Montreal hot dog
Encyclopedia
The Montreal hot dog is one of several variations of hot dog
s served as a fast food
staple at restaurants and diners
in Montreal
and other parts of Quebec
. Similarities exist with the hot dog culture of Chicago
and New York City
.
In Montreal (and elsewhere in the province of Quebec), the hot dog bun
s generally used in restaurants are top loading (New England style) hot dog buns, rather than the side loading hot dog buns generally used in other parts of Canada. Montreal hot dogs are considered to be rather small and are generally sold for between $0.50 and $1.00 depending on the area of purchase and dressing. Popular brands include Lesters, Lafleur’s
, and Glatt's kosher.
The city of Montreal
has not permitted street food carts since 1947http://www.cyberpresse.ca/vivre/cuisine/restaurants/201108/14/01-4425984-la-cuisine-de-rue-sinvite-a-montreal.php, leading to a proliferation of small “greasy spoon” restaurants which are variations on the classic Québécois casse-croute (snack-type) restaurants. These restaurants serve hot dogs with fresh-cut fries (patates frites, often served “very brown and greasy”), poutine
, hamburgers, pogos (corn dogs), hamburger steaks, in addition to Greek dishes (typically souvlaki and gyro), pizza, and smoked meat
. Restaurant chains known for their hot dogs include La Belle Province
, Valentine
, and Lafleur Restaurants
. One longstanding Montreal independent restaurant that offers hot dogs is the Montreal Pool Room
.
chain), which are fresh from the steamer and rather soft, or toasté (referred to in English as "Toasties"), which are grilled or toasted until crisp. Toastés are slightly more expensive and are less popular.
Local hot dogs generally come dressed three ways:
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:...
s served as a fast food
Fast food
Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a...
staple at restaurants and diners
Diners
Diners can mean:* Diners Club International, a credit card company* plural of "diner", see Diner * Diners are type of North American restaurant...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and other parts of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. Similarities exist with the hot dog culture of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
In Montreal (and elsewhere in the province of Quebec), the hot dog bun
Hot dog bun
A hot dog bun is a type of soft bun shaped specifically to contain a hot dog. The original purpose of this bun was to make it possible to eat hot dogs without burning ones hands....
s generally used in restaurants are top loading (New England style) hot dog buns, rather than the side loading hot dog buns generally used in other parts of Canada. Montreal hot dogs are considered to be rather small and are generally sold for between $0.50 and $1.00 depending on the area of purchase and dressing. Popular brands include Lesters, Lafleur’s
Lafleur Restaurants
Lafleur Restaurants is a chain of family-owned fast food restaurants located in the metropolitan area of Montreal.- Cuisine :Lafleur is widely known for serving the basic staples of Québécois fast food, such as hot dogs, hamburgers, french fries and poutine. It is particularly known for its hot dog...
, and Glatt's kosher.
The city of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
has not permitted street food carts since 1947http://www.cyberpresse.ca/vivre/cuisine/restaurants/201108/14/01-4425984-la-cuisine-de-rue-sinvite-a-montreal.php, leading to a proliferation of small “greasy spoon” restaurants which are variations on the classic Québécois casse-croute (snack-type) restaurants. These restaurants serve hot dogs with fresh-cut fries (patates frites, often served “very brown and greasy”), poutine
Poutine
Poutine is a Canadian dish of French fries and fresh cheese curds, covered with brown gravy or sauce. Sometimes additional ingredients are added.Poutine is a fast food dish that originated in Quebec and can now be found across Canada...
, hamburgers, pogos (corn dogs), hamburger steaks, in addition to Greek dishes (typically souvlaki and gyro), pizza, and smoked meat
Montreal-style smoked meat
Montreal-style smoked meat, Montreal smoked meat or simply smoked meat in Montreal , is a type of kosher-style deli meat product made by salting and curing beef brisket with spices...
. Restaurant chains known for their hot dogs include La Belle Province
La Belle Province (restaurant)
La Belle Province is a well-known fast-food eatery in the province of Quebec, Canada. It is known as La Belle Pro, Belle Pro, or La Belle for short nicknames. Each location is independently franchised; some are open 24 hours a day.-History:...
, Valentine
Valentine (Restaurant)
Valentine is a chain of over 100 privately owned restaurant franchises operating in the province of Quebec, Canada.The first restaurant opened in 1979 in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec...
, and Lafleur Restaurants
Lafleur Restaurants
Lafleur Restaurants is a chain of family-owned fast food restaurants located in the metropolitan area of Montreal.- Cuisine :Lafleur is widely known for serving the basic staples of Québécois fast food, such as hot dogs, hamburgers, french fries and poutine. It is particularly known for its hot dog...
. One longstanding Montreal independent restaurant that offers hot dogs is the Montreal Pool Room
Montreal Pool Room
The Montreal Pool Room is a Montreal hot dog and French fry restaurant, located in the city's small red-light district on Saint Laurent Boulevard, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada....
.
Variations
Hot dogs may either be steamé (also stimé), referred to in English as "Steamies", a name which was briefly used by an Ontario chain (affiliated with the La Belle ProvinceLa Belle Province (restaurant)
La Belle Province is a well-known fast-food eatery in the province of Quebec, Canada. It is known as La Belle Pro, Belle Pro, or La Belle for short nicknames. Each location is independently franchised; some are open 24 hours a day.-History:...
chain), which are fresh from the steamer and rather soft, or toasté (referred to in English as "Toasties"), which are grilled or toasted until crisp. Toastés are slightly more expensive and are less popular.
Local hot dogs generally come dressed three ways:
- All-dressed (Montreal Style): This hotdog, nicknamed a 'steamie', is topped with mustard, chopped onion, and sauerkrautSauerkrautSauerkraut , directly translated from German: "sour cabbage", is finely shredded cabbage that has been fermented by various lactic acid bacteria, including Leuconostoc, Lactobacillus, and Pediococcus. It has a long shelf-life and a distinctive sour flavor, both of which result from the lactic acid...
. Sometimes fresh coleslawColeslawColeslaw, sometimes simply called slaw in some American dialects, is a salad consisting primarily of shredded raw cabbage. It may also include shredded carrots and other ingredients such as fruits and vegetables, apples, onions, green onions, peppers and various spices.-History:The term "coleslaw"...
, or plain chopped cabbage, is used instead of sauerkraut. All-dressed typically does not include ketchup, which must be requested specifically. Relish is also usually available, but in the oldest hot-doggeries, e.g., the Montreal Pool Room (now Le vieux Montreal Pool Room), "all-dressed" still means without relish. - 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...
: This hot dog is topped with meat chili sauce. It can be served with or without diced onions and mustard. - Supreme: The hot dog is topped with cheese and bacon. This variation comes from Lafleur’s Restaurants.