Coney Island hot dog
Encyclopedia
Coney Island hot dog refers to a natural casing beef
hot dog
, topped with an all-meat beanless chili
, and diced or chopped white onions with one or two strips of yellow mustard. The variety is a fixture in Jackson
, Flint
, Detroit, and southeastern Michigan
. Despite the name, the "Coney Island" preparation style has little direct association with Coney Island
, New York itself, beyond a recognition of the birthplace of the original hot dog. A Coney Dog is not to be confused with a generic Chili Dog which is a synthetic casing hot dog that is boiled with Texas style chili draped over it.
In some areas, most notably central and western New York
, the term "Coney Island dog" is also used in connection with the white hot
, a stronger and more spicy variety of the traditional pork hot dog.
, when he opened his restaurant, Todoroff's Original Coney Island, in 1914. What makes Todoroff's Coney dog unique from a hot dog, a Michigan hot dog
, cheese dog or subsequent Coney dogs, is its beanless chili, typically utilizing beef heart. The grilled hot dog is topped with this thick chili, as well as yellow mustard and chopped white onions. The hot dog itself is never boiled or steamed.
in Flint. Many in Michigan make the claim that in order to be an "authentic" Flint or Detroit Coney, the hot dog must be a Koegel Vienna.
In Cincinnati, the "cheese Coney" is a variation of the Coney Island hot dog topped with the city's unique style of chili
, onions, and shredded cheese which nearly hide the wiener, which is smaller in size than the typical Detroit-style Coney dog. Its popularity makes Cincinnati nearly synonymous with cheese Coneys; outside of Cincinnati, the topping is referred to "Cincinnati style chili," whereas within the city it is simply known as "chili" from the many neighborhood franchises started by Greek immigrants.
Beef
Beef is the culinary name for meat from bovines, especially domestic cattle. Beef can be harvested from cows, bulls, heifers or steers. It is one of the principal meats used in the cuisine of the Middle East , Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and the United States, and is also important in...
hot dog
Hot dog
A hot dog is a sausage served in a sliced bun. It is very often garnished with mustard, ketchup, onions, mayonnaise, relish and/or sauerkraut.-History:...
, topped with an all-meat beanless chili
Chili con carne
Chili con carne is a spicy stew. The name of the dish derives from the Spanish chile con carne, "chili pepper with meat". Traditional versions are made, minimally, from chili peppers, garlic, onions, and cumin, along with chopped or ground beef. Beans and tomatoes are frequently included...
, and diced or chopped white onions with one or two strips of yellow mustard. The variety is a fixture in Jackson
Jackson, Michigan
Jackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534...
, Flint
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
, Detroit, and southeastern Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. Despite the name, the "Coney Island" preparation style has little direct association with Coney Island
Coney Island
Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
, New York itself, beyond a recognition of the birthplace of the original hot dog. A Coney Dog is not to be confused with a generic Chili Dog which is a synthetic casing hot dog that is boiled with Texas style chili draped over it.
In some areas, most notably central and western New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, the term "Coney Island dog" is also used in connection with the white hot
White Hot
The white hot is a variation on the hot dog found in Rochester, New York, and the upstate area. It is composed of some combination of uncured and unsmoked pork, beef, and veal; the lack of smoking or curing allows the meat to retain a naturally white color...
, a stronger and more spicy variety of the traditional pork hot dog.
Origin
The Coney Island Dog was invented by George Todoroff in Jackson, MichiganJackson, Michigan
Jackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534...
, when he opened his restaurant, Todoroff's Original Coney Island, in 1914. What makes Todoroff's Coney dog unique from a hot dog, a Michigan hot dog
Michigan hot dog
A Michigan hot dog, or "Michigan", is a steamed hot dog on a steamed bun topped with a meaty sauce, generally referred to as "Michigan Sauce". The chili may or may not be tomato-based, depending on where the Michigan is purchased. Michigans can be served with or without chopped onions...
, cheese dog or subsequent Coney dogs, is its beanless chili, typically utilizing beef heart. The grilled hot dog is topped with this thick chili, as well as yellow mustard and chopped white onions. The hot dog itself is never boiled or steamed.
Local varieties
The Detroit and Flint Coney Dogs were introduced three years later by American Coney Island and later Lafayette Coney Island, both of Detroit. Flint style Coneys are closely related to the original Jackson dog, and are characterized by a dry chili more similar in consistency to ground beef than chili. The Detroit style chili is more of a sauce with a smooth, creamy consistency utilizing Hungarian spices. The hot dog of choice for both is generally a Koegel Vienna made by Koegel Meat CompanyKoegel Meat Company
The Koegel Meat Company is a meat processing, packaging, and distribution company based in the city of Flint, Michigan. Koegel's produces 35 types of meat products, including bologna, hotdogs, sausages, franks, loafs, salamis, vienna frankfurters, and gourmet meat products.Koegel Meats is located...
in Flint. Many in Michigan make the claim that in order to be an "authentic" Flint or Detroit Coney, the hot dog must be a Koegel Vienna.
In Cincinnati, the "cheese Coney" is a variation of the Coney Island hot dog topped with the city's unique style of chili
Cincinnati chili
Cincinnati chili is a regional style of Chili con carne characterized by the use of unusual seasonings such as cinnamon, cloves, allspice or chocolate. It is commonly served over spaghetti or as a hot dog sauce, and is normally of a thin, sauce-like consistency, unlike most chili con carne...
, onions, and shredded cheese which nearly hide the wiener, which is smaller in size than the typical Detroit-style Coney dog. Its popularity makes Cincinnati nearly synonymous with cheese Coneys; outside of Cincinnati, the topping is referred to "Cincinnati style chili," whereas within the city it is simply known as "chili" from the many neighborhood franchises started by Greek immigrants.
See also
- Coney IslandConey Island (restaurant)A Coney Island is a type of restaurant popular in the northern United States, particularly in Michigan, as well as the name for the chili dog after which the restaurant was named.- Genealogy of the name :...
, a type of diner in southeastern MichiganMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake".... - Coney IslandConey Island (disambiguation)- Places :* Coney Island, Bermuda, a small island in St. George's Parish, Bermuda* Coney Island, Cincinnati, Ohio, an amusement park in Cincinnati, Ohio...
- Coney Island Amusement ParkConey Island, Cincinnati, OhioConey Island is a small amusement park and waterpark located in the California neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio and Anderson Township, on the banks of the Ohio River east of Downtown Cincinnati...
- Coney Island, New YorkConey IslandConey Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
- Michigan hot dogMichigan hot dogA Michigan hot dog, or "Michigan", is a steamed hot dog on a steamed bun topped with a meaty sauce, generally referred to as "Michigan Sauce". The chili may or may not be tomato-based, depending on where the Michigan is purchased. Michigans can be served with or without chopped onions...
- Chicago-style hot dogChicago-style hot dogA Chicago-style hot dog, or Chicago Dog, is a steamed or water-simmered all-beef frankfurter on a poppy seed bun, originating from the city of Chicago, Illinois...