When I finally bit into my first “Italian Hot Dog“, I suddenly remembered seeing one on the Food Network a while back and saying “I want to try one of those some time”.
My desire was fulfilled at the Hot Dog Hut, a new take out join at 33rd & Asbury in Ocean City, NJ. It’s the kind of place you see open each summer and half don’t expect to see it there the next year. God bless those entrepreneurs who take the chance on these kinds of businesses.
The mistress of the special sausages served here is a woman named Angela who, according the article posted in the window of the Hot Dog Hut, brought this Newark area specialty to Ocean City to see if we’d like it. We do. Very, very much.
So, what is an Italian Hot Dog? It’s a dog that she has specially shipped in from North Jersey (I am a firm believer that there are very good hot dogs (Nathans, WaWa beef dogs are two that come to mind) and total crap dogs (store brands, anything by Oscar Meyer among others). These are very good dogs (no idea what brand). She also gets the special rolls shipped down each day, which are something like a doughy pita roll cut in half.
This is some seriously good eats. They grill them up in olive oil with peppers, onions and potato slices (home fry style) and then stuff it all into a roll dressed with mustard AND ketchup. I’ve always thought ketchup on a hot dog was something you should outgrow along with your toys. Here, it is entirely appropriate and with the mustard as well — if ketchup were Israel and mustard was Egypt, then this hot dog concoction is Camp David.
Awesome. They are open every day from 11 am until late evening and for $2.00 they’ll deliver your dog to the beach.
33rd & Asbury
Ocean City, NJ
My husband grew up in Montclair NJ, and he always told me about the italian hot dogs they use to get….while visiting one weekend we got one…..I have never had so much stuff on a hot dog…..it was great! I think the name of the place was Jimmy Buffs(not sure) anyway…..it was really filling and tasty.
Back in 1974 I worked in Bloomfield NJ. A guy opened a new food joint was selling only these sandwiches. They immediately became a once or twice a week treat. Since then, I have made them for friends with pretty good results, as everybogy loves them. Hardest part is the bread. Can’t find anything like it in Clearwater,FL. But I still make them and have Winn Dixie make the bread in round form.
While this location is now closed there are other businesses now offering the Italian Hot Dog on the Ocean City Boardwalk.