Italian hot dog facts for kids
| Type | Hot dog |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | New Jersey |
| Main ingredients | Italian roll or pizza bread, hot dog, bell peppers, onions, and potatoes |
An Italian hot dog is a special kind of hot dog that's super popular in New Jersey, United States. It was first made by Jimmy Buff and his wife, Mary Racioppi. Their family still runs the famous restaurant, Jimmy Buff's, today. While other places like Joe Joe’s Italian Hot Dog also serve them, Jimmy Buff's is known as the original home of this tasty treat.
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What's in an Italian Hot Dog?
There are different ways to make an Italian hot dog, but the main idea is always the same. It starts with a cooked hot dog, usually deep-fried until it's crispy. This hot dog is then placed inside a special Italian roll or a piece of pizza bread.
The hot dog is topped with a mix of fried bell peppers, onions, and potatoes. This combination of ingredients makes it a unique and delicious meal. Many people in New Jersey think of the Italian hot dog as a classic local food, much like the cheesesteak in Philadelphia.
Where Can You Find Them?
Most places that serve Italian hot dogs are found in New Jersey. The original Jimmy Buff's restaurant is in Kenilworth. There used to be another branch in West Orange.
Other popular spots include Joe Joe’s Italian Hot Dog in Toms River and Charlie’s Famous Italian Hot Dogs, also in Kenilworth. You can also find them at Dickie Dee’s in Newark and Tommy’s Italian Sausage in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Even outside New Jersey, St. Anselm in Brooklyn, New York, serves Italian hot dogs.
The Story Behind the Italian Hot Dog
The Italian hot dog was invented in 1932 by James "Buff" Racioppi, who started Jimmy Buff's restaurant in Newark, New Jersey. But it was actually his wife, Mary Racioppi, who first made the dish.
Mary made the hot dogs for Jimmy and his friends while they were playing cards. Jimmy even got his nickname "Buff" from how he played cards. The hot dog was so popular with his friends and family that Jimmy and Mary decided to open their restaurant.
The Italian hot dog was one of the first items on their menu. It quickly became the most popular dish. Even today, over 80 years later, the Italian hot dog is still a favorite at Jimmy Buff's. It often competes in popularity with their Italian sausage.
The original restaurant in Newark has closed, but Jimmy's family and other cooks continue to make and serve this special meal.
Different Kinds of Italian Hot Dogs
In New Jersey, you can find many twists on the classic Italian hot dog. Sometimes, people replace the hot dog with other meats like sausage, cheesesteak, hamburger, or chicken. Instead of potatoes, some versions use french fries.
Often, people add spicy mustard and ketchup to their Italian hot dogs. However, many locals prefer not to use ketchup. Some variations even deep-fry everything inside the roll, including the hot dog itself!
One popular version in Belleville uses two long hot dogs, french fries, fried peppers, and onions. It's topped with tomato sauce and placed in a 12-inch wide pizza bread roll. This roll is cut along the side to create a pocket for the fillings.
A&W Hot Dogs and More used to sell an Italian dog made with a Polish sausage in a hot dog bun. It was topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.
A New Jersey native named Hank Shaw created his own version. He uses extra virgin olive oil, salt, peeled and cut potatoes, green peppers, a large onion, Italian seasoning, beef hot dogs, sandwich buns, and mustard.
Dickie Dee’s makes an Italian hot dog that's a bit different from Jimmy Buff's. They use peanut oil for frying, while Jimmy Buff’s uses cholesterol-free soybean oil.
The Italian Hot Dog and New Jersey People
For many people from New Jersey, the Italian hot dog is more than just a meal. It's a part of their daily life, something they enjoy at the start or end of their day. For some, like Hank Shaw, it brings back special memories of good times and loved ones.
It can turn an ordinary day into a memorable one. A jazz musician from New Jersey named Hunter Hayes even loved Jimmy Buff’s Italian hot dogs so much that he wrote a song about the restaurant and its famous dish!
