WVHotDogs.com FAQ


1. What is a West Virginia Hot Dog?
A true West Virginia hot dog is a heavenly creation that begins with a wiener on a bun. Add mustard, a chili-like sauce and top it off with coleslaw and chopped onions and you have a symphony of taste that quite possibly is the reason that many transplanted West Virginians can never really be happy living anywhere else. Different parts of West Virginia have variations on the theme but the common elements are sweet, creamy coleslaw and chili. Anything else is just not a true West Virginia hot dog!

The chili and coleslaw have a synergistic relationship on a WVHD. While the chili adds a spicy kick the slaw balances the heat with its cool sweetness. A great WVHD has to have these two elements working together in the right combination. If chili isn't spicy enough a sweet slaw will dominate too much. A bland slaw will allow a spicy chili to rule the taste buds.

Unlike New Yorkers or Chicago hot dog lovers, the WVHD connoisseur is not overly concerned with the taste of the wiener. A good weenie will make a better dog to be sure, but even a lackluster weenie can sit on a great WVHD if the chili and slaw work together properly. Likewise with onions and mustard: Good ingredients make it better but nothing is as important to the taste of a WVHD as a good chili/slaw combination.

2. How does a WVHD differ from a "Slaw Dog"?
A "slaw dog" is a hot dog with slaw on it. It is usually sold as an option in hot dog joints where a standard hot dog includes only chili/sauce. If you have to ask for slaw on a hot dog, it's not a true WVHD.

3. What is WVHD coleslaw?
Made from cabbage, mayonnaise and other ingredients, WVHD slaw should be finely chopped, sweet and creamy. Slaw that sits well on a hot dog might not be pleasing if served as a side dish since it has such fine texture. Many people claim that they don't like slaw on a hot dog. This is most often caused by an earlier encounter with inferior slaw. Once a person has tasted good WVHD slaw on a hot dog they rarely eat a hot dog any other way.

4. What is the difference between "coleslaw" and "slaw"?
The word "coleslaw" is most likely a fracture of the Dutch word "koolsla", which means "cabbage salad". "Slaw" is simply a shorthand version of the word "coleslaw." WVHD lovers who go to other states and ask for "slaw" are usually greeted with a reply of "You mean coleslaw?"and a funny look.

5. How did slaw become a hot dog topping?
Legend has it that slaw was first served as a hot dog topping at The Stopette Drive In on Route 21 near Charleston, West Virginia. This was during the Great Depression when weenies and cabbage were two of the most plentiful and affordable food items. The Stopette sold hot dogs with slaw for only a few years before every eatery in the area copied them. Within a few years restaurants all over southern and central West Virginia were including slaw as a standard ingredient. As many West Virginians left the state looking for work in the southern United States they took their taste for slaw on hot dogs with them. "Slaw Dogs" are now found in many areas of the south where West Virginia natives settled.

6. What are the variations in slaw throughout West Virginia?
Wherever slaw is offered as a standard topping it is preferred sweet, creamy with the cabbage finely chopped. In areas such as Huntington and northern West Virginia where slaw is by request only the slaw is often drier and less sweet. In areas where slaw is an oddity it is usually coarsely chopped and tastes heavy of vinegar.

7. Do people from all parts of West Virginia eat slaw on hot dogs?
Our research is not complete, but with a few exceptions people in virtually every part of West Virginia prefer slaw on their hot dogs. The major exceptions are: The Huntington Area, Marion County and the Northern Panhandle.

Huntington hot dog joints usually offer slaw as an option (many have "Slaw Dogs" on their menus). This area is a melting pot of Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia culture so it's not surprising that slaw is optional there.

Marion County's food culture is influenced heavily by its Italian heritage and the typical hot dog is served with very spicy chili. Slaw is almost never offered as an option.

The Northern Panhandle of West Virginia has a culture that is heavily influenced by Pittsburgh, PA. People and restaurants there share almost no cultural traits with the rest of the state, however you can often find HDJs with slaw on the menu in all but the most northern extremes of the Panhandle.

The Eastern Panhandle is also quite different. While it's not unheard of for slaw to be offered at HDJs, finding one is an issue because it seems that the EP has fewer HDJs per capita than the rest of the state. 

In the other areas of the state where slaw is usually served, there still are those areas where it is served standard and those where it is served as an option. Our Slaw Mapping Project illustrates the point.

8. What is WVHD chili?
WVHD chili is, technically, "chili con carne" without beans. Its primary spiciness and dominant flavor comes from the liberal use of chili powder. Ground beef gives the chili its texture. Garlic, onions and black pepper are usually included. Outside these necessary ingredients, chili is subject to be made differently at each and every hot dog joint and home kitchen. Texture is also subjective and it varies widely from near-liquid to a Sloppy Joe consistency.

