Over my years of living in the Philippines I have adjusted to many new and different things. Almost everything in life is a bit different here, but on almost everything, even when it’s been difficult, I have made the adjustment.
I’ve adjusted to different types of foods.
I’ve adjusted to a totally different style of driving.
I’ve adjusted to hot weather.
I’ve adjusted to the fact that there are a lot of different kinds of smells here, and many of them not so good.
There is, though, at least one adjustment that I just can’t make, and I refuse to make. I can’t adjust to the Nuclear Option.
I ain’t gonna be eating them neon-red hot dogs! The things practically glow like they come out of a nuclear plant! Homer Simpson would probably hoard the things!
Have you ever seen a real Philippine Hot Dog? Well, let me say this, if you have ever been within 50 feet of one, I am sure you have seen it, because they glow like a neon sign on the Las Vegas Strip, or maybe in Times Square in New York. I mean, these Philippine Hot Dogs are serious! They could probably solve a good part of the world’s energy problems if they could figure out a way to harness the power in those hot dogs!
I remember the first time that I encountered those red hot dogs. It was actually in the States. Although I had been to the Philippines many times, I had never had a hot dog here. But, back in 1998 or 1999, Feyma and I visited a Filipino Grocery Store in Portland, OR, not far from our house there. They had hot dogs from the Philippines. I looked at them and thought they looked rather strange, but Feyma wanted to buy them for the kids. At the time, we just had two boys.
When we got home with these Filipino Neon Dogs… oops, I mean hot dogs…. Feyma cooked them. She put them in water and boiled them. Hmm.. when she finished cooking them the water was bright red, but the hot dogs were still glowing too, so I suppose all was good (so to speak)!
Our young sons, aged 7 and 2 or so at that time took one look at the hot dogs and refused to eat them! As I recall, I think our 2 year old started crying! But, Feyma told the kids that because it was almost Christmas, these were special Christmas Hot Dogs, and that is why they were bright red! Maybe they were reindeer dogs, I don’t know, the color might have had something to do with Rudolf’s nose! But, the kids went ahead and tried them. Still, the taste did not win over any fans in our house. I didn’t even try them, the color alone was good enough to turn me away.
Now, though, our kids love to eat the red hot dogs of the Philippines. I still don’t eat them, I don’t think I’ve ever tried them, as I recall. But, the kids love them. We have several sources of “regular” hot dogs here in Davao, and if I have a hankering for a hot dog, I go with one of them, usually from a European Deli that we frequent, the Swiss Deli in Damosa, Davao City. The kids will generally eat either color – the Filipino red or the tan brown color of the European dogs.
In almost every mall that I have ever been in here, there is a kiosk outlet called “Hot Dog on a Stick”. I used to think it was a Filipino business, but in researching for this article I found that it is actually a US company, but they also have outlets here in the Philippines. Anyway, I have seen this place in virtually every mall I have ever visited, but in the past I have only seen the neon red dogs there. A few months ago, though, I started seeing more “regular” colored dogs at these stands too. I never tried one, though.
On Saturday, Feyma and I were out at the mall doing some shopping. We were passing by the Hot Dog on a Stick stand, and I happened to notice that they had a corn dog there. I remarked to Feyma that I don’t recall ever seeing a corn dog in the Philippines before. We went on about our shopping, we still had a couple of places to go. When we were about ready to leave, Feyma asked me if I wanted to get a corn dog and try it. I was a bit hesitant, but we went back to the Hot Dog on a Stick. I asked the girl working there…
What color is the hot dog inside that corn dog?
She kind of laughed a bit and assured me that it was one of the brown colored dogs inside. The corn dog did look good, so I relented. OK, I told her to give me one corn dog. She replied to me….
Sir, we have Johnsonville Bratwurst!
Hmm… this reminded me of a blog post that my friend Dave posted a few months ago, which was entitled “Filipinos don’t like that brand“. Dave related in that article how a similar incident had happened to him. He visited a hot dog kiosk (probably the same company) and the employees went out of their way to tell him that they had Johnsonville Bratwurst.
For those readers who don’t know what a Johnsonville Bratwurst is, Johnsonville is an American company who makes a very good bratwurst sausage. I guess it is probably the most popular bratwurst in the USA.
Well, this all got me thinking. These employees at Hot Dog on a Stick must be trained to promote the Johnsonville Brats whenever a foreigner passes by! Why else would we experience the same thing, even though we are hundreds of miles apart?
The girl showed me the Johnsonville spinning on the hot dog heater. It looked good, although it was pretty small. I guess it would be a “junior” Jonsonville, because I’ve never seen one that small before. I mean, it was like half the size of a hot dog! Usually those Johnsonvilles are like 2 to 3 times the size of a hot dog. I told the girl, OK, I would try one. Then, though, I saw the price! It was P75 (about $1.67) for the Johnsonville. The corn dog was only P40, and it was double the size, not including the corn batter. I quickly canceled my order for the Johnsonville. I decided that if I had lived ten years without one, I could probably make it a bit longer!
