The last Thursday in July is celebrated as “NATIONAL CHILI DOG DAY!” On National Chili Dog Day, “We the People, celebrate the food that doesn’t make us choose (between hot dogs and chili!) —Enter like a beacon, shining from the sky, The Chili Dog!” quotes www.nationaltoday.com “Alas, making a decision about what mouthwatering cuisine to satiate your appetite during the sweltering summer months can be difficult,” continues National Today, “Sometimes you can HAVE IT ALL! We celebrate the food that chooses us… We celebrate The Chili Dog!”
The basic hot dog has come a LONG way since German Immigrant Charles Feltman first began selling “frankfurters on milk buns,” from his snack stand in 1867! Feltman’s operation began with a pushcart pie-wagon at the Coney Island Beach, in Brooklyn, New York, selling his wares to beachfront hotels and patrons! Frankfurters became a HUGE HIT and eventually spread across the entire USA! However, when the idea to put meat sauce and spices and CHEESE on hot dogs appeared, the phenomenon kickstarted a “a wave of innovation that helped expand the scope of American Cuisine!” It is difficult to pinpoint who exactly invented the concept of the chili dog, since MANY variations have emerged since the early inception of the idea in 1867!
During the early 1900s, Greek and Macedonian immigrants, fleeing their homelands due to economic hardships, came to the shores of America along with their traditional meat sauce recipes. Eventually, they would be responsible for the development of the “Coney Island Hot Dog.” A majority of these Greek and Macedonian immigrants settled mainly in the Great Lakes Region of the USA. They named their frankfurters with meat sauce concoctions AFTER their happy memories of visiting Coney Island, New York, during their settlement journey!
Meanwhile, in other parts of the country, many different varieties of The Chili Dog were being developed. Between 1918 and 1920, the “Texas Weiner—a hot dog with simple meat sauce,” emerged in New Jersey and Pennsylvania! “The Half Smoke,” –a chili dog made with smoked ingredients was developed in Washington DC. In the early 1900s, The Hot Weiner, or “New York System Weiner,” was born in Rhode Island. Rhode Island’s own New York System wieners, also known as “Hot Wieners,” are a local culinary tradition with roots in the early 20th century. Although the name “New York System” was initially a marketing term associated with New York’s Coney Island hot dogs, Greek immigrants in Rhode Island adapted the style, creating a distinctive local dish! The 4-inch wieners are typically made with beef, pork, and veal and are served in a steamed bun, with mustard, onions, celery salt, and a ground beef-meat-based sauce. Also known as, “WEENIES,” “GAGGERS,” and “BELLY BUSTERS,” by 1940 the term “New York System” described a distinct style of preparation that evolved in Providence, Rhode Island’s Greek Community. A definitive method of presentation also evolved, called: “On The Arm.” Short-Order cooks would line an outstretched arm with buns, then with their free hand, add the wieners, the mustard, the meat sauce, the onions, and the celery salt in rapid succession! According to www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com The Original New York System shop in the Smith Hill neighborhood of Providence dates back to 1927, where many historians believed that the first Hot Wiener in Providence, RI was served! One of the quintessential New York System Wiener Shops is in the Olneyville neighborhood of Providence. In 2014 The James Beard Foundation awarded The Olneyville New York System its “AMERICAN CLASSICS MEDAL!” The Beard Foundation explained that the medal goes to regional establishments, often family-owned, that are “TREASURED FOR THEIR QUALITY FOOD, LOCAL CHARACTER, AND LASTING APPEAL.” The Olneyville New York System location was opened in 1946 by Nick Stavrianakos and his son, Anthony, who immigrated from Greece, and relocated to Rhode Island from Brooklyn, New York. A 4th Generation now runs the famed restaurant as well as a sister-location in Cranston, RI. The New England Historical Society reports that, “Olneyville was once the favored lunch spot of workers employed by local jewelry manufacturers. Now, nearly 79 years later, ‘The System,’ has become a multi-generational family spot, the late night haunt of college students, and the first stop from the airport for retuning Rhode Island natives!”
