Michigan Red Hots—Plattsburgh NY

For reasons buried deep in the mists of time past, Plattsburgh NY became home to a mythical hot dog: the Michigander. It's basically a red-skinned hot dog (the best, according to the locals) come from Glazier Packing in Pottsdam NY. The hot dog itself (and its special bun) are steamed, a *very* special red chile-meat sauce is applied, chopped onions layered on, and the whole thing served in a little cardboard tray, which immediately collapses when any pressure is applied. Up close, it looks like this:



Making the chile-meat sauce is quite arduous, involving lots of hours boiling etc. It is extremely fine-grained for a meat slurry, but tasty.

Michigans are served in several places in Plattsburgh, and, of course, there is controversy over whose is best, as noted by both the Sterns and Chowhounders. But only one house of excellence is open year-round: Gus' Red Hots, a fine, big diner (since 1951) hard by the road to the Lake Champlain ferry to Vermont.



Gus has a full scale diner menu, whose cover is replete with photos and the history of the place, always a good sign.




The red hot, available alone or on a platter with fries and your choice of slaw or potato salad, is standard:





That's the slaw pictured. It's quite good, tart rather than sweet.

For 3 or 4 months of the year, during season, Gus' serves a genuine wonderful local treat, Lake Champlain perch:




As you can see from the illustration on the sign, these are your standard Eastern perch. Gus puts a light cornmeal coating on the little filets, and fries them perfectly. I've had them 3 times now, and I can say that they're a wonderful tasty treat. Sorry I don't have any pix.

It's a pretty good local hot dog. Not transcendent or anything, but a pretty good local hot dog. If you get a chance to come through Plattsburgh, it's essential that you give them a try. But, unless you were either born here, or are a REAL hot-dogger, no need for a detour.

Geo

The Michigander sounds very similar to a Detroit Coney Dog.

Steve Z--

The Wiki article I linked to has some interesting speculations re: the connections between Coney Island Dogs, Michigans, and your actual state of Michigan and its hot doggery. Looks like Ph.D. thesis material to me!

Geo

Geo wrote:Steve Z--

The Wiki article I linked to has some interesting speculations re: the connections between Coney Island Dogs, Michigans, and your actual state of Michigan and its hot doggery. Looks like Ph.D. thesis material to me!

Geo

Here's a bit more info as well.
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=152615
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=203215

Interesting Steve, and the pix all resemble each other quite a bit too. But I noticed one difference: those coneys were griddled, but it's de rigueur for Michigans to be steamed.

The sauce, however, appears to be pretty much the same thing.

Great stuff!

Geo