... and the dog wouldn't remain; it would come to bite me -- and I'm sure I shouldn't remain!

Exiled from the evil Land of Colonie,
To wash upon the shores of Troy.
O frabjous day!
Callooh! Callay!
Chi-Dogs are here to stay!
Maine has lobstah,
NYC has pizza,
Buffalo has wings;
Chicago has a treat that far exceeds these things:

THE CHICAGO STYLE HOT DOG!
and now they're in Troy, N.Y. at
Nipper's Hot Dogs

TROY NIGHT OUT UPDATE: I stopped by the stand for another dog during the great Troy Night Out, (the Collar City's excellent counterpoint to Albany's First Friday, an awesome evening administered by the Upstate Artists Guild) and the Nipper team informed me that if you mention this blog, they'll throw in a free soft drink!

Hmmm... I got to start reviewing some bars,eh?

And now a little shameless commerce:

(Shared with permission.)

"OK, OK, enough with the rhapsodizing" I hear you say, "how do you make one of these true legends of fast food, these Depression-era delights??!?"

Start with:

True Vienna Beef hotdogs,

dressed up with:

• Yellow Mustard
  
  


• Bright Green Relish*
  
  


• Fresh Chopped Onions
  
  
  
  


• Two Tomato Wedges**
  
  
  
  


• A Pickle Spear or Slice
  
  
  
  


• Two Sport Peppers
  
  
  
  


• A Dash of Celery Salt
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Put em all together and you get...
  
  
  Or... my version
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Two of these goodey monsters for $6.00.

  My only quibble... they aren't serving them in a sturdy poppy-seed bun. The buns at the stand are a little on the wimpy side when it comes to supporting all the topping goodeyness.
  
  (UPDATE: 06/27/08 - Checked with Nipper Partner Bob Shenise this afternoon. He's working on getting the poppyseed buns)

  All served cart-side in Troy's beautiful Monument Square,
  

  intersection of Broadway, 2nd Street, and River Street.
  

  

  Extremely limited bistro-seating is available.
  Extremely.
  
  I ain't kidding. Check out my buddy Briggsy taking advantage of it. If he brought the rest of the NiteTrain Band, someone would be standing!
  

Other toppings like kraut are available, too.

• 

  Even the detested ketchup.
  
  Please... don't put ketchup on your hot dog.
  
  Please.

  
  And no frakkin' catsup either!
  

  ---

  
  
  
  If the above silliness doesn't clarify it for you, please refer to
  "So What Exactly is a Chicago Style Hot Dog?" or the Wikisphere for some edification.
  

  * I ain't kidding... fluorescent green, like the Chicago River on St. Patty's Day!
  
  
  
  ** In deference to the latest "poop on my veggies" scandal, the proprietors have temporarily removed tomatoes from the garnish board.
  

  ---

  
  
  
  

  NEXT TIME:
  

  I tour a Sausage Factory!