Pure Beef 1/4 lb., Footlong, Regular Length Hot Dogs, Brats and Kielbasa topped with my famous Michigan Sauce and other tasty sauces fresh on my cart! Well, as a young boy I loved watching "It's A Wonderful Life" and hearing George Bailey Say "Hot Dog!" after he made a wish for a million dollars. As I was growing up we had a Hot Dog Cart/Truck parked off exit 30 on Highway 87 where the famous "Kin
g Phillips Well" was located. People from all over would stop here at this pull off spot as they visited the Adirondacks and Lake Placid area. The "Hot Dog Man" from the city was parked here and he always made the best street dogs. I always wanted to have a cart someday and never gave up on that dream. I was even known to have said we grew hot dogs in our garden to others ... I digress. As the years passed and I found myself in a Regional Management role for a retail company that rang a bell for every new customer. I found myself saying Hot Dog every time we rang the bell in honor of George Bailey! I stayed in the industry as a Regional Manager for many years and my nickname of Hot Dog stuck. I would say "Hot Dog!!" to acknowledge any form of accomplishment that my employees or children would attain and it just connected with my personality. As I neared the end of my Regional Manager profession I found myself wanting to see my dream of operating my own Hot Dog Cart through and in 2018 at the age of 52 I was able to make this journey happen. My goal is and always has been to provide an experience of Americana Joy to everyone that visits my cart and to serve them the best Michigan and other specialty dogs I can muster. I look forward to every car that pulls up and the conversation that ensues and I hope as they drive away they are loving the taste of any specialty dog they try. I look forward to doing this as long as my life will offer and I can't wait to say "Hot Dog" to all that stop by my cart for the best Michigan they have ever had! The Michigan Story
JOHNNY HOT DOGS·MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2018·
New York state's “Michigans" are one of the most fascinating hot dog varieties so far. The history of the Michigan Hot Dog is a jumble of legends, a culinary anthropologist's dream. Also known as "Texas Red Hots" but found in the North County region of New York state. The original sauce recipe supposedly came from a Detroit woman who moved to Plattsburgh, hence the name "Michigan". *** See post on main Johnny Hot Dog page about this ...
Local upstate NYer’s will stress that Michigans have nothing to do with Detroit. The flavors are also similar to the Greek sauce of the Texas Weiner/Texas Hot stands than line the eastern edge of New York state—likely another influence on the creation of the "Michigan." Dogs not too different from Maine's Red Snappers—and buns that are similar to New England rolls but longer and sturdier, originally made by the now defunct Bouyea-Fasset bakery—and you have one of the most unique hot dogs in the country. (** Bouyea- Fasset no longer in business.) The sauce is thick and has a little bit of the Greek flavor (cumin? cinnamon?) found in similar sauces, without being overpowering. The raw onions are roughly chopped. You can get them "with," "without," or "buried" (under the frank). A thin line of yellow mustard is the standard condiment, some enjoy a few drops of hot sauce, but ketchup is never even suggested. The sturdy roll will help to hold it all together. (“Some places even let the rolls sit and "toughen" for 24 hours before slicing and serving, to better hold in all the sauce.”)
To the casual observer, it might "just look like a chili dog." But to hot dog aficionados and North County residents it's a rare gem
You will be impressed with the great care that is taken to carefully build each dog—something you don't always see at a hot dog joint. To the casual observer, it might "just look like a chili dog." But to hot dog aficionados it's a rare gem, worth a long drive just to taste one. (I have had people drive from Tulsa, OK to Joplin, MO already 6/2019 )
Summer is definitely the time to give them a try since many of the Michigan stands (little more than roadside shacks) are closed for the ice and snow covered winters.
**The great thing about Missouri, is that I can stay open much longer! The most plausible story of the birth of the Michigan goes back to the first known Plattsburgh hot dog stand, Garth Otis' Michigan Hot Dog and Sandwich Shop, which opened in 1927. (In 1935 Nitzi's opened, where the owner Jack Rabin got the secret sauce recipe!).. Soon after Clare & Carl's opened in 1942, where Eula Otis also worked, and shared a version of her secret recipe that they supposedly use to this day. Clare & Carl's is probably the most well-known Michigan stand in Upstate NY today, though there are many with there own versions of the sauce ...
Also; the oldest, and the original is and always will be Nitzi's, still sporting the original sign. Michigan Hot Dogs can also be found in western Vermont—a 10-minute ferry ride from Plattsburgh—usually made with Mckenzie's or Nathan's franks, at diners and gas stations, served on a standard New England bun rather than the special Michigan roll. Then in nearby Montreal, the "hot dog Michigan" is everywhere, but remarkably different—it has onions and spaghetti sauce, and usually served alongside a pile of poutine. Now it is in Missouri! Located at: 3800 North Main across from Babes in Joplin! Corner of Fountain and North Main. Wednesday thru Fridays
Operates: Wednesday thru Friday 11-2 and on Sundays at Keltoi Winery in Oronogo from 12 to 4! Weather plays a factor in operational times. Serving Special Events throughout the year. Contact John McCabe to let the story continue and have his Hot Dog Cart at your location or event! Catering is always available. Get Social with Johnny Hot Dogs on Instagram, Facebook as well as Twitter!
