The hot wiener or New York System wiener[1] is a staple of the food culture of Rhode Island, where it is primarily sold at "New York System" restaurants.[2][3]

Hot wiener
Hot wieners
Alternative namesNew York System wiener
CourseMain course
Place of originUnited States
Region or stateProvidence, Rhode Island
Serving temperatureHot
Main ingredientsPork, veal, bread, meat sauce, onions, yellow mustard, celery salt
VariationsNone
Baba's Original New York System restaurant on Smith Street in Providence

Preparation edit

The traditional wiener is made with a small, thin hot dog made of beef, veal and pork,[4] giving it a different taste from a traditional beef hot dog, served in a steamed bun, and topped with celery salt, yellow mustard, chopped onions, and a seasoned meat sauce (the spices vary by vendor but always include celery salt[4] and commonly include cumin, paprika, chili powder, and allspice).

New York System restaurants edit

The name New York System (and less commonly Coney Island System) appeared in Rhode Island in the early 20th century as a marketing strategy when hot dogs were closely associated with New York's Coney Island.[5][6] By the early 1940s, a distinctly Rhode Island product and preparation had evolved among Providence's Greek community, popularized within the state such that the "wieners" served by New York Systems today bear little resemblance to the traditional Coney Island hot dog. Restaurateurs continue to use the name as a way to advertise this particular local cuisine.

The question of the oldest New York System is debated. One of the most widely known is the Olneyville New York System, opened in 1946 and named for Providence's Olneyville neighborhood, but it was the original owner's extended family who operated the Original New York System from 1927 in the Smith Hill neighborhood.[7][8] Another institution, Coney Island Hot Weiners (now E. P. Weiners after various name changes) of East Providence, claims an earlier, albeit contested date of 1915.[6][8]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Brooks, Anthony. "You Say 'Hot Dogs,' Rhode Islanders Say 'Weenies'". NPR. June 4, 2010.
  2. ^ Yonan, Joe. "Don't call it a hot dog." The Boston Globe. August 6, 2006.
  3. ^ "Quahog.org: Olneyville New York System". www.quahog.org. Archived from the original on 2013-12-17. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
  4. ^ a b Lentini, Grace (2016-10-19). "The Hot Wiener: A Rhode Island Icon". Providence Monthly. Retrieved 2018-07-15.
  5. ^ Lukas, Paul (13 November 2002). "The Big Flavors Of Little Rhode Island". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  6. ^ a b Quahog.org. Sparky's Coney Island System Archived 2013-07-21 at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ^ Ellis, Jonathan. "Top Hot Wiener." Archived 2013-02-08 at archive.today Brown Daily Herald. November 27, 2005.
  8. ^ a b Martin, Christopher. "Whence came the first New York System?"[permanent dead link]Edible Rhody. Spring 2007.