Nick Tahou Hots
Encyclopedia
Nick Tahou Hots, originally known as Hots and Potatoes, is a Rochester, New York
, landmark restaurant featuring a dish called the Garbage Plate. The restaurant was founded in 1918 by Alex Tahou, the grandfather of the current owner (also named Alex Tahou), and named for Nick Tahou, the founder's son, who operated the establishment until his death in 1997. While there are other Upstate New York variants, Nick Tahou's is the originator of the Garbage Plate and, as holder of the trademark, the only restaurant able to use the name.
A Garbage Plate is a combination of one selection of cheeseburger
, hamburger
, red hots
, white hot
s, Italian sausage
, chicken tender
, fish
(haddock
), fried ham
, grilled cheese, or eggs
; and two sides of either home fries
, French fries
, baked beans
, or macaroni salad
. On top of that are the options of mustard
and onion
s, and Nick's proprietary hot sauce, a tastless sauce with spices and slowly simmered ground beef. It's served with rolls or Italian toast on the side, fresh from the bakery next door. Health.com named the Garbage Plate the fattiest food in the state of New York.
's Sigma Phi Epsilon
. Held annually in the spring, this three-man race begins at the U of R River Campus. The first of the team members run 2.2 miles through the city to Nick Tahou's. Once they arrive, the second teammate eats a garbage plate as quickly as they are able, then the final teammate runs back to campus to complete the race. In a race titled the "Ironman", one-man teams attempt to complete all three tasks alone. CURE Childhood Cancer Association is the recipient of all proceeds collected during the event, including sponsor funds and contestant's entry fees. Many Rochester Institute of Technology
students have made it tradition to buy a garbage plate, take it to Nick Tahou's grave
site and eat it on his birthday (January 6).
From 1979 to 2007, there were two Nick Tahou Hots restaurants in Rochester: one located in downtown Rochester and the other satellite restaurant located on Lyell Avenue in Gates
. In 2007, Steve Tahou and his sister Joanne Tahou-Demkou, the children of Ike Tahou (Nick's brother), assumed full ownership of the Lyell Ave. location and renamed it "Steve T. Hots and Potatoes". Steve has returned to using Rochester-based Zweigle's hot dogs and Italian sausages, which were used in the original garbage plates at Nick's. The original West Main Street location continue to use the trademarked "Nick Tahou" and "Garbage Plate" names, and continue to use the Nick Tahou Hot Dog branded dogs in their plates. While previously open all night, the downtown restaurant began closing at 8 p.m. in 1998 due to a spate of disturbances. Steve T.'s remains open 24 hours a day. Peak times of business occur during the weekends shortly after 2am, when local bars close.
There was also a short-lived Nick Tahou's operation in Oswego, New York
, but not much is known about the location or its history.
On August 3rd, 2010, a second location opened at 3070 West Henrietta Road, in the town of Henrietta, New York
.
's Unwrapped
episode titled "Funny Foods" as well as the City in a Box Monopoly
-based board game showcasing famous Rochester landmarks. The Garbage Plate was also highlighted in the July 2007 issue of the US Airways
in-flight magazine.
On the November 16, 2009 episode of "The Daily Show," Jon Stewart told the people of Rochester to "Get their heads out of their Garbage Plates."http://eztvlinks.com/the-daily-show-november-16-2009-jake-adelstein/ On February 23, 2011 the Food Network filmed a segment for the show "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" on the recommendation of Pastry Chef Johnny Iuzzini. http://www.whec.com/news/stories/s1986856.shtml?cat=565
Nick Tahou's was also featured on the Travel Channel's series Chowdown Countdown where it ranked #81 out of 101 locations.
, including Mark's Texas Hots ("The Sloppy Plate"), Gitsis Texas Hots ("The Gitsis Plate"), Empire Hots ("The Trash Plate"), Fairport Hots ("The Hot Plate"), Tom Wahl's ("55 Junker Plate"), and http://www.circusinyourmouth.com/ Jimmy Z's ("Five Star Plate") and Hungry's in the village of Pittsford among others.
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, landmark restaurant featuring a dish called the Garbage Plate. The restaurant was founded in 1918 by Alex Tahou, the grandfather of the current owner (also named Alex Tahou), and named for Nick Tahou, the founder's son, who operated the establishment until his death in 1997. While there are other Upstate New York variants, Nick Tahou's is the originator of the Garbage Plate and, as holder of the trademark, the only restaurant able to use the name.
Garbage Plate
Cheeseburger
A cheeseburger is a hamburger with cheese that has been added to it. Traditionally, the cheese is placed on top of the patty, but the burger can include many variations in structure, ingredients, and composition...
, hamburger
Hamburger
A hamburger is a sandwich consisting of a cooked patty of ground meat usually placed inside a sliced bread roll...
, red hots
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:...
