Half-smoke
Course | Main course |
---|---|
Place of origin | United States |
Region or state | Washington, D.C. |
Serving temperature | Hot |
Main ingredients | Pork, beef |
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.
Ingredients and preparation
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.
History
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]
Venues
Numerous hot dog carts in Washington, D.C., sell steamed half-smokes, with those on
Another popular location for half-smokes is the
See also
References
- ^ 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.