Italian hot dog

Infobox Prepared Food
name = Italian Hot Dog


caption =
alternate_name =
country = United States
region = New Jersey
creator = Multiple Claims
course = Main Course
served = Hot
main_ingredient = Hot Dog, Peppers, Onions, Pizza Bread
variations = Hamburger, Cheesesteak, Multiple Others
calories =
other =

An Italian Hot Dog is a type of hot dog popular in Essex, Hudson, Passaic, and Monmouth counties in central and north-eastern New Jersey and the boardwalk of the New Jersey shore. Although there are a number of different ways to prepare one, the basic ingredients are a cooked hot dog and a combination of fried peppers (green or red or both), onions, and potatoes cooked in olive oil. The hot dog is then placed in pizza bread, and topped with the vegetables. Many New Jerseyans view the Italian Hot Dog as their state's answer to the Philly Cheesesteak and other such sandwiches.

History

James "Bluff" Racioppi is credited by many as the "inventor" of the Italian Hot Dog in 1932. His Invention is referred to as the 'Jimmy Buff' (named after himself) and are served at the Jimmy Buff's restaurants. One unique deviation from most Italian hot dogs is that both the potatoes and hot dogs are cooked in soy bean oil, rather than cooked in olive oil or boiled in water.

Jimmy Buff's (founded by Racioppi) is considered to be the place where the original was released to the public and where the idea gained popularity. It's original location in Newark is still open and serves customers and self promotes to this very day.

While there is no real proof that he was the first to put the combination together, most people will agree that The Italian Hot Dog was most likely "invented" in Newark, New Jersey in the 1930's or 1940's.

Variations

There are many variations on the original, typically they involve replacing the hot dog/s with some other meat such as sausage, cheesesteak, hamburger, or chicken. Sometimes french fries are used in places of the potatoes. Commonly, the dogs are dressed with spicy mustard or marinara sauce.