A half-smoke is a type of hot dog found in Washington, D.C., and the surrounding region.[1] Larger, spicier, and with more coarsely-ground meat than a regular hot dog, the sausage is often half-pork and half-beef, smoked, and served with herbs, onion, and chili sauce.
The etymology of "half-smoke" possibly comes from the original half-pork, half-beef composition, the ingredients and smoked method of preparation. Another possible explanation is that the texture and flavor is halfway between smoked sausage and a regular hot dog. Yet another explanation is that it refers to cooks cutting the sausage in half when grilling.[2] Composition of the sausages varies by brand and some brands even make more than one kind. A half-smoke can be half pork, half beef, all beef, or anything in between. It can be steamed instead of smoked.
Historyedit
The company thought to be the originator of the sausage, Briggs & Company, was sold by its owner, Raymond Briggs, in 1950 without clarifying the origin of the name.[2] The products sold under the name generally have a genuine or artificial smoke flavoring and coarser texture than a regular hot dog; these are the key features that distinguish them.[3]
Briggs started selling his half-smokes in about 1930. Eventually, Briggs was sold to another meat distributor, where, by some accounts, the quality of the meat declined.[2]
Numerous hot dog carts in Washington, D.C., sell steamed half-smokes, with those on Constitution Avenue catering to tourists and those on Pennsylvania Avenue and many other hot dog carts throughout the downtown area serving federal employees. Half-smokes are the "official dog" of the Washington Nationals.[4] The most prominent location is often cited as Ben's Chili Bowl in Washington's U Street neighborhood, which has long been a center of Black Washington, and was an essential stop for President-elect Barack Obama in 2009.[1]
Another popular location for half-smokes is the Weenie Beenie in South Arlington, Virginia, located near the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park trail. Founded in 1950, it pre-dates Ben's Chili Bowl. Among newer purveyors is Meats & Foods, on Florida Avenue just east of Ben's Chili Bowl, which makes its own handmade version of the sausage.[5]
^ abCarr, David (January 16, 2009). "A Monument to Munchies". The New York Times. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
^ abcErica Brosnan (July 3, 2016), , The Washington Times, archived from the original on July 10, 2016, retrieved August 30, 2016
^Jamieson, Dave (January 26, 2007). . Washington City Paper. Archived from the original on January 25, 2009. Retrieved January 6, 2009.
^"The New Nationals Dog: Washington D.C.'s Half Smoke". seriouseats.com. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
^Oh, Brian (December 2, 2015). "Don't Leave Washington DC Without Trying its Signature Half-smoke". seriouseats.com.
December 02, 2023
half, smoke, half, smoke, type, found, washington, surrounding, region, larger, spicier, with, more, coarsely, ground, meat, than, regular, sausage, often, half, pork, half, beef, smoked, served, with, herbs, onion, chili, sauce, halfsmokes, from, weenie, been. A half smoke is a type of hot dog found in Washington D C and the surrounding region 1 Larger spicier and with more coarsely ground meat than a regular hot dog the sausage is often half pork and half beef smoked and served with herbs onion and chili sauce Half smokeHalfsmokes from Weenie BeenieCourseMain coursePlace of originUnited StatesRegion or stateWashington D C Serving temperatureHotMain ingredientsPork beef Media Half smoke Contents 1 Ingredients and preparation 2 History 3 Venues 4 See also 5 ReferencesIngredients and preparation editThe etymology of half smoke possibly comes from the original half pork half beef composition the ingredients and smoked method of preparation Another possible explanation is that the texture and flavor is halfway between smoked sausage and a regular hot dog Yet another explanation is that it refers to cooks cutting the sausage in half when grilling 2 Composition of the sausages varies by brand and some brands even make more than one kind A half smoke can be half pork half beef all beef or anything in between It can be steamed instead of smoked History editThe company thought to be the originator of the sausage Briggs amp Company was sold by its owner Raymond Briggs in 1950 without clarifying the origin of the name 2 The products sold under the name generally have a genuine or artificial smoke flavoring and coarser texture than a regular hot dog these are the key features that distinguish them 3 Briggs started selling his half smokes in about 1930 Eventually Briggs was sold to another meat distributor where by some accounts the quality of the meat declined 2 Venues edit nbsp A half smoke with potato chips from Ben s Chili Bowl Numerous hot dog carts in Washington D C sell steamed half smokes with those on Constitution Avenue catering to tourists and those on Pennsylvania Avenue and many other hot dog carts throughout the downtown area serving federal employees Half smokes are the official dog of the Washington Nationals 4 The most prominent location is often cited as Ben s Chili Bowl in Washington s U Street neighborhood which has long been a center of Black Washington and was an essential stop for President elect Barack Obama in 2009 1 Another popular location for half smokes is the Weenie Beenie in South Arlington Virginia located near the Washington amp Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park trail Founded in 1950 it pre dates Ben s Chili Bowl Among newer purveyors is Meats amp Foods on Florida Avenue just east of Ben s Chili Bowl which makes its own handmade version of the sausage 5 See also edit nbsp United States portal nbsp Food portalChili dog List of hot dogs List of sausages List of smoked foodsReferences edit a b Carr David January 16 2009 A Monument to Munchies The New York Times Retrieved May 4 2010 a b c Erica Brosnan July 3 2016 Half smokes inspire wholehearted love in D C The Washington Times archived from the original on July 10 2016 retrieved August 30 2016 Jamieson Dave January 26 2007 The Missing Link Washington City Paper Archived from the original on January 25 2009 Retrieved January 6 2009 The New Nationals Dog Washington D C s Half Smoke seriouseats com Retrieved July 26 2015 Oh Brian December 2 2015 Don t Leave Washington DC Without Trying its Signature Half smoke seriouseats com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Half smoke amp oldid 1135690201, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
