I was looking at the listings for the Travel Channel. Sometime towards the end of the month they will be running Pizza Paradises. So the Hot Dog Paradise show may be run even later.

There’s a place on Lake Ave. in Colonia that serves a great Italian Hot Dog. It’s called Mijo’s Pizzeria and it’s been around forever. Just recently I began eating their Italian Hot Dogs. I usually get these sandwiches from a place that specializes in them rather than a pizzeria because I like the pizza bread and thin sliced potatoes rather than a sub or hoagie roll and french fries or potato chunks, which is usually what you get at a pizzeria.

Mijo’s is close to where I work, so when I’m in the mood for an Italian Hot Dog, it is one of my few choices. They do serve it on a sub roll, but the bread is good, and being served on a roll rather than pizza bread allows you to get everything (hot dog, potatoes and peppers) in one bite. I don’t get onions on mine. They use Best’s dogs as do almost all places. But these dogs are much bigger than the 12 or 10 to a lb dogs used elsewhere. Charlies uses 8 to a lb. Mijo’s are even bigger. 6 or 7 to a lb. There are plenty of peppers, and the potatoes are small and blend in perfectly. As much as I like potatoes, peppers, and bread, these should compliment the hot dogs rather than overwhelm them. Everything is sauteed in a frying pan and tastes great. Perfect ratio of hot dog, bread, potatoes, and peppers. And it’s a big sandwich for only $4.50. Everywhere else it’s close to $6.00 for a double. With smaller dogs. Tommy’s is now $7.00. Definitely give Mijo’s a try.

If you do, let me know. Maybe I can meet you there. It’s 5 miles from me.

It probably was an aberration. Mijo’s is close to where I work, and this week I had the Italian Hot Dog twice. Both times excellent. They usually use 6 to a lb dogs which are the largest I’ve had on an Italian dog. Plenty of potatoes and peppers as well. I omit onions.

A place in Elizabeth called Bruno’s (formerly named Juniors) also makes a fine non traditional Italian Hot Dog. An eight inch sub roll is filled with 2 Best franks, plenty of peppers (again I get it w/o onions) and flavorful, better than average french fries. Cost is $5.50 Most pizzerias that serve Italian Hot Dogs use the sub or hoagie roll because demand is inconsistent and they don’t always know how much pizza bread to order. When demand is slow, the bread goes bad, whereas there is always quick turnaround on the sub/hoagie rolls.

Joes Pizzeria in Union is one place that uses the traditional pizza bread. They get it from Carmens bakery, also in Union. Joe’s also uses Best dogs and serves plenty of peppers. The potatoes are cut in chunks like Dickiee Dees. This place is a good choice for me when I don’t want to travel to Jimmy Buffs or Tommy’s.

The "Italian Hot Dog" at Casino Tony Goes is not only not an Itaian Hot Dog in the traditional sense, but isn’t even similar to the non traditional ones mentioned above. First of all they don’t even use beef hot dogs. A spicy beef dog is the only type of dog that goes well with the fried potatoes, peppers, onions, and oils. Which brings me to the second point. The ingredients aren’t deep fried or sauteed, but prepared on a griddle. The peppers and potatoes aren’t the right size either. They usually put a big piece or 2 of green pepper on the sandwich. Ugh! The potatoes look like some kind of hash that you get at White Diamond. Check out the picture on their website. It doesn’t even look appetizing. Those around Trenton will no doubt disagree with me. Many like the sandwich here. But I would not call it an Italian Hot Dog. Not even in the non traditional sense. It is something altogether different.