The New York System Wiener always comes in a steamed bun made by THE HOMESTEAD BAKING COMPANY, located in East Providence, RI. These buns have a slightly sweeter flavor than most hot dog buns. They also have only 4 ingredients: sugar, yeast, water, and flour strong enough to withstand heavy steaming. Rhode Islanders often order their New York System Weenies by stating, “GIMME A DOZEN—ALL THE WAY!” = Meaning, line up 12 Steamed Hot Wiener buns on your arm and then utilize ALL of the mainstay ingredients for proper assemblage: Weenie, Mustard, Meat Sauce, Onions, and Celery Salt! The RI TRADITIONAL BEVERAGE to accompany any New York System Hot Weenie order is of course, COFFEE MILK! Food historians say that “Coffee Milk” is the product of thrifty diner owners. During the Great Depression, diner owners and workers would strain water and sugar through used coffee grounds and then mix it with milk. Rhode Island made the drink its official STATE BEVERAGE on July 29th, 1993 when it was adopted by the RI State Legislature.
Elsewhere in the United States, over time, chili dogs have become a staple of American Cuisine—appearing on street corners, roadside stands, sports stadiums, diners, and restaurants. National Chili Dog Day is a chance for everyone to celebrate the tasty goodness and multiple varieties of chili dogs. It is a day to appreciate the versatility and satisfying pleasure of the palate of the chili dog and its important role in American Food Culture. A brief National Chili Dog Timeline would look as follows:
- –In the 1700s, sausages make it “Stateside,” and become common “Street Food,” in American Cities via multiple immigrant communities
- –In 1867, a German immigrant, Charles Feltman sells “hot sausages in milk rolls” at Coney Island, in Brooklyn, New York; The term “Beachside Hot Dog,” blossoms, and Charles Feltman is recognized as 1 of several claimed inventors of the HOT DOG
- –In the 1870’s, Chili shows up for the first time in America in San Antonio, Texas; sold by a Collective of Women, nicknamed “The Chili Queens,” who operated food stands in the plazas of San Antonio. This Collective of Women were famous for their Chili con Carne, along with other Mexican delicacies like tamales and enchiladas. The “Chili Queens” operated their open-air stands from dusk until dawn, becoming a fixture in the city’s vibrant nightlife and food culture. www.truewestmagazine.com
- –In the 1880s, “Chili con Carne,” AKA, Chile with Meat, appears as a dish on restaurant menus.
- –In 1916, A former employee of Charles Feltman’s, named Nathan Handwerker, opens his own Coney Island Hot Dog Stand; Nathan undercuts his former boss’s prices and sells hot dogs for a nickel instead of a dime; establishing “Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs!”
- –In the 1920s, the burgeoning Chili Dog Market becomes commonplace and Americans are able to purchase chili dogs not only at restaurants and diners, but also at Amusement Parks, Food Street Carts, Corner Bodegas, Ballpark Stadiums and specialty hot dog/chili dog establishments!
- –In 1939, Mexican-American style chili is first documented atop a hot dog at a legendary stand called, “Art’s Famous Chili Dogs,” in Los Angeles, California
- Quirky hot dog/chili dog/sausages facts include:
- –In “The Odyssey,” author Homer refers to sausages in Book 20 as a vivid simile to describe Odysseus’ restless tossing and turning in bed; Odysseus is compared to a man roasting a sausage- and the way in which a sausage, full of fat and blood, pops and moves and is quite UN-STILL as it is cooking: Thus, highlighting Odysseus’ internal struggle and physical restlessness as he contemplates his next move against the suitors. The mention in the poem The Odyssey is one of the earliest known references to sausage in literature! The practice of making and eating sausage was common in ancient Greece. “The Odyssey,” was written in the 8th century BC by Homer. It is 1 of 2 major ancient Greek Epic Poems- the other being “The Iliad,” and both are attributed to Homer. “The Odyssey,” tells the story of Odysseus’ ten-year journey home after the fall of Troy.
