We Get Press Releases: Hot Dogs are Bipartisan
Everyone was excited that President-elect Obama made his first big foray into the city this weekend with a stop at Ben's Chili Bowl. Some were more excited than others. Namely, the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council, who put out a press release hilariously titled, "National Hot Dog & Sausage Council Says President-Elect Obama's Historic Trip to Famous DC Hot Dog Restaurant Reflects Excellent and All-American Taste in Cuisine."
Many people enjoy a good half-smoke after a night partying on U St., but there are likely very few people who believe a preference for half smokes are a measure of "excellent" taste. There's a reason why people love it when they're drunk, and it doesn't exactly require a refined palate to enjoy salty, meaty goodness doused with melted Velveeta. Every 4-year-old I know would eat that for dinner every night if they could, and a lot of those kids like to eat paste and crayons. Not to mention, hot dogs and sausages have their origins in Germany. So using their logic, Mr. Obama might actually have All-German tastes. Sie schmeckt gut!
The release gets even better, declaring that "hot dogs have a rich bi-partisan history" at the White House. There are partisan foods? The only one we can think of is maybe walnuts. Unless they're secretly serving donkeys and elephants...
National Hot Dog & Sausage Council President Janet M. Riley said that Obama's "stop yesterday shows that while the most sophisticated chefs in America may be vying for his palate, American hot dogs and sausages were the 'wieners' this weekend in Washington." Someone's a "wiener" this weekend, but, for once, we don't think it's the hot dogs.
Image courtesy of youbebetty
WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 President-Elect Barack Obama's visit to the DC landmark Ben's Chili Bowl for a half-smoke yesterday reflects his excellent and all-American taste in cuisine.According to National Hot Dog & Sausage Council President Janet M. Riley, "His stop yesterday shows that while the most sophisticated chefs in America may be vying for his palate, American hot dogs and sausages were the 'wieners' this weekend in Washington."
As a result of the stop, the Council is optimistic about hot dog and sausages' potential places on the White House menu. "Hot dogs have a rich and bi-partisan history at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue," Riley said. President Franklin D. Roosevelt served hot dogs to King George VI in 1939. Presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush also served them.
Because President-elect Obama seemed confused about the half-smoke on the menu at Ben's Chili Bowl, the Council offers a clarification about this local DC delicacy. A half-smoke is a sausage that is similar to a hot dog but is larger in size, contains more coarsely ground meat and is slightly spicier.
Given Obama's Chicago home, the Council is optimistic that he will adhere to one of the Councils' -- and the Windy City's -- cardinal etiquette rules: no ketchup on hot dog after the age of 18. Under Council rules, First Children Malia and Sasha are exempt from the ketchup restriction -- at least for a few more years.
For more hot dog and sausage facts and figures -- including the Council's highly rated hot dog etiquette video -- visit www.hot-dog.org or www.YouTube.com/hotdogcouncil.