Truth is, at Swiss Deli, the place I mentioned where we can buy “regular colored” hot dogs, they also have great sausages of all kinds, so it’s not like I’m missing bratwurst anyway.
Oh, the corn dog? Yeah, I bought it and brought it home to try. I took two bites of it and gave it to one of my kids. Just didn’t taste good to me. The dog, indeed, was not red. It was all mushy, though, and just didn’t satisfy me. My son liked it, though, it seems.
If the brown dog at Hot Dog on a Stick was not to my liking… I’m staying away from the glow in the dark red ones!
Used to eat em…saw a show on cable “Hows it Made” and it featured hotdogs…I vowed at the end of the 15 minute show I would never eat another hotdog…EVER !! It was disturbing to say the least!
Hi brian – Ha ha… you’re watching too much TV! 😆
Je weniger die Leute darüber wissen, wie Würste und Gesetze gemacht werden, desto besser schlafen sie nachts.
* The less the people know about how sausages and laws are made, the better they sleep in the night.
Doesn’t mater to me who originally said it, I don’t like discussing politics or eating nuclear hot dogs.
It was indeed Hot Dogs on a Stick where I had my Johnsonville adventures, Bob. I didn’t know the hot dog chain was an American company. They certainly seem to be everywhere in the Philippines.
There are two outlets in our local mall, only one keeps the Johnsonville brats in the back, available for foreigners who know where to ask for them .. sort of like low-level nuclear secrets LoL.
Hi Dave – I figured it was Hot Dog on a Stick that got you on those Johnsonvilles. As soon as they offered them to me, I told Feyma about your article! 😆
Bob;
Red dye #5 hot dogs are what we called them up here in the Subic Area. As with you I’ll give them a pass. My granddaughter likes our type of hot dogs (we have some great european deli’s here also) and she loves Kielbasa on a bun (no mustard, I’m still working on that). A good hot dog is a thing of pleasure, and if anyone who wants to tell me what they are made of, I’ll smile and ask for another.
Paul,
As to what they are made of, well I don’t care either. If it tast good i’ll eat it and I have seen that show on the Hot Dogs. I think if everyone knew how all their food was made they would starve.
Bill;
I agree with you, 50,000,000 Baseball fans can’t be wrong, and they like Hot Dogs (just not the Red Dye #5’s)
Red dye ” Number 5 ” I wonder if that is any relation to the Soup ” Number 5 ” Bob showed us a sample of here on ” LIP ” a while back ? LOL
You might be on to something there, Bob! Soup #5.. knowing the ingredients… then thinking about the shape of the hot dogs! Hmm… 😉
Hi Paul – I just thought up last week that those red dogs are the nukes of the Philippines, I’m sticking with my new nickname of them! Ha ha… I do enjoy a hot dog from time to time…. just not one that glows in the dark! 😉
Bob;
Next time there is a concert or sporting event in town, sell those dogs as glow sticks vice the chemical ones. Money to be made there. Hmm… Maybe I’ll do that up here.
Interesting thought, Paul! Those nuke dogs are dual purpose… use as a glow stick, and eat them if you are too hungry! Perfect!
Can you use them to go fishin?? lol
They may work as bobbers, hudson!
I’m with you Paul! A good all beef, possibly Kosher, Hot Dog with a bit of spicy brown stadium mustard! Meal fit for a King!
Paul,
What about the catsup, mayo, mustard, onions, relish, chili and sour krout??? Now that a real dog! 🙂
Mayo on a dog? I am not sure I can stand for that, Steve! 😉
Hi Paul.
I started a Events food vending business in 1992 featuring Brats made by a company in Seattle who would virtually make ANY flavor Brat for me. Garlic Brat, Onion Brat, etc. They even made a Craisin (Cranberry Raisin) Brat for me for one of the Cranberry Festivals on the Washington Coast.
But I digress. Best sellers were the Chicago Dog, 100% BEEF, 2nd. was the Polish Kielbasa, (pork). 3rd. was and still is a standard 4/1 ratio Hot Dog purchased at Cash & Carry made from Pork, Chicken and Beef. No mystery meats in those dogs and people love them.
Just came back from Vernonia, OR Salmon Festival, sold out all my dogs & sausages, yes! also Hot Cajun sausage and they are red in color, maybe to show that they’re hot, hahaha!
Sold lots of Salmon Burgers, I’m the only one who sells them around here, maybe something for me to try when I get there.
I know they sell those pickled “Red Hots” in a jar at taverns here, they do taste kind of mushy, wonder if it’s the same as the Nuclear?
Hey Bob, I feel the same way about the so called hot dogs here in the RP. I’m still looking for a good tasting dog. I just don’t like how mushy they are on the inside. I have tried the Johnsonville Brats and they were good.
Maybe we can work together and find a way to solve the brown-out problem with the Red Nuks! hehe
Ah, Bill… now that you mention the word “mushy” I recall that I have tasted them before. Never straight, but mixed in with Filipino Spaghetti! Yes, they are way too mushy, and it really turns me off!