- –Mustard is the most popular hot dog/chili dog condiment topping, and ketchup ranks as 2nd. 68 percent of Americans who consume hot dogs and chili dogs use mustard according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council and www.hot-dog.org
- –Freeze dried Ice-Cream is the most “Famous” item that has gone into space with Astronauts, but in actuality, hot dogs are an Outer Space Food Staple! NASA Astronauts have enjoyed hot dogs on various missions, including the Apollo 11 and Apollo 13 missions! “While not the standard bun-and-franks that we know, the hot dogs were packed as “thermostabilized frankfurters” in pouches. The Apollo 11 mission even included a “thermostabilized cheddar cheese spread” to accompany the hot dogs!” according to www.popsci.com Popular Science.
Astronauts James A. Lovell, JR- Commander, John “Jack” Swigert, JR.- Command Modular Pilot and Fred W. Haise, JR.- Lunar Module Pilot were sent into space on NASA’s Apollo 13 mission. After a catastrophic explosion “hobbled their spacecraft and derailed their plans to land on the moon,” the mission would go on to become one of the greatest triumphs of the United States Space Program because of the multitude of heroic efforts exhibited and the miraculous safe return of the crew after such a devasting explosion in space. After the aforementioned explosion, the temperatures inside the spacecraft plummeted. According to the book “APOLLO 13,” co-written by Astronaut Jim Lovell himself, the crew of the spacecraft actually got a “kick out of the frozen hot dogs, bouncing them off the walls of the cockpit!” Pictured below, find the photo of the Crew of the Apollo 13 mission, following splashdown and recovery operations in the South Pacific Sea, at 12:07:44 PM on April 17th, 1970.
- –Americans eat over 7 BILLION hot dogs between Memorial Day and Labor Day each year; coining the phrase, “Summer is Hot Dog Season!”
- –The record holder winner for eating the “Most Hot Dogs” in “Nathan’s Famous Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest” held on July 4th, 2025, is Joey Chestnut, with 70.5 hot dogs consumed, according to Yahoo Sports. Taking place in Brooklyn, New York’s infamous Coney Island, at “Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs!” Joey Chestnut claimed the winning title for the 17th time, out-eating the next closest competitor by 24 more hot dogs! While Joey Chestnut’s 2025 performance was quite impressive, it was NOT his Best Record: in 2021, Joey Chestnut set a record by winning the annual contest by eating a total of 76 hot dogs! www.sports.yahoo.com Interesting to note was that in 2024, Joey Chestnut was BANNED from participating in the 2024 Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Event, due to his partnership with “Impossible Foods!” Joey Chestnut not being allowed to participate in last year’s event offered Patrick Bertoletti the opportunity to claim the 2024 Title. This year in 2025, Bertoletti finished in 2nd Place with a total of 46.5 hot dogs and buns consumed.
The Chili Dog represents the Best of Cultures coming together via Foodstuffs and the sharing of recipes, becoming synonymous with American Cuisine AND AMERICAN CULTURE itself! So –GET READY to celebrate NATIONAL CHILI DOG DAY ON THURSDAY, JULY 31st 2025!! Wrapping up July’s “#NationalHotDogMonth,” CELEBRATING the chili dog brings July to a close by bringing on the heat and tantalizing your tastebuds by adding your own BBQ “SUI GENERIS -ness”: be that: veggies, onions, meat sauce, chili con carne, a variety of sauces…with an endless choice of condiments, to boot! The possibilities to make Chili Dogs UNIQUE continue to EXPOUND as BBQ Enthusiasts across the United Sates add their own regional flairs! From utilizing Pretzel Buns, potato rolls, hoagie buns, to Portuguese Sweet Rolls to taco shells…to adding hot sauces, to mixing-in chipotle seasonings, to adding on a plethora of topping such as MOUNDS AND MOUNDS OF CHEESES, Salsa Verde and Pico de Gallo, bacon strips, and Frito Chips… to changing out the traditional hot dog underneath the chili dog for all-beef franks, bratwurst, tofu dogs, to Italian Sausages…The creative options are TRULY NEVER-ENDING! Happy National Chili Dog Day to all of our www.ribbqnews.com readers – Celebrating a dish that blends comfort food staples—the hot dog and chili—capturing the Spirit of a distinctly, unparalleled Americana Experience of CULINARY FUSION, imbued and suffused with archived HISTORY as well as DELICIOUSNESS !!