, 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...
s, Italian sausage
Sausage
A sausage is a food usually made from ground meat , mixed with salt, herbs, and other spices, although vegetarian sausages are available. The word sausage is derived from Old French saussiche, from the Latin word salsus, meaning salted.Typically, a sausage is formed in a casing traditionally made...
, chicken tender
Chicken fingers
Chicken fingers are deep-fried strips of chicken meat that do not include any bones or skin....
, fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
(haddock
Haddock
The haddock , also known as the offshore hake, is a marine fish distributed on both sides of the North Atlantic. Haddock is a popular food fish and is widely fished commercially....
), fried ham
Ham
Ham is a cut of meat from the thigh of the hind leg of certain animals, especiallypigs. Nearly all hams sold today are fully cooked or cured.-Etymology:...
, grilled cheese, or eggs
Egg (food)
Eggs are laid by females of many different species, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, and have probably been eaten by mankind for millennia. Bird and reptile eggs consist of a protective eggshell, albumen , and vitellus , contained within various thin membranes...
; and two sides of either home fries
Home fries
Home fries, house fries, or cottage fries are a type of basic potato dish made by pan or skillet frying diced, chunked, wedged or sliced potatoes that have been par-cooked by boiling, baking, steaming, or microwaving....
, French fries
French fries
French fries , chips, fries, or French-fried potatoes are strips of deep-fried potato. North Americans tend to refer to any pieces of deep-fried potatoes as fries or French fries, while in the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand, long, thinly cut slices of deep-fried potatoes are...
, baked beans
Baked beans
Baked beans is a dish containing beans, sometimes baked but, despite the name, usually stewed, in a sauce. Most commercial canned baked beans are made from haricot beans, also known as navy beans – a variety of Phaseolus vulgaris – in a sauce. In Ireland and the United Kingdom, a tomato...
, or macaroni salad
Macaroni salad
Macaroni salad is a salad, served cold made with cooked elbow macaroni pasta and usually prepared with mayonnaise. Much like potato salad or coleslaw in its use, it is often served as an accompaniment to barbecue, fried chicken, or other picnic style entrees...
. On top of that are the options of mustard
Mustard (condiment)
Mustard is a condiment made from the seeds of a mustard plant...
and onion
Onion
The onion , also known as the bulb onion, common onion and garden onion, is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Allium. The genus Allium also contains a number of other species variously referred to as onions and cultivated for food, such as the Japanese bunching onion The onion...
s, and Nick's proprietary hot sauce, a tastless sauce with spices and slowly simmered ground beef. It's served with rolls or Italian toast on the side, fresh from the bakery next door. Health.com named the Garbage Plate the fattiest food in the state of New York.
Philanthropy
A charitable Garbage Plate Run is sponsored by the University of RochesterUniversity of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
's Sigma Phi Epsilon
Sigma Phi Epsilon
Sigma Phi Epsilon , commonly nicknamed SigEp or SPE, is a social college fraternity for male college students in the United States. It was founded on November 1, 1901, at Richmond College , and its national headquarters remains in Richmond, Virginia. It was founded on three principles: Virtue,...
. Held annually in the spring, this three-man race begins at the U of R River Campus. The first of the team members run 2.2 miles through the city to Nick Tahou's. Once they arrive, the second teammate eats a garbage plate as quickly as they are able, then the final teammate runs back to campus to complete the race. In a race titled the "Ironman", one-man teams attempt to complete all three tasks alone. CURE Childhood Cancer Association is the recipient of all proceeds collected during the event, including sponsor funds and contestant's entry fees. Many Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology
The Rochester Institute of Technology is a private university, located within the town of Henrietta in metropolitan Rochester, New York, United States...
students have made it tradition to buy a garbage plate, take it to Nick Tahou's grave
Grave (burial)
A grave is a location where a dead body is buried. Graves are usually located in special areas set aside for the purpose of burial, such as graveyards or cemeteries....
site and eat it on his birthday (January 6).
Other locations
Gates, New York
Gates is a town in Monroe County, New York. The town is named after General Horatio Gates. The population was 28,400 at the 2010 census. Gates-North Gates census-designated place is located within the town's boundaries....
. In 2007, Steve Tahou and his sister Joanne Tahou-Demkou, the children of Ike Tahou (Nick's brother), assumed full ownership of the Lyell Ave. location and renamed it "Steve T. Hots and Potatoes". Steve has returned to using Rochester-based Zweigle's hot dogs and Italian sausages, which were used in the original garbage plates at Nick's. The original West Main Street location continue to use the trademarked "Nick Tahou" and "Garbage Plate" names, and continue to use the Nick Tahou Hot Dog branded dogs in their plates. While previously open all night, the downtown restaurant began closing at 8 p.m. in 1998 due to a spate of disturbances. Steve T.'s remains open 24 hours a day. Peak times of business occur during the weekends shortly after 2am, when local bars close.