I do suspect that the brownout situation could potentially be solved with the dye in those dogs!
BoB , i understand , that you not like to eat them for just the color.
I allso , but being a chef , i had to try them .
Just one bite was enough !
And when i was younger i worked on cruise ships all over the world ,
but never saw sausage so ” not tasty ” looking .
And i eat allmost everything what local people eat .
And yes , there are so many kind of sausages , tasty , good looking , big ,
mostly eat them with mustard .
But even then the one in the Philippines taste like carton.
Still, in the asian or philippine store here they sell a lot of them.
Even my wife , 26 years in Holland now , working allso as a [ junior ] chef ,
want to buy them .
Unbelieveble .
Gr , Anton
Good morning, Anton! I am in full agreement with you, my friend! Being a chef, I am sure that you are on to the right way of thinking!
Hi, Anton:
Something tells me that you worked as a Chef for Holland American Line in your younger days. Am I right?
Bob, the title of your article sure blind-sided me. I thought you were discussing what Bernard Lewis likes to talk about. Hahaha Right now, I couldn’t think about food, nuclear dog or whatever. having just had a delicious Filipino lunch at the Manila Oriental. 🙂
I always like to shake up people with the titles, John, and keep them guessing! 😉
Haha , I think every grocery store in the USA sells those bright red dogs, you just have to look in the poor mans corner of the cooler or the reduced price items. Ha ha I have bought those a few times in the past, hard to see the dogs in the pot for all the red water. The couple of time’s i did buy these red dog’s i noticed that very few were eaten unless someone had a few to many to drink , then of course no type of food is safe. ha ha
Reminds me of a comercial for potted meat on the local radio station here that goes like this:
Hargraves potted meat, chocked full of peckers and lips since 1939 hahaha
Clay , here in The Netherlands , you not find them in a { what you call }
poor mans corner ! We have NO CORNERS like that here .
Realy poor people can go to foodbanks , and get food for free , but that is
not Haha !
But they have no red dogs .
For that , you go to TOKO [ Asian shop ] and they are realy expensive !
Gr. Anton
Wow, I never saw those in the USA, Clay! I must not have ventured into the “poor man’s corner” often enough! Well, I did see them at the Filipino Stores in the USA, though!
Many of the dyes used in food, especially red dyes, are not good for young kids. I would not eat or would I let anyone in my family eat those red hot dogs. I agree with Brian–what’s a hot dog really made of? – you probably don’t want to know.
http://current.com/news/92521157_group-urges-the-banning-of-3-common-food-dyes-red-40-yellow-5-yellow-6.htm
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/109838.php
You are a wise man, Kevin!
Ha! Good article! Nope! I have not and will not eat one of those neon hot dogs! I was a ‘once a year, at the beach’ hot dog eater to begin with, and the nuclear numbers here put a stop to hot dog consumption. If they are so not good for you in the USA, what could be in them here?
Maayong buntag, AmericanLola! Glad that you enjoyed the article…. stay away from those nuclear dogs! I don’t want to have to come to your funeral! 😉
guys you’re talking too much … almost all filipinos eat “red” hot dogs…. you won’t die eating them… even previous Presidents of the Philippines eat those… move on guys.. 🙂
Hi raphael – We are free to discuss the topic as long as we wish. No offense is intended.
Look at the life expectancy rates of Filipinos and go to the cemetaries and notice all the graves for young people. Maybe nuclear dogs? As for the effects of eating nuclear dogs on Philippine presidents, even I won’t touch that one.
Ha ha…. the Presidents…. good thinking, Don!
Its funny how you wrote this article Bob,i have yet to find a good hot dog here.I sure would like to find an.. armour,or oscar meyer,ball park are ok to.A good italian sausage would be good to.Now i make my own sausage here even though its loose its far better than what i find in the stores.ALL i do is buy ground pork and add the proper spices and wala,got it.I also have tracked down meat sauce receipes from the states just incase i find a good hot dog here.It seems to me they put alot of sugar in meats but not in deserts.Go figure maybe because of the high diabetes here they use less sugar in cakes etc.
maynard
Hi Maynard – We can get some good hot dogs and sausages down here from several different European Deli type places. You are in Cebu, right? Surprised you can not find them up there.
Ive tried several differant kinds here Bob ,i just cant find the right one yet.I would love to find a good tasteing one.Yes im in Cebu Bob ,the closest deli i found was in AYALA mall ,maybe im just to fussy .
Keep an eye out, maynard.. I’m sure you’ll find something that you like!
Here is the Wikipedia site on Hot Dogs if anyone would like to read about them. They also talk about the Red Nuke Dogs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_dog
Hey Bob
“Im Back”
I been cooking for myself alot lately and in fact I went thru 8 BallPark Franks in the past week.
More to read about why on your Blog Site.
Hi Neal – Just checked the forum.. terrible news! I’ll be praying for your wife’s recovery.
