I went to Amazing Hot Dog in Bound Brook today for the first time. I can positively confirm that while they switched brands, the brand they are now using is NOT Best Kosher. I’m sorry for posting wrong information. I’m glad that I went to Bound Brook to find out from the source. And I’m glad the dog they are now using is not Best Kosher. This one is much better.

The owners (Matt and Eric) did not advertise or publicize the fact that they switched brands, nor did they hide the fact. I don’t know why they chose to change brands, but I can tell you that the brand they are now using is a top quality frankfurter. It is made by a small company in New England and Amazing Hot Dog is the only place in New Jersey that serves it. You cannot get it in New York either. I have heard about this particular hot dog and have been unsuccesful trying to get it from the company. I would have had to order a large quantity.

Well, I finally got to sample it today. The best way I can describe it is that it is in the Eastern Jewish/Kosher style. All beef, 4 to a lb with natural casing. The casing is thin, but tough. Similar to Best. A little less tough than Boars Head or Grote & Weigel beef dogs. I liked it. The flavor, in contrast to Best was a little less spicy, a little less garlic/paprika flavor, but a little more smoke flavor, though less than Hatfield, which has a lot of smokiness. This frank had a pleasing, balanced flavor. Quality wise this frank is as good an all beef dog as there is. But it definitely has a different flavor profile. Had I not known previously that Amazing had switched brands, I would have been able to tell after the first bite. This dog is one of my favorite all beef dogs along with Best, Usinger’s, Boars Head, and Sabrett. All with their own unique flavor, all great. Depends on your personal taste and what kind of spice blend you like.

Although I love Best and have often stated that it is my favorite beef dog, I’m glad that we have access to a top quality dog that is rare and only available here. The Grote & Weigel beef dog served at Father & Son was good and only served there. They later switched to Best. Although I preferred the Best dog, I was glad when they switched back to Grote & Weigel because it was not sold anywhere else.

I had one dog half plain and half with mustard. My second dog was half mustard and half chili. The chili at Amazing is very good. Rich, flavorful, and with a hint of chocolate. Both dogs were prepared perfectly and were definitely served hot.

You can also buy these dogs cold to cook at home. Four of them (one pound) goes for $6.00. I’m going to grill one this weekend.

I wish Matt and Eric good luck with their new location. I’ll be back soon to Amazing, although it will probably be their Verona location which is an easier ride for me.

Have you tried Charlies in Kenilworth or Tommy’s in Elizabeth? Much better than Dickie Dees. Dees is authentic, and not greasy, but neither is Charlies or Tommy’s. Jimmy Buff’s, which originated in Newark can be considered greasy, although that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Dickiee Dees bread comes from DiPaola’s across the street. Good, but Tommy’s, Buff’s and Charlies is better. Although sometimes the bread at Charlies isn’t fresh. I like potatoes sliced thinner than they do at Dees. The other 2 things that keep this place a cut below the others I mentioned is that the peppers are usually too hard (not cooked enough) and the hot dogs are tiny; 12 to a lb! Buff’s is small at 10, Charlies uses nice size 8 to a lb. Tommy’s goes back and forth between 10 and 8. Dees is ok, but they really should use bigger dogs. A single is miniscule.

quote:

Originally posted by ScreenBear

If it’s a large dog, and it’s kosher, and it’s served in New Jersey, the odds are good that it’s a skinless, 1/4 lb. Hebrew National….a fine dog.

It’s the same frankfurter Costco serves with a refillable soda as its loss leader in this market. 5 Guys splits it lengthwise and griddles it. If it’s not a Hebrew National, then that’s interesting.
The Bear

quote:

Originally posted by JakerDog

I may have found a place. Since my job changed to Princeton, I have longed for a good Dog in the area. It seems there is nothing within walking distance of a major University. I have been given two recommendations, WAWA and Zorba’s for a 4:50 tasteless dog wrapped in foil to the pioint that the bun was a soggy mess. Until yesterday! I went to a place called Chucks for wings. It is a locally famous little wing joint once owned my the notorious killers the Kyle and Lyle Menedez brothers. Well I found Chucks serves an all beef Kosher hotdog for $2.50. It was good and served in a really nice Italian style roll, really more suited for and Italian Hot Dog. I have no more details, I don’t know what kind of dog, but it was rather large but no snap so I’m guessing no natural casing. The Dog was served plain in the roll and I saw no options for toppings, but it’s a start, thank goodness it’s a start!

Screenbear,

I would agree with you. However, another 1/4 pound kosher beef frank has recently made it’s way into New Jersey. This frank is Best Kosher, which is owned by corporate giant Sara Lee. It is now the hot dog that is served at Amazing Hot Dog. They switched brands from Best Provisions (Newark, N.J.) to Best Kosher, which I believe is still made in Chicago. This frank, in my opinion, is not nearly as good as the frank from Best Provisions. I’ve had it a few times. It was sold for awhile at Wegmans in Woodbridge. I also sampled it in a blind tasting this past July when we had it shipped in from Chicago. Among the panel it didn’t score nearly as well as the New Jersey Best frank. I believe they have an Eastern distributor now.

I haven’t been to Amazing Hot Dog since they switched brands, so I don’t know the reason for the switch. Maybe one of the owners can say. I’m surprised that no one who went to the Bound Brook location noticed. I guess if you load up your dog with their many toppings, it might be hard to notice.

Frank & Fries is temporarily closed. They changed owners recently, closed for awhile, opened up, and closed again. From what I hear, a married couple bought the place for their son to run. He decided that it is not for him. So the parents are trying to decide if they want to do it or have someone do it for them. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear anything. All of the food was good there.

quote:

Originally posted by JimS

I have been in contact with the folks at Grote & Weigel regarding its plans to bring its "NJ Griddle Boardwalk" dogs to Florida. I am planning to visit the Long Branch NJ area in December, wrote G & W and received this response:

"Albertsons does not seem to be happening at this time.

"There is a distributor in Long Branch: Dutch Prime Foods 732-222-0910. Also Shoprite Supermarkets sell a hot dog called Schickhaus which we produce it is exactly like our Jersey Boardwalk hot dogs. You should try Shoprite first. I’m not sure if Dutch Prime Foods sell to the public."

JimS,

From what I’ve been told by someone from Grote&Weigel, the Schickhaus is the same recipe as the Boardwalk Griddle Franks. They are available in Shop Rite supermarkets in Jersey. If you are going to be near Long Branch, check out a place called Wennings in Long Branch. They are a distributor who I am pretty sure sells to the public. I believe this is where Max’s gets their Schickhaus dogs from. You will probably be able to get them here cheaper than Shop Rite. They also sell a brand called Haydu, which is the dog used at the Old Heidelburg and Nickerson’s in Keansburg. Haydu also was the dog served at most Stewart’s years ago, as well as the famous Walt’s in Linden.

Yes, this was shot last year, but they just got around to editing it and running it today. It was a lot longer; most of the footage wasn’t used.