There was also a short-lived Nick Tahou's operation in Oswego, New York
Oswego, New York
Oswego is a city in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 18,142 at the 2010 census. Oswego is located on Lake Ontario in north-central New York and promotes itself as "The Port City of Central New York"...
, but not much is known about the location or its history.
On August 3rd, 2010, a second location opened at 3070 West Henrietta Road, in the town of Henrietta, New York
Henrietta, New York
Henrietta is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States. It is a suburb of Rochester. The population was 42,581 at the 2010 census. Established in 1818, the town is named after Henrietta Laura Pulteney, Countess of Bath, daughter of Sir William Pulteney, 5th Baronet, a major British...
.
Features
Nick's has been featured on Food NetworkFood Network
Food Network is a television specialty channel that airs both one-time and recurring programs about food and cooking. Scripps Networks Interactive owns 70 percent of the network, with Tribune Company controlling the remaining 30 percent....
's Unwrapped
Unwrapped
Unwrapped is an American television program on Food Network that reveals the origins of foods. It first aired in June 2001 and is hosted by Marc Summers. The show leads viewers on tours of factories and other food-related locations. Popular subjects include candy, breakfast cereal, snacks, and TV...
episode titled "Funny Foods" as well as the City in a Box Monopoly
Monopoly (game)
Marvin Gardens, the leading yellow property on the board shown, is actually a misspelling of the original location name, Marven Gardens. The misspelling was said to be introduced by Charles Todd and passed on when his home-made Monopoly board was copied by Charles Darrow and thence to Parker...
-based board game showcasing famous Rochester landmarks. The Garbage Plate was also highlighted in the July 2007 issue of the US Airways
US Airways
US Airways, Inc. is a major airline based in the U.S. city of Tempe, Arizona. The airline is an operating unit of US Airways Group and is the sixth largest airline by traffic and eighth largest by market value in the country....
in-flight magazine.
On the November 16, 2009 episode of "The Daily Show," Jon Stewart told the people of Rochester to "Get their heads out of their Garbage Plates."http://eztvlinks.com/the-daily-show-november-16-2009-jake-adelstein/ On February 23, 2011 the Food Network filmed a segment for the show "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" on the recommendation of Pastry Chef Johnny Iuzzini. http://www.whec.com/news/stories/s1986856.shtml?cat=565
Nick Tahou's was also featured on the Travel Channel's series Chowdown Countdown where it ranked #81 out of 101 locations.
Legacy
Nick Tahou's Garbage Plate has spawned several imitators in the Greater Rochester areaRochester, New York metropolitan area
The Rochester, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area , as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of five counties in Western New York, anchored by the city of Rochester...
, including Mark's Texas Hots ("The Sloppy Plate"), Gitsis Texas Hots ("The Gitsis Plate"), Empire Hots ("The Trash Plate"), Fairport Hots ("The Hot Plate"), Tom Wahl's ("55 Junker Plate"), and http://www.circusinyourmouth.com/ Jimmy Z's ("Five Star Plate") and Hungry's in the village of Pittsford among others.
See also
- PoutinePoutinePoutine 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...
- A Canadian dish consisting of French fries topped with fresh cheese curds, covered with brown gravy and sometimes additional ingredients. - SlingerSlingerThe Slinger is a Midwestern diner specialty typically consisting of two eggs, hash browns, and a hamburger patty all covered in chili and generously topped with cheese and onions. The eggs can be any style. The Slinger is considered to be a St. Louis late-night culinary original...
- The St. Louis diner dish with many ingredients - BurgooBurgooBurgoo is a term used for many types of stew or porridge made from a mixture of ingredients.-North American usage:Burgoo is a spicy stew, similar to Irish or Mulligan stew, often served with cornbread or corn muffins....
- a Southern and Midwestern chili-like stew made with many ingredients - Loco mocoLoco MocoLoco moco is a dish native to Hawaiian cuisine. There are many variations, but the essential loco moco consists of white rice, topped with a hamburger patty, a fried egg, and brown gravy. Variations may include chili, bacon, ham, Spam, kalua pork, Portuguese sausage, teriyaki beef, teriyaki...
- Hawaiian dish of white rice topped with a hamburger patty, a fried egg, and brown gravy - OkonomiyakiOkonomiyakiis a Japanese dish containing a variety of ingredients. The name is derived from the word okonomi, meaning "what you like" or "what you want", and yaki meaning "grilled" or "cooked" . Okonomiyaki is mainly associated with Kansai or Hiroshima areas of Japan, but is widely available throughout the...
- a Japanese dish consisting of various fried and grilled ingredients - Horseshoe sandwichHorseshoe sandwichThe horseshoe sandwich originated in Springfield, Illinois. This open-faced sandwich begins with thick-sliced toasted bread, and most often hamburger patties, or ham. Other meat is also used, such as deep fried pork tenderloin, grilled or fried chicken breast, and fried fish filets. There is also...
- a Springfield, Illinois open-faced sandwich of toasted bread, meat, and topped with fries and cheese sauce