OOPS I mean in the Forum
Hi Bob
hotdogs lol i never for get when i was over in the phill in 1999.200 for the first time mate and my first wife went to the moves and we went to get a drink and there was lovely hotdogs cooking as thay do and there having his dinner as well was a big fat rat mate eat the hotdog as it was cooking lol so i did not feel like eating one affter that god bless mate and take good care
from peter martin taassie..
Hi Peter – Wow! Oh my… the rat ate the hot dog while it was spinning on the cooker? I can understand why you were no longer hungry!
yep Bob he was up there eating and his little legs was going the same as the hotdog it was so funny to see but as u say i was not hungry no more after that lol
from peter……….hehehehhe
😯
Bob, I still prefer the local “Longganisa” than the “Nuclear” Hot Dog. Maybe because I belong to the old Pinoy Generation. Who would thought that cartoon tasting sausage will do big business here? So sad, the power of commercial media.
Mustard? I like it a lot.. I even put them in my hot adobo with lots of fresh chili…
Good morning, El Moro – Nice to hear from you my friend. Like you… I enjoy a good mustard! Don’t tell Paul T, but I put mustard and ketchup on my hot dogs! 😆
Oh it’s okay Bob, if you really like it that way. Me it’s chopped onions, relish, and mustard on non-nuke dogs. I’ll have that for lunch today, thanks!
Thanks Paul T. for the tip. I never thought of that, fresh chopped onion with mustard. Must be yummy.. Which onion BTW Paul? The white one or the small reddish one?
Bob;
There is only one onion for me now, local grown hot little reddish ones, I love ’em, even if they don’t love me.
I gotta vote for the white onion, Paul… sorry.
Yesterday (Sat.) I went to Drydens Restaurant on Subic Freeport, the owner and I were on a couple of ship’s together. I had a jumbo Chili Dog with white onions cheese and a real hot dog non-nuclear. And french fries, must I mention the SMB? Bob the white onions were good, I might switch back to them.
Sounds like a feast, Paul! You are making me hungry!
For me, El Moro… I gotta go with the white onions!
Hi Paul – Oh yes, the onions are a must have! Hold the relish for me, though! However, think about the green relish color, along with the red nuke dog… now that is downright a pleasing color combination! Add some mustard… this is getting to be artwork!
Then you really would have a Christmas hotdog!
That’s for sure, John! But, it’s OK to eat them year round! 😉
Hi Bob,
Glowing red hot dogs,perish the thought,might come in handy for a nightime brownout LOL.
Being a Brit,i’m partial to a good sausage,but i’ve never been a lover of any hotdogs.
regards,Chas.
Hi Chasdv – Don’t worry, my friend, I won’t hold that against you! 😉
RED hot dogs!
Yet another business opportunity in the Philippines!
the opportunities are not limited…
… think outside the box…
!!!
Ha ha… not sure how good that business opportunity would go over… what are you gonna do, try to switch Filipinos over to brown dogs? 😉
Red Hot Dogs – already reported before… Someone/corporation already has done it before, as I have read above… but as this is somewhat a tongue in cheek response , there is room for flexibility in interpretation.
Goofy ideas are the ones which are the ones which succeed!
You’re right, Jade… sometimes the goofy ideas do succeed! Good luck.
Hey Bob,
I’ve never tried one either. I was going to, but the store had no mustard. Any dog without mustard is just not worth it. My wife loves them though. I tried some of that red longanisa…too sweet.
I hate any kind of sweet meat, hudson! Sweet and meat are just two words that don’t belong in the same sentence!
…hey Jade…you might be on to something…..GREEN HOT DOGS!!! No Christmas would ever be the same without the two !!!! And we ALL know Pinoys start to celebrate Christmas early !!! WWWOOOOHHHOOOOOOO….I CAN SEE THE PILES OF PESO’S NOW !!!
Hee Hee
I remember the green ketchup/catsup put out a few years ago, I think by Heinz, though don’t know if it is still out there…
Food coloring is a funny thing. I wonder if there is really a DA-GLO variety of that ‘product’!!!
More is better…!!!???
Remember Dr.Seuss’ “Green Eggs and Ham”…
How ’bout:… “Green Balut ‘n Spam”
who knows… might catch on…
Love it… green balut and spam! Perfect Pinoy Food! 😆
I hear in Hawaii spam is the #1 meat,i bet they would like the green balut to.
maynard
Jade;
Upon returning to the states years ago, I found some McDonalds banana ketchup in my bag I’d got in Manila. Next day I went to Micky D’s” in West Wareham MA. Showed it to the girl and asked if they had any more? Her and the duty manager spent the rest of the time I was there, searching the ketchup section to see where I got it. I kept quite and left.
I can’t stop laughing on this, Paul!
Paul,
I can see the grin on your face as your walking out the door! That was a good one.
