What Is a Dagwood Dog?
Ask anyone who grew up going to the show and they'll describe it straight away: a frankfurt or sav on a stick, dunked in batter, deep-fried until golden, then dipped or drizzled in tomato sauce. You eat it standing up, usually while working out which ride is next.
In Australia the same snack goes by a few names. Wikipedia's entry lists Dagwood dogs, Pluto pups and dippy dogs, plus the older name pronto pups, and notes they're popular at agricultural shows and carnivals such as the Sydney Royal Easter Show. For plenty of South Australians it's the Royal Adelaide Show snack.
Where does the name come from?
"Dagwood dog" comes from Dagwood Bumstead, the hungry husband in the long-running American comic strip Blondie. "Pluto pup" most likely comes from Disney's dog Pluto. "Pronto pup" started out as an American brand name in 1941 and had dropped out of use by 1949, when Pluto pup took over in Australia.
Dagwood Dog vs Corn Dog: What's the Difference?
Mostly the batter and the accent. An American corn dog is coated in a thick cornmeal batter, which gives it a slightly sweet, crumbly crust. Australian versions use either a wheat-based or a corn-based batter, so a Dagwood dog can be a little smoother and more like a fritter.
The Americans can't agree on who invented theirs, either. Wikipedia lists several competing claims: Carl and Neil Fletcher's "Corny Dogs" at the State Fair of Texas, Pronto Pup in Rockaway Beach, Oregon, from 1939, and the Cozy Dog Drive-in in Springfield, Illinois, which says it was first to serve them on sticks in 1946.
There's also the battered sav, the fish-and-chip-shop cousin: a saveloy fried in a wheat-flour batter, usually without a stick.
And What Makes a Hot Dog a Hot Dog?
A hot dog skips the batter altogether. It's a sausage in a soft, split bun, and the fun is all in the toppings: cheese, bacon, onions, mustard, sauerkraut, pickles or something saucier. That's the American diner way, and it's where most of our menu sits.
- Dagwood dog: battered and deep-fried on a stick, usually with tomato sauce.
- Corn dog: the American version, with a cornmeal batter.
- Hot dog: a sausage in a bun, built up with toppings.
The Hound Dog: Where the Two Meet
Our menu has one hot dog that brings the show-day snack into the diner. The Hound Dog is a Dagwood dog with grilled onion, ketchup and mustard. If you've got a nostalgic one in the group, that's their order.
Every Hot Dog on Our Menu
Like our burgers, our hot dogs are named after American cities and 50s stars, from New York to Elvis himself. Here's the full line-up, straight from our menu:
- Atlanta: Cheese, bacon, onion, ketchup & mustard
- New York: Cheese, bacon, onion rings with chipotle or ranch sauce
- Californian: Cheese, bacon, grilled pineapple & BBQ sauce
- Detroit: House-made macaroni & cheese
- Florida: Cheese, seeded mustard, sauerkraut & pickles
- Milwaukee: Hot dog with ketchup
- James Dean: Bacon, garlic butter, American cheese, BBQ sauce & onion rings
- Hound Dog: Dagwood dog, grilled onion, ketchup & mustard
- Elvis Dog: Grilled onion & capsicum mix, mushroom & liquid cheese
- Nacho Dog: Nacho beef, cheese, sour cream, guacamole & salsa
- Geneva Dog: Garlic butter, cheese & sauce
Which one should you order?
- Keep it simple: the Milwaukee, a hot dog with ketchup. A good pick for kids.
- Cheesy and loaded: the Detroit with house-made macaroni and cheese, or the Elvis Dog with grilled onion, capsicum, mushroom and liquid cheese.
- Something tangy: the Florida, with seeded mustard, sauerkraut and pickles.
- The big one: the James Dean, with bacon, garlic butter, American cheese, BBQ sauce and onion rings.
- Mexican night: the Nacho Dog, with nacho beef, cheese, sour cream, guacamole and salsa.
Building a Better Hot Dog: Toppings That Work
If you like to tinker, think about a hot dog in layers. Most good ones balance four things:
- Something rich: cheese, bacon, garlic butter or mac and cheese.
- Something sharp: mustard, pickles or sauerkraut to cut through the richness.
- Something sweet or smoky: ketchup, BBQ sauce, grilled onion or grilled pineapple.
- Something with crunch: onion rings or fresh onion.
That's why the Florida (seeded mustard, sauerkraut and pickles) and the James Dean (bacon, cheese, BBQ sauce and onion rings) feel so different. Want to push it further? Our add-ons list includes cheese, bacon, egg, jalapenos, aioli, hot sauce, garlic butter and sour cream, so ask at the counter.
Add a side of fries or onion rings, or go all in with a burger for the other half of the table. Prices are on the menu board in store; call (08) 8563 2371 if you want to check before you come.
Hot Dogs, Shakes and a Booth in Tanunda
A hot dog tastes better with a thickshake or a spider beside it and a jukebox in the corner. Barossa 50's Diner is at Shop 3 / 119 Murray Street, Tanunda. We're walk-in only, open for lunch from midday (11:30am on weekends) and until 8pm Thursday to Sunday, and closed on Tuesdays outside SA school holidays. Takeaway is available too: order at the counter.