9. What's the difference between "hot dog chili" and "hot dog sauce"?
In most of the state people call it "chili". In Huntington and Marion County it is most often called sauce. The difference is largely semantic although in areas where it is called sauce the substance is usually finer ground and more liquid in consistency.

10. What are the variations in chili/sauce throughout West Virginia?
As noted above, in areas where it is called sauce the substance is usually finer ground and more liquid in consistency. Other than that, a general rule of thumb is that the further south, the less spicy the chili becomes. Marion County's sauce is typically very spicy and very thinly ground.

11. What kind of onions are used on a WVHD?
The kind of onions one might find on a WVHD varies widely by time of year and location. Some restaurants prefer yellow onions for their potency, while some prefer the sweetest onion available. The availability of different species of sweet onions vary throughout the year so you might find Vidalias, Oso Sweet or other sweet onion used by the same restaurant from time to time.

Onions also vary in preparation and presentation from finely grated to coarsely chopped.

12. What kind of mustard is used on a WVHD?
Yellow. Sometimes a "Genteel Dog" that has other characteristics of a true WVHD will have some kind of brown mustard, but that is an abomination and should be avoided.

13. What about the weenie?
Unlike New Yorkers or Chicago hot dog lovers, the WVHD connoisseur is not overly concerned with the taste of the wiener. A good weenie will make a better dog to be sure, but even a lackluster weenie can sit on a great WVHD if the chili and slaw work together properly. Many hot dog joints serve only basic inexpensive weenies and do just fine on the strength of their other ingredients. However an increasing number of HDJs have opted for an upgraded weenie, often times all-beef. Usually an up charge applies for these premium weenies.

Weenies are often boiled, grilled or otherwise heated and kept warm until they are served. Bratwurst and other sausages are great but don't belong on a WVHD.

14. What kind of bun is a WVHD made on?
Most often a standard hot dog bun, steamed or heated, are used for a WVHD. Some HDJs use an New England Style split-top bun, toasted and buttered. Many WVHD fans like their hot dogs to be very soft and gooey and a steamed bun is a necessary part of such a hot dog.

15. Where can I buy a good WVHD?
More than 300 hot dog joints from all over West Virginia are reviewed on this blog.

16. Why is ketchup not listed as a topping on a WVHD?
There are many reasons why one shouldn't eat ketchup on a hot dog any hot dog.First, the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council's "Hot Dog Etiquette" rules dictate that no one over 18 should never eat ketchup on a hot dog. Ketchup is destructive of all that is right and just about a properly assembled hot dog since its sweetness and acidic taste overpowers food and disguises its true flavor.

In the film Sudden Impact, San Francisco detective Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) launches a tirade while conversing with a cop who's munching a ketchup-topped dog at a murder scene:

"Nah, this stuff isn't getting to me — the shootings, the knifings, the beatings... old ladies being bashed in the head for their social security checks[.] [...] Nah, that doesn't bother me. But you know what does bother me? You know what makes me really sick to my stomach? It's watching you stuff your face with those hot dogs. Nobody... I mean nobody puts ketchup on a hot dog."

We agree with Harry.

15 comments:

SF said...

The link to the Yann's recipe is dead. I used the internet wayback machine to find it. I am posting the recipe from that page for posterity.

West Virginia Hotdog Chili
INGREDIENTS:
1/2  cup shortening
2  TBSP. onions, chopped
2  cloves garlic, chopped
5  lbs. ground beef
1  1/2 TBSP. paprika
2  1/2 TBSP. chili powder
1  1/2 TBSP. black pepper
1  TBSP. cayenne pepper (can use 1/2 TBSP. - 2 TBSP.)
2  TBSP. salt
2  1/2 TBSP. ground cumin
1  tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 - 1 cup cracker meal
DIRECTIONS:
Saute meat, garlic and onions till browned
Add spices, stir well
Add about a quart of water and cook over low heat for 3-4 hours
Add a little water occasionally to keep from sticking
When chili is cooked, remove from heat and add 1/2 to 1 cup of cracker meal & stir well
Another trick that you can do is place the pot in the bottom of the kitchen sink and run an electric hand mixer around briefly - this makes for a finer ground meat texture & is closer to the "real thing"
After the first batch you will learn to vary (slightly) the blend of peppers and cumin...the cinnamon is critical but your chili should never have a cinnamon taste.

This chili freezes well and you may cut the recipe in half, but NO more!

Marmetion said...

On such an important legislation as the inclusion of slaw on hotdogs, I can't belive that nowhere in this blog is the discussion, or for that matter any mention, of "Yellow Slaw". While the true origion of yellow slaw is some what in doubt, an old beer joint/resturant know as the Canary Cottage, in Marmet, has to be the place it became famous. If you have never had this delicacy, laying on top of a WVHD, the you have never had a true WVHD. But as luck would have it, and as true WVHD connoisseurs insist upon it, the yellow slaw can still be had in Marmet, made by the ancesors of the "original" makers at the Canary Cottage. If you have any doubt, journey to this small but proud town, and partake in a true WVHD.