Never eat any food that is colored green…How would you know if its bad?? 🙂
I agree, never eat any food that is green in color. Stay away from lettuce and asparagus especially! Brussel Sprouts should be avoided at all costs! 😯
Hi Jade – I saw that green catsup on the news one time. We were already in the Philippines when it came out, and it never made it over here, so I never saw it in person. How about green catsup on a red nuke dog? 😯
This is getting to be an entrepreneur’s dream! Image the rainbow dogs that we could come out with!
Occasionally I leave out a bottle of ketchup out and then it turns a browner shade of red… surprisingly it is still okay… (don’t want to get into why…)
Not Ever Green
fresh food is best…
that’s it…
Hi Bob–Come on you guys! How can you berate the red hotdogs? You mean to say nobody ever longs on a special occasion to have them on a stick alternating with big marshmallows? How about sliced in your spaghetti? For me it’s Philippine soul food, and once in a while can be fun. Don’t get me wrong–I love good gourmet sausages and a good all american hotdogs too, but red longanisa and hotdogs? You just gotta love em!
Oh Neal, So sorry about your wife’s ordeal. Prayers and good energy that she makes a full recovery. Take care.
It’s not for me, queenie! A shade of red may be OK… but not nuclear red!
I never noticed those nuclear dogs in the Phils, but I’ve noticed them here in Australia; they are v. popular with the Filipino community, and they must be generally too, since they are displayed large in the deli cabinets. What I noticed about the ones here is that it’s only the skin that’s red like that…the sausage meat inside is just the normal brownish colour. Still wouldn’t eat one though, coz I do know what’s inside them. It may be legal, but….
Right enough, I’m wondering if you could produce a blue version, and sell on the novelty factor for a while?
Wow! They have the nuke dogs in Oz too? That’s something! Blue… Red… brown… let’s go for yellow and green!
the oz ones are the best as for taste that is and no rats………lol
from peter martin
Being an East Coast boy like Paul I love Fenway Franks or Kahn’s Kosher All Beef. Pricey but worth it. I grew up in a Portugese -Italian-Irish household on the edge of a Latino neighborhood, lol. Talk about sausage heaven! I like the longanissas, they remind me of Portugese linguisa but obvioulsy a little sweeter. I like to buy a good chorizo now and then and the butcher shop in Calbayog City makes a pretty good one. Just my two cents worth…now my mouth is watering, hehe.
My Dad was Portugese, from New Bedford, Mass. I love Lingucia. Not too sweet, and goes with any kind of meal. Its like ham with an attitude. I even like the spicy linguica with my eggs in the morning. Right now I’m thinking of a Linguica and tomato sandwich mmmm!
I like longanisa too, Mark… I just want one that isn’t too sweet!
Ow! Such intolerance 😯
Nothing better for breakfast than a couple of eggs over easy, warm pandesal, and a couple of those red hot dogs. Taste better than chicken!
Of course, we have the red hot dogs only when we’re out of toyo. 😆
I’ll save the nuke dogs for you, Paul. I don’t want them to go into short supply for you!
What’s the difference between pig or chicken offal vs hot dogs??
In RP it is cooked and given a particular name.
In the US it is all called Hot Dog.
We all eat it regardless of the name!
(Though my favorite is chicken breasts…)
Ha Ha!
Ha ha…. so true, Jade.
Hey Bob, your topic reminded me of something. Back in ’06, colonel of our AFJROTC took us to a place where he worked for 6 years. The Pentagon! I remember we went out in the courtyard (in the Pentagon’s center) and there was a building thingy with a fake owl on the top of it. They said something like it was their ‘nuclear hotdog stand’. Haha!
Anyway.. I remember going to the Dominican Republic and noticed their hotdogs to taste better than most American hotdogs I had. I’ll be honest: I can only eat a frank inside a bun. They make my stomach hurt. BUT there are the American franks I like (maybe made of diff. meat) that were commonly used in Skin’s Dogs- a popular hotdog place where I was from.
The Filipino hotdogs I didn’t take notice to at first. I mean, I noticed they were a lil’ brighter than normal, but I didn’t think about it much when suddenly… BOOM! An atomic bomb of awesome flavor exploded in my mouth! I noticed inside it was a lighter color as if the bright red was a skin that could be peeled off. I also noticed the red kinda came off on my hand (dye??). Whatever though. I LOVE Filipino hotdogs 😀
By the way, I never heard of Johnsonville :O I heard of bratwurst but I always thought of it as something old people eat, and younger people (who heard of it at rare times) looked at it as if it was some exotic delicacy as one would look at chitlins! I think I’ll look it up cause I never had it 😆
Never heard of a Johnsonville? Where have you been, young man? 😯
You love Filipino hot dogs? 😯 😯 Double whammy!
Sorry Bob–never heard of them either…must be a regional thing! Looking for american substitutions for filipino items seens out of context to me, and not something that would cross my mind. I guess for me you either go for the local item or you don’t:)
I don’t understand, queenie… I didn’t realize that the hot dog was a Filipino thing? I mean, were they invented here?
(dye??). Whatever though. I LOVE Filipino hotdogs
Except for the dye..I LOVE our very own Pinoy hotdogs too! I have a strong feeling HOTSILOG will soon be serve as breakfast option around the country soon.. 🙂
Hi Miles – There is a popular restaurant in Davao that has Hotsilog on the menu!
Nice to know that Bob, would be great if they make their own hotdogs though, keep it free from artificial coloring.
That’s true, Miles… but I’m afraid they don’t.
Must have spicy mustard,onions & saurekraut!
Enjoy, Joe!
Joe..a saurekraut hotdog at Arrowhead was the best while watching the Kansas City Chiefs beat up on the Oakland Raiders.
Hey Gary – What is the appropriate dog if the Raiders are beating up the Chiefs? 😆
LMAO…Paul you are truly evil !
You see, Bob – the “Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdog Lovers of the World” are starting to come out and voice their delight in those little, red tube steaks.
I’ll await my shipment from Davao – I’m sure there will be many hungry mouths in Ilocandia that will utter an “agyamanak” (“salamat”) [“thank you”] before chowing down.
😆
btw, the red color has its origins in the products of Spanish sausage makers during colonial times.
😉
Paul;
Ah you brought back memories of shipboard lunch treats, Tube Steaks and Sliders, (Hot Dogs And Hamburgers for those who missed out on a ship’s lunch) I just never liked my tube steak boiled, hot dogs taste best to me grilled and sans the red dye #5 in the Nuke dogs.
Yes, yes, yes! Grilled all the way! Over charcoal!
Not to mention that cruise-end daily treat: “Beanie-Weenie”! 😉
I’ve seen a couple of nuke dog lovers post… I wouldn’t call it a trend, though! 😉
We’re more reflective and introverted than those who choose to forgo the pleasures we “relish.”
😆
😉
Paul,
Really bad pun! I still like “Beanie Weenies” with spam and eggs. All those years in Guam I suppose?
Bob
I am still laughing from this post. Maybe because I can relate to the neon dogs. My wife buys these neon red hot dogs here in the states on a regular basis and I still do not know why. I have tried the neon dogs and to me they taste like a cheap US dog. Maybe it is because I am not a big fan of hot dogs. To me a hot dog is something I eat when it is 3am and all the restaurants are closed. Now all that is left to eat is this convenience store poly urethane hot dog that has been cooking all day. I like most of the Philippine food but there hot dog is one thing I will take exception to.
Hi Larry – Glad to give you a chuckle! You deserve it! 😉
I always thought they where the exploded version of the Vienna sausage you get in the can:/ I cant get one past my lips either. We try to eat as little preservatives as possible and those look well,,, Nuclear 🙂
Ha ha.. Jack… hmm… exploded vienna sausages? You might be on to something there! 😉
I saw packaged red hot dogs sold in the grocery store when I was in Saudi Arabia. I bought a pack. Got home and realized the were individually wrapped in a casing similar to sausage and they were squishy….I got grossed out and threw the whole pack away.!
I hate the squishyness, Bob!
Buckeye Bob;
The first time my wife brought home the type you mentioned, I fried them up unwrapped, and the smell was so bad I threw thr pack away also. Who knew….
You cooked them with the plastic wrappers intact, Paul?
Bob;
How was I to know that someone would wrap a Hot Dog in plastic? I had to chuck the pan also.
Ha ha… I know, Paul! I get a kick out of it every time I see one of those nuclear dogs wrapped in the plastic! Maybe they do that to keep the dangerous red dye #5 off your fingers while handling them! 😆
LOL!. Only reason I noticed the wrapping was because I was sober and had taken a close look at these strange looking “dogs”. When I got back to the States, I bought a pack of Oscar meyer 100% all beefers. I ate 8 in one sitting(with buns)! I hope my wife does’nt see this post cause she might tell you about the first time I had shrimp in the PI:)
Sorry Hon but I just can’t help not to laugh every time I remember your first Crispy Shrimp! LOL.. If Paul T fried the hotdogs unwrapped well the cook in the resort we stayed in kind of forgot to take out the shell of the shrimps, it was medium sized shrimps.. 1st bite my Bob said “This are real crispy”.. His curiosity strikes and started to look closely and then he found out that the shells aren’t removed. The shells made the Crispy Shrimps Extra Crispy! After that he never craved for any Crispy Shrimp.. And in our next meals If he’s not familiar with the food served he always check the food first or He would use the fork and ask “What’s this Hon?” or “What’s in it?” 🙂 If your wondering where the Crispy Shrimps go well it didn’t went to the trash Bob gave it to some stray cats that are running around the resort.. 🙂
Ha ha.. sounds like Bob had a feast there! Or, rather, the cats did! It is common here that shrimp are almost always cooked in the shells. In the States, they are usually cooked already out from the shells.
Exactly! haha.. Well he loved the Shrimp balls though and ate some Jolli-Hot dogs. By the way Happy Anniversary to you and Feyma, your wedding day falls on the same day of my Hubby’s birthday.. God Bless you & your lovely family..
Thank you, Zai.
Bob,
You must have gone to high end places in the states! I have had many boiled shrimp meals in Florida restaurants. “Peel ’em Yourself”… that’s the way.. very messy but… mmm… so good. Not difficult to peel once you get the knack. Daisy calls it “shrim”, but it all tastes excellent. Sometimes the itinerant “Shrim” seller walks down the street of our compound hollering “hipon” or even better “sugpo”. I must admit that Daisy and I both love the fresh sugpo – prawns for breakfast. Wow, how she cooks them; shells intact in her signature sauce of coconut oil, garlic, onion tomato, sea salt and the Bicolano tradition of “sili”.
Jade
Oh, I’ve been to high end places, but I’ve been to plenty of shrimp boils in the States as well. I used to live in Louisiana, and I’ve probably been to a lot more crawfish boils than any regular on this site! I know about shrimp in shells, and I’ve taken them out of their shells. But, Jade… if you order battered fried shrimp in the States (no matter how “high end” the place) is it in it’s shell? At most places here, the shrimp are left in their shell, coated with batter and fried. You have to peel the batter off, take the shell off and eat the shrimp. What was the purpose of battering them? Now, that is messy, my friend.
Ha Ha, Bob,
Of course I was only kidding about the high end stuff!!!
You really spun me around though with the battered fried shrimp with the shells sill intact (heads too?) For what… the challenge?
Guess I’ve not been to even many medium end places either.
I think “Red Lobster’ has ’em that way but I don’t eat 3 shrimp for $10.
My sister always ordered battered deep fried shrimp when my parents took us out for dinner. Don’t remember if they were shelled or not, as I never ordered them, my fave was the fried chicken. (To me the batter always too thick to even get the taste of the shrimp.) But where do you get good shrimp in Wisconsin?
No harm intended – only joking!
Now to take on the subject of Chesapeake Bay or Aransas, Tx, Pass deep fried/boiled crabs… newspapers or brown butcher paper on the table.
Another subject…
Always lighthearted,
Jade
BTW, Bob,
On the subject of crawfish… (I love ’em.)
Did you suck the heads?
I didn’t, wasn’t brave enough…
Had Boudain instead.
all the best,
jade
Hi Jade – Did I suck the heads? I said I ate crawfish, right? You haven’t eaten crawfish unless you suck the heads! 😆 So, of course!
Ha Ha to you – CDO_Zai,
Your description reminds me of my first experience of eating boiled blue crabs in Florida. Had never tried crabs of any kind before. Chomped down on it and came out with a mouth full of crunchy stuff, kinda like popcorn shell casings! It tasted very good but it was terrible to eat… no one told me how to go about eating this critter… Some years later, after I had made friends with some of the locals, I had the blue crabs again, this time with local knowledge and guidance. This time I was able to appreciate this delicacy the way it should be enjoyed!
Try it again, this next time with local knowledge,
Jade
Hello Jade,
Say that to my Husband “BuckeyeBob”.. It’s funny but my husband wouldn’t want any Crispy Shrimps after that incident, If we went out to eat in another restaurant and see it in the Menu he would just say “hmmmmm..” and I just laugh.. He always say that Philippines is like “a box of chocolate, you wouldn’t know what you’ll get”..haha. and it is true.. He will maybe eat another Battered Crispy Shrimp if I will be the one who’ll cook it, for sure that Crispy Shrimp won’t have any shell on it.. 🙂
The only hot dogs I tried in The Philippines were at Jollibee and I really liked them. When I used to work in a job that had me on the road almost every day I would stop at numerous roadside hot dog wagons and my standard order was 3 hot dogs with mustard and relish. Anything less was more of a tease than any kind of culinary satisfaction. I never saw the neon red ones as described in this article.
The Jollibee Hot Dogs are served with some kind of grated cheese on them and are pretty much what I would consider ” Standard Size ” as what I am acoustomed to here in the USA. Just 2 Jolli-Hot Dogs were filling enough for me every time I had them, must be the cheese !
On my next visit I will explore the Food Court at Gaisano Mall in Iligan which opened in stages since my last visit. I’ll look for Neon Red hot dogs, maybe even try one Philipino Style just for the experience !
Ever wonder where the Jollibee Burgers and Hot Dogs are from ? Check out ” Zenith Foods Corp ” on youtube. I was quite impressed when I saw this.
Hi Bob – Ha ha.. check out “Hot Dog on a Stick” I am sure they must be in Gaisano Mall in Iligan.. or just look in the freezer case in the grocery store and they will have thousands of packs of nuclear dogs!
I am still here in Panama City Panama, that’s another story. This must be the hot dog capitol of the world. They come in different colors, and all sizes from huge to tiny. I have tried a couple of brands, but they were gross. The texture of cream of wheat, and I can’t describe the flavor, except YUCK!
While in Florida they sold red dogs, and the companies seemed to mostly come from Georgia. They were huge, and would easily overflow a bun, just the way I like dogs. I could never bring myself to buy, because I could only think cancer.
I love Johnsonville, and I have seen them here. I have only seen brautwurst, and Italian mild. I love their hot Italian for spaghetti, and the chorrizo for eggs, or sandwhiches. Although the cost is 3 times what they are in Florida. I can’t bring myself to buy them because of cost.
The best dogs I ever ate were from Pacifica Ca. just south of S.F & Daly City. They called them dinner dogs, and were made of beef. I would grill them slowly to brown them. Then split them lengthwise to sweat the grease out of them. After a good sweating I would place a big chunk of cheese in the split. Set them to side the of the grill, and add some BBQ sauce. Cook them even slower until the sauce was nice & sticky with several of layers of sauce. I called them canoes for the kids, and they loved them……..i2f
Hi imagine – Wow… you really seem to be stuck in Panama! I hope all works out and you can get underway soon.
Yes, I agree, those nuclear dogs have the texture of cream of wheat. I hate that! 😆
imagine,
Best wishes to you during your stay in Panama City Panama.
I hope you will get everything in proper readiness for your pacific crossing.
I spent many hours in the second floor bar/restaurant of the Balboa Yacht Club, on the east, err, sort of south side (south-american) of the canal in Dec. 2008. There was free wifi and the Balboa beer was less than $1. Spent many hours there conversing with my wife Daisy through Yahoo IM. The regular patrons got a kick out of me, talking to the computer. No problem, as I was a paying customer. I was working on the USN ship HSV2 Swift, a fast catamaran ferry deployed in the Caribbean at that time.
Do you need an engineer with strong electrical experience for your voyage?
Wow, I envy you for your experience to come!
Smooth seas for a safe crossing.
Jade
Hi Jade – Check this out:
http://mindanao.com/blog/2006/06/us-navy-visits-davao-city/
I was aboard the USS HSV1 when it visited Davao City a number of years ago. HSV 1 and 2 were former Australian Ferry boats that were purchased by the US Navy as experimental high speed vessels! They are quite unique for Navy Ships!
Wow, Bob,
We have common ground here. As I understand it now, the HSV-2 Swift is the only one which is currently under the control of the US Navy. Sealift Inc. is now the owner and is under contract with the US Navy. I do contract work with this company. The others (3 or 4 of them) have reverted to the original owner and manufacturer, INCAT of Australia.
In the past few years they were deployed in the Persian Gulf.
some websites:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HSV-2_Swift
http://www.incat.com.au/
http://www.sealiftinc.com/photo_swift.html
I have enjoyed my service to this company and experiencing the strict service and duty that is required to be a crew or service member of this vessel. The deployment as it is, now is of a good will mission and ambassadorship in the Caribbean sea, Africa and South Asia; distributing relief supplies to hospitals, schools and government agencies.
I hope to have the opportunity to serve aboard her again.
Semper Fi,
Jade
P.S. The ride is rough; no regular pitch and roll, especially at max speed of 40 nautical mph… only “twist and jerk”. After all it is a catamaran and sea swells are not it’s thing.
Hi Jade – In 2006, I went to a Medical Mission in Marawi City in the ARMM, which was jointly conducted by US and Philippine Forces. The US contingent consisted of US Army Special Forces and a group of Navy SEALS and some Marines as well. One of the Navy guys and I became friends, and he later invited me to visit the HSV1 when it visited Davao. I spent a couple of hours aboard the vessel, but only in port, I did not get to experience the actual travel. It was certainly an interesting vessel.
I guess in some way this could be construed to be true to the thread of ‘Nuclear Hot Dog’… Four, yes 4 – 36 cylinder engines, each putting out 10,000 hp; via jet drive impellers.
Bob,
I feel duty bound to expand upon this good will mission more. The service personnel aboard this vessel also go out, in country, and perform humanitarian services to the population. Nearly all branches of the armed forces; Army, Navy, Marines; they go out and refurbish hospitals, schools; and much more that I do not know about.
I salute them .
There is much more to be said on this topic.
I let it rest now.
Jade
Yes, ‘Cream of Wheat’ or cream of what??
Give me a steak any day; something I can identify…
Read the forum under SAILING about Imagine, and why I am in Panama……i2f
I know what you mean about the red hot dogs. Sometimes my wife will cook them with the rice in the rice cooker, then we end up with red rice as well…no thanks. The red hot dogs also end up in the sweet pilipino style Spaghetti…forgive me but Spaghetti should not be sweet and should never have hot dogs in it.
I sure agree with you about the spaghetti, James! No doubt on that. Red rice? yuk! ha ha
Red hot dogs? How nostalgic! When I was a child we’d spend summers in Kennebunkport, ME. The first thing my grandmother would insist on doing when we got up there was to get some red-skinned hot dogs from the market!
Hey Dan–I think these are the ones you might remember. Red food coloring added but I’ll bet tastier!
http://bangordailynews.com/2012/08/17/business/bangor-companys-red-snapper-hot-dogs-are-a-beloved-taste-of-maine/