we, here at the

Forward, have tried out eight different varieties of kosher frankfurters

to find out which will have the guests at your next BBQ plotzing. (Oh,

and donï¿?t forget mustard to top your dog.)



Scroll down to see which dog was crowned king.



8) Fairway All American Kosher Beef Frankfurter, $4.69 for a pack of 8

Despite the supermarketï¿?s popularity among New Yorkers, Fairwayï¿?s

branded dog leaves much to be desired. The skin of the dog is chewy when

cooked, without the clean, satisfying ï¿?snapï¿? of a normal dog. The dogs

also tasted highly salted and had a lemony aftertaste that detracted

from the meat.



7) Real Kosher Beef Frankfurters, $4.59 for a pack of 8

Real Kosher, which primarily does private labeling for smaller chain

supermarkets, presents a dog that had a decent beef flavor with a nice

spiced garlic aftertaste. We ran into problems, however, with both skin

(almost non-existent) and texture, which was smooth in a way that tasted

very processed.



6) Hebrew National Reduced Fat Beef Frankfurters, $4.99 for a Pack of 7

The first of two entries from the kosher hotdog goliath is the ï¿?dietï¿?

option they provide, which did clock in as the lowest fat dog, at only 9

grams per wiener. However, its sodium level was higher than a number of

the non-diet dogs, so letï¿?s not call it a health food just yet.

Amazingly, the flavor is not particularly hurt by the lack of fat, with

a sweet and spicy finish. It only sits at this low spot in our list

because of the texture, which is mushy and underwhelming.



5) Jacks Gourmet Kosher Cured Bratwurst, $7.99 for a pack of 4

We allowed this one non-frankfurter in because it has the same basic

ingredients as the rest of our dogs (water, salt, beef). Also, it looked

yummy. And it did not disappoint ï¿? but it is distinctly not a hot dog.

It tastes like a moist and meaty pepperoni, with a strong sage flavor.

It also had the most satisfying skin of the dogs we ate, with a firm

snap to the initial bite and a nice meaty texture throughout.



4) Lower East Side Premium Kosher Beef Frankfurters, $5.99 for a pack of 5

Lower East Side Franks is one of the aforementioned small chain labels

produced by Real Kosher. The company is clearly giving away the good

stuff, because while this variation did struggle with the same texture

issues that the Real Kosher dogs did, their flavor was terrific, among

the best of the group. Each bite had a nice blend of the hot dog

trifecta (sweet/spicy/smoky) with a lovely meaty aftertaste.



3) Hebrew National Bun Length Beef Franks, $4.99 for a pack of 7

The standard held up well against its competition. What it lacks in the

outstanding qualities of the other dogs (spice, texture, etc.) it makes

up in its innate dog-ness. Perhaps because of its ubiquity in Jewish

culture, a Hebrew National frank simply tastes like what a hot dog

should taste like. There may be tastier options, but that may not matter

to your taste budsï¿? memories.



2) Aaronï¿?s Best Beef Franks, $6.99 for a pack of 8

The battle for the top spot was a tough one, with Aaronï¿?s falling to a

close second. This frank has a crisp bite, luxurious meaty flavor, and

subtle smoky aftertaste. It only gets dinged for a slight lack of

texture in the body. Still, it is an excellent option.



1) Abeles & Heymann Beef Frankfurters, $5.99 for a pack of 8

The ï¿?top dogï¿? (oy) is Abeles and Heymanï¿?s spectacular beef frank. It is

the kosher dog of choice for both the Yankees and Mets, and upon tasting

them it is clear that is no coincidence. Juicy and meaty with a crisp

bite, an overt rich beef flavor, and a sweet garlic finish. Any Memorial

Day with these on the grill will be a good one.



http://tinyurl.com/pjpp4xu





I've had the pleasure of biting into four of these different dogs, and I

can't argue against Abeles & Heymann. We'll be at Yankee Stadium this

summer during a trip to New Haven and I'll be sure to get a few. I think

I've seen them at Costco, too, but years ago. I'm still a fan of Hebrew

National dogs.

Thinking about pork free...I saw a documentary program on the weekend that made me swear off bacon/ham/pork for the immediate future.
It showed a pig farm in Alberta and how the animals were treated before slaughter. Especially bad were the narrow little crated the female hogs were stuffed into while awaiting for the little piglets to arrive.
just terrible... you could see the behavior of the mother pigs in response to this cage.


It's not really any better for cattle.

Or chickens, or turkeys. THAT is precisely why I have NO trouble with
those who hunt for food.