Hotdogs have an “iconic status” in the American South.
Dr. David Davis, an English professor at Mercer University, has written many articles and books about Southern Studies as well as how the food industry has affected people in the South.
Hotdogs are not his favorite food, but they have a deep history that connects hungry Americans alike in the Southern United States.
In the book he co-edited called “Writing in the Kitchen: Essays on Southern Literature and Foodways” he describes how authors of American writing used poems and short stories to explain their experiences with cultural food products that framed the history of the Southern Food Way Alliance and the Southern Food and Beverage Museum.
Davis says that places with “many ethnic groups are still serving hotdogs today” because they are “cheap.”
According to Davis, hotdogs came to America in the 1860s as German Wieners, which were often sold by Greek immigrants in New York City. The urbanization of cities in the Northern United States helped foreign workers develop hot dog carts to sell wieners and sausages to people in bulk at an affordable price. A decade later, several groups of Greek Immigrants moved to the Deep South to expand the food industry in the United States.
By the early 1900s, hotdogs became a comfort food in the U.S. because of their cheap ingredients and labor costs, which made it accessible to anyone who wanted to make a quick, inexpensive meal at home.
In Macon, Nu-Way Weiners has been a legendary hotdog joint that has served franks and milkshakes since 1937. It was founded by a man named James Malice who previously owned a hot dog stand that was between a produce store and a bakery in Downtown Macon.
The original location was on Cotton Avenue in a small counter-service restaurant with 11 stools and 28 booth seats. In 1948, its second location opened near the terminal station on Cherry Street, which helped feed hungry railroad employees in the 1950s.
According to their website, Nu-Way Weiners.com, they currently have eight locations across Central Georgia. It is known for having celebrity guests like Oprah Winfrey and having the best slaw dog in America, according to Paul Lucas’s article in the New York Times called “High Spots in a Nation of Hot-Dog Heavens.”
On September 29, 2016, the State of Georgia made a statewide holiday called “Nu-Way Weiner Day” to honor Nu-Way Weiners as one of the first hot dog chains in Middle Georgia.
Newer hot dog establishments like Hanks Food Truck on Eisenhower Parkway are playing around with traditional toppings to serve the best hotdogs to foodies in Bibb County.
Davis says there are strong opinions about how people like to customize their hot dogs. He recognizes that “dressings are a matter of preference” for hot dog lovers. According to Davis, food entrepreneurs notice that hot dog franchises are taking over local hot dog establishments, but he suggests that you have to visit a “specific” joint to find the best hot dog in your area.
Hot Dog Pete’s is an example of a hot dog joint in the South that has been serving hot dogs to the people of Atlanta since 2018. It was founded by two business partners, Nick Pihakis and Peter Graphos, who wanted to create a hot dog legacy in the state of Georgia.
Peter Graphos is known for founding Sneaky Pete’s Hotdogs, which has been a legendary hotdog chain in the state of Alabama since 1966. Phiakis is known for founding Jim N’Nick’s BBQ, which is a restaurant chain that has been serving Southern BBQ in the Atlanta area since 1985.
According to the Atlanta Eater, each hot dog at Hot Dog Pete’s is cooked on a charcoal grill and then dressed to order with a variety of toppings. Customers can also choose to go with a vegan hot dog to meet their dietary needs. People can order sides like waffle fries, loaded fries, onion rings, and collard greens to pair with their hot dogs.
The restaurant also serves various beverages, including milkshakes, sodas, floats, and beer. It is located at 33 Georgia Avenue in Atlanta, Georgia, and is open Monday-Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Davis says that Hot Dog Pete’s is his favorite hot dog joint because the meat is served on a pita bun, and it is owned by Greek immigrants.
He has concerns about how hot dogs are becoming a less trendy food item due to growing markets that want to produce chicken tenders.
In his opinion, hot dogs are too easy to prepare, making it a meal that many Americans will not go out of their way for.Hot dogs are an example of a comfort food that is eaten during celebrations that are considered significant in America.
Even though they are delicious, he suggests that people should not eat a lot of them because they are “not flavorful” “despite health costs.”
Davis says that “hotdogs are a food of the past,” but he thinks that people still eat them because they are an inexpensive and an accessible food item for anyone to enjoy.
