Half-smoke
|
Chili half-smoke at Ben's Chili Bowl | |
| Course | Main course |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | Washington, D.C. |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | Pork, beef |
 Cookbook: Half-smoke  Media: Half-smoke | |
A half-smoke is a "local sausage delicacy"[1] found in Washington, D.C., and the surrounding region. Similar to a hot dog, but usually larger, spicier, and with more coarsely-ground meat, the sausage is often half-pork and half-beef, smoked, and served with herbs, onion, and chili sauce.
Ingredients and preparation
Though the etymology of "half-smoke" possibly comes from the original half-pork, half-beef composition, the ingredients and smoked method of preparation, vary 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.[2] Another possible explanation is that the texture and flavor is half-way between smoked sausage and a regular hot dog. Yet another explanation is that it refers to cooks cutting the sausage in half when grilling. The products sold under the name generally have a genuine or artificial smoke flavoring and coarser texture than a regular hot dog and are the key features that distinguish.[3]
History
The "original" half-smoke is considered to be the sausage distributed by D.C.'s Briggs and Co. meatpackers, originating in around 1950, though Raymond 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.[3]
Venues
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 gained widespread exposure when visited by Bill Cosby in the 1980s and later by 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.
See also
References
- 1 2 Carr, David (2009-01-16). "A Monument to Munchies". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-05-04.
- ↑ "Look No Further! The Thrilling End Of The Grueling Search For A Washington Dish". The Washington Post. 2000-10-08. p. W26. Retrieved 2008-01-09.
- 1 2 Jamieson, Dave (2007-01-26). "The Missing Link". Washington City Paper. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
- ↑ "The New Nationals Dog: Washington D.C.'s Half Smoke". seriouseats.com. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
