Posted on 05/24/2025 4:44:51 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
Nathan’s Famous has found a foothold in Ukraine, a hot dog-loving country.
The hot dog statue wore tennis shoes and held a Ukrainian flag in its left hand and an American flag in its right. (The hot dog had hands.)
Standing outside the flagship store of the Ukrainian gas station chain Socar, the statue displayed a sign advertising “Nathan’s Famous” hot dogs in the same green curlicue script that promotes the chain at its original location in Brooklyn’s Coney Island and Nathan’s outlets everywhere.
On a recent Wednesday afternoon, Ivan Pozniak, a 35-year-old airline pilot, walked past the statue and into the store connected to the gas station. He was about to try his first Nathan’s Famous hot dog.
“Overall, it’s delicious,” Mr. Pozniak said after his first bite of the so-called New York hot dog, with mustard, ketchup and sweet pickle relish. “I usually prefer more classic sauces like Tabasco or the standard ketchup and mayonnaise — that’s what I’m used to. This pickle relish surprised me, but in a good way.”
Hot dogs are ubiquitous in Ukraine. But for a long time the market has been dominated by a kind of hot dog encased in a tubular panini and described, for a reason no French person seems to know, as the “French” dog. The story of how Nathan’s dogs — settled in their open, messy buns — found a foothold in the country is in many ways a reflection of how much Ukraine has tilted toward the West in past decades.
There are now 27 Nathan’s Famous outlets in Socar gas stations in Ukraine. Despite the war, as much as possible, the lights have stayed on. Business is not booming, but it is OK.
More than almost anyone, Oleksiy Dronov, 48, is responsible for bringing Nathan’s to Ukraine.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Didn’t know that.
At the time before WWII Jewish people were the largest minority in Ukraine. Holocaust and then the Communist takeover made that history.
But the Muslims and the Jews would agree to never eat pork.
Oddity about Nathan’s Hot Dogs which many New Yorkers assumed were kosher. The Jewish founder Nathan Handwerker could not keep up with “glatt kosher” rules once their production increased. While they are all-beef and thus don’t contain pork he coined the term “kosher-style” to indicate they were free of pork and horsemeat. The ones from Five Guys are also “kosher style” because they are cooked on the same grill as non kosher hamburgers. Halal foods like kosher cannot share utensils or pans and grills with non halal foods.
Ha. I wouldn’t argue with Clint. At least not face to face.
Photo....
Notice the red tower. And the phallic vehicles.
Wonder how many women subliminally had the idea to suggest to their guy about leaving and going to bed early.
I like mayonnaise and onions on a hot dog.
Never was big on ketchup for anything except spaghetti and meatballs once in a great while.
Acceptable hot dog toppings include mustard, chili, onions, relish, sauerkraut, and in some instances, ketchup. But not mayonnaise.
As a Marine on liberty in Barcelona, Spain (attached to the U.S. Navy's 6th Fleet) I had the so called "French Dog" ... this was 60 years ago. Not sure if it was referred to as a "French Dog" but it was delicious. Left an impression ... I've also had Nathans Famous at several hot dog stands in the greater NYC area ... home to Nathan's ... they're OK ... not that great.
Nixon used to eat cottage cheese with ketchup.
I like it on a baked potato, several other items-——and on hot dogs. I even open a ketchup packet and add it to the Burger King Whopper in addition to the regular amount.
I don’t care what people think.
I learned how to speak like I had a frog in my throat when I was a little nipper.
Much like in the Czech Republic.
Good for Nathan's.
“I preferred skin on Sabretts growing up.”
Yep. The Sabrett’s pushcart dirty water dogs with kraut and the red onion sauce. Best there is.
Costco sells hot dogs with a soda for $1.50.
How can you tell it’s Spring in New York city?
Hot dog vendors change their water...
It’s the same at Sam’s.
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