I left Pittsfield to join the Air Force at age 17-1/2 and lived mostly away from there since. But without exception, upon returning, and before anything else... I would go to the Ranch and pick up some dogs for my Mom & Dad and whoever else happened to be at my folks house. Typically 30 or 40 wit everything.
Becky and I were