Half-smoke
 Half-smokes from Weenie Beenie | |
| Course | Main course |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | Washington, D.C. |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | Pork, beef |
A half-smoke is a type of hot dog found in Washington, D.C., and the surrounding region.[1] Larger, spicier, and with more coarsely-ground meat than a regular hot dog, the sausage is often half-pork and half-beef, smoked, and served with herbs, onion, and chili sauce.
Ingredients and preparation
[edit]The etymology of "half-smoke" possibly comes from the original half-pork, half-beef composition, the ingredients and smoked method of preparation. Another possible explanation is that the texture and flavor is halfway between smoked sausage and a regular hot dog. Yet another explanation is that it refers to cooks cutting the sausage in half when grilling.[2] Composition of the sausages varies by brand and some brands even make more than one kind. A half-smoke can be half pork, half beef, all beef, or anything in between. It can be steamed instead of smoked.
History
[edit]The company thought to be the originator of the sausage, Briggs & Company, was sold by its owner, Raymond Briggs, in 1950 without clarifying the origin of the name.[2] The products sold under the name generally have a genuine or artificial smoke flavoring and coarser texture than a regular hot dog; these are the key features that distinguish them.[3]
Briggs started selling his half-smokes in about 1930. Eventually, Briggs was sold to another meat distributor, where, by some accounts, the quality of the meat declined.[2]
Venues
[edit]
Numerous hot dog carts in Washington, D.C., sell steamed half-smokes, with those on Constitution Avenue catering to tourists and those on Pennsylvania Avenue and many other hot dog carts throughout the downtown area serving federal employees. Half-smokes are the "official dog" of the Washington Nationals.[4] The most prominent location is often cited as Ben's Chili Bowl in Washington's U Street neighborhood, which has long been a center of Black Washington, and was an essential stop for President-elect Barack Obama in 2009.[1]
Another popular location for half-smokes is the Weenie Beenie in South Arlington, Virginia, located near the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park trail. Founded in 1950, it pre-dates Ben's Chili Bowl. Among newer purveyors is Meats & Foods, on Florida Avenue just east of Ben's Chili Bowl, which makes its own handmade version of the sausage.[5]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Carr, David (January 16, 2009). "A Monument to Munchies". The New York Times. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
- ^ a b c Erica Brosnan (July 3, 2016), "Half-smokes inspire wholehearted love in D.C.", The Washington Times, archived from the original on July 10, 2016, retrieved August 30, 2016
- ^ Jamieson, Dave (January 26, 2007). "The Missing Link". Washington City Paper. Archived from the original on January 25, 2009. Retrieved January 6, 2009.
- ^ "The New Nationals Dog: Washington D.C.'s Half Smoke". seriouseats.com. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
- ^ Oh, Brian (December 2, 2015). "Don't Leave Washington DC Without Trying its Signature Half-smoke". seriouseats.com.