Stanton said...

Marmetion, we have discussed yellow slaw many times on this blog; you just need to look harder. Try this link:
http://wvhotdogblog.blogspot.com/search?q=yellow+slaw

Marmetion said...

I stand corrected, somehow, I missed this part of your blog, I appoligize...

Unknown said...

Hey, just discovered your Blog today. I have come home!!!!! Have already emialed links to it to several friends/colleagues showing that I was not alone in expecting a dawg to be prepared proper with slaw and such.

Been in upstate NY for almost 30 years and the WV hotdog is one I truly miss about 'home.' One of the few things I can say that I have 'trained' my native NY wife to do is put slaw (or the fixen's for some) on the shopping list whenever hotdogs are planned. She prefers them that way too after educating her as to the wonders of slaw on a dog and my kids were properly raised to want it too.

You can always spot a former West Virginian (or eastern Kentuckian or Tennessean) wherever you may be if you see them with slaw on their dogs! Company picnics or wherever.

You may find it noteworthy that I have recently spotted slaw as being offered as an option in a couple of upstate NY eateries. Warmed that cockles of heart to see this.

About the quality of the wiener as not being so important to a good dawg, I have developed a distinct preference for high end wieners here in NY. You have to. The poor naked things they sell for hotdogs here makes a high quality wiener a requirement, since the wiener taste is a dominate part of the naked hotdog's taste.

Have learned that are three tiers of wieners. 1st tier consists of all beef w/natural casings, 2nd tier being of beef and pork and the bottom tier as one containing any meat from other animal.

The nastiest ones ever tasted are the so called 'healthy' ones made from chicken, turkey or soy. How can becoming nauseous when eating be considered healthy???? They don't even rate a 4th tier as it is firmly believed that they are not truly a hotdog wiener - just looks like one. When a dog wont even eat it, you know to beware.

LeonardC said...

Being from WV,when I was a lil kid we stopped at this old golden arches (McDonald's) way up in front of a shopping center parking lot. I forget the town,but it wasn,t too far from the state line,maybe an hour or less. Anyway,this old woman had taken over this old golden arches & sold foot long chili dogs to die for! After that first stop,we all insisted dad take us there,sometimes even on the way down as well. She'd never give us the recipe for the chili,nor would hwer daughter that took over eventually. I wonder if that place is still there?

caroleinfl said...

Never put cinnamon in West Virginia hotdog chili. That may be found in some chili,but usually in Ohio.
I live in Florida now. I have to make my own WVHD. I sure do miss WV. Take me home country roads.

Coal Town Guy (C.T.G) Photography said...

I tried the dogs at the Sandwich Shop in War WV...the chili was remarkable, and the slaw, creamy, but not too sweet.

Philip said...

Does any WVHDJ feature a natural casing weiner? There must be one!

Bebees said...

I grew up and lived in WV till I was 35. That is the #1 thing I miss from home, slaw dog. People here (in Texas) think youre all kinds of weird if you want chili (always consist of canned chili) and there is never a slaw option.

I have a pretty good sauce I make (yep from the Huntington area) but my slaw is never good. Does any one have a basic no frills slaw recipe that everyone uses? I just cant get the texture or taste right.

Thanks

Unknown said...

My mother grew up in WV, and I did for a time when I was a kid in the Oak Hill/Fayetteville area. My grandmother made the best hot dog sauce! Wish I could find the recipe. She passed away long before I ever thought to ask for it.

D said...

I left WV 40 years ago, but can never forget those WV hotdogs and pepperoni rolls. I have lived all over the US, from DC to Texas to Montana to Spokane Washington, and none of those places have anything like it. Now I live in Japan where a hotdog is some sort of mysterious odd-tasting sausage-like thing that resembles a hotdog only in appearance and "hotdog buns are split the wrong way. Often enjoyed with whipped cream or strawberries on top. Gotta tell folks here that those things ain't real hotdogs.

Anyway, I am going to try this recipe after finding a number of fake WV hotdog recipes online. None of them resembled the real thing in any way.

hpcc19 said...

Is there a preferred purveyor of wieners? or a common one?
I'm not a fan of ones with poultry or the all-beef ones. All beef tend to bre coarser with harsher spice.

scmounty said...

We used to take slaw in my wife's purse to SF Giant games. She prefers red cabbage so we got funny looks when we started putting purple stuff on our hot dogs.

Cynthia Nicks said...

Lived in WV for around 20yrs and first place i ever had these hot dogs with slaw and fell in love with them, and not to fail about mentioning the pepperoni rolls. Well I moved back home to Texas and everyone eats the canned stuff and looks at you weirded when you ask for slaw on your hot dogs, can't even find pepperoni rolls down here, so had to learn to make it myself. So now I don't miss having those two staples in my house. Yummmm almost Heaven!!!!!!