Corn Dog!
Corn Dog
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Corn Dog Naming
Canadians call these pogos (see below). They are known in Australia as "battered savs", Dagwood dogs", "Pluto pups" or "dippy dogs". In South Korea, they are known as hotdogs and actual hotdogs are scarce. In New Zealand they are also known as Hotdogs and the hotdog in a bun is known as an American hotdog. Elsewhere, they may be known as American Hot Dogs."Pogo", as the Canadian term, is a brand of corn dog; having become ubiquitous, the name transferred from the specific to the generic. (cf. Kleenex, Band-Aid, Aspirin, Styrofoam)
Corn Dog History
The corn dog was popularized in 1942 at the Texas State Fair when it was introduced by Neil Fletcher, although the Pronto Pup vendors at the Minnesota State Fair claim to have invented the corn dog in 1941.There is an article from the Port Arthur (Texas) News on newspaperarchive.com from 1940. The story is about the first corn dog (not on a stick) stand opening in Port Arthur. The article states that the "Debut of the corn dog came some time ago at the Louisiana state fair". The 1991 book 300 Years of Kitchen Collectibles by Linda Campbell Franklin states that a "Krusty Korn Dog baker" machine appeared in the 1929 Albert Pick Barth wholesale catalog of many makers' hotel and restaurant supplies.
The first corn dog on a stick was the "cozy dog," and it is still served in the "Cozy Dog Drive In" restaurant in Springfield, Illinois. In 1946, Ed Waldmire Jr. used a batter supplied by his friend Don Strand and used cocktail forks as sticks. He called his new hot dog a "crusty cur". However, Ed's wife Virginia is credited with naming them "cozy dogs" because she felt naming a food product "crusty" didn't sound very appealing. To go with the Cozy Dog name, the Waldmires created a logo of two cartoon hot dogs embracing (being 'cozy'). Later he patented a device that clipped the sticks and allowed multiple dogs to be dipped in batter and then in hot oil. The sticks which used to be made exclusively of oak in the early days are now made almost exclusively of pine wood.
In 1946, Dave Barham opened the first location of Hot Dog on a Stick at Muscle Beach, Santa Monica, California. It is the only chain restaurant to offer corn dogs as its main menu item. The company is currently 100% employee-owned (the only fast-food restaurant of which this is true) and operates 115 stores in 17 states, mostly in shopping malls. Franchises have been issued for several other nations, but all stores in the USA are company-owned. The restaurant is known for the multi-colored smocks and hats (first introduced in the 1960s) worn by the employees, who are mostly young women.
Corn Dog 1940 "Corn dog-on-a-stick" recipe
A Treasure Pots cookbook by the Austin (TX) Women's Club, published in September 1940, shows an early recipe for a "corn dog-on-a-stick":Puppy Stick Wieners 1/2 cup flour. 3 teaspoons baking powder. 1/2 teaspoon salt. 2 tablespoons sugar. 1 cup yellow corn meal. 1 egg, beaten. 1 cup milk. 2 tablespoons melted butter.
Sift together dry ingredients. Add corn meal, egg and milk. Add butter. Bake in buttered, hot iron corn stick pans in moderate oven at 400 degrees F. about 30 to 40 minutes. Makes nine large or 12 small sticks. Put cooked wieners in the middle of the stick before cooking.
Corn dog preparation
Corn dogs are served as street food, as well as at malls, local delis, and gas stations. It is also sold at events such as state and county fairs, art festivals and Renaissance Fairs.While some places dip and fry their dogs just before serving, other places use premade frozen corndogs that are thawed and then fried again or browned in an oven. Premade frozen corndogs can also be microwaved, but the corn bread coating will lack texture.
They are eaten plain or served with ketchup, mustard, relish, or mayonnaise, although traditionalists use only mustard.
Corn Dog Popularity in Japan
Corn dogs are quite popular in Japan. They are widely consumed as an "on-the-go" food for the often busy Japanese culture. They can be found readily available at almost any 7-Eleven across the country. The Japanese, however, have decided to give the corn dog their own name: amerikan doggu ("American dogs").Corn Dogs for Breakfast
A breakfast version of corndogs consists of breakfast sausage deepfried in a pancake batter. They are marketed under the brand names flapstick or the more generic sounding Pancakes and sausage on a stick which is available in regular and chocolate chip varieties.
