Hot Diggity!

I ascended to hot dog heaven. Yesterday's dalliance at The Goffle Grill was lovely but today's visit to Clifton, NJ's Rutt's Hut was a transcendent love affair. They've been serving not "hot dogs" but "rippers" since 1928. The chefs take ordinary hot dogs, lovingly place them in boiling oil, then wait until the skin splits or "rips" open. What the customer sees is, to the naked eye, a wiener that days ago fell off the kitchen table and rolled under a radiator. What the customer experiences is quite another matter. The rippers at Rutt's Hut have a crunchy outer casing yet the meat remains melt-in-your-mouth tender. My goodness! They are so, so flavorful. It's not polite to talk with one's mouth full. Today I abandoned that self imposed rule by repeating, ad nauseam, two phrases... "oh my god!" and "holy crap!" I probably stomped my foot a couple of times as well...

I did commit a faux pas by ordering my rippers with sour kraut. The guy at the counter said "We don't do dat", "Is dis your first time here?" and "Try da relish!" As it turns out the latter was excellent advice. I've come to learn Rutt's Hut is renowned for their relish. A bit sweet, a bit spicy, it beautifully enhances the already wonderful ripper experience.



So, I'll admit this blog is a bit front heavy with tales of my beloved hot dogs. I'll also admit there are plenty of wieners in my future. Rest assured there are other culinary enticements afoot. Additionally this blog is not solely devoted to the culinary arts. There are other passions yet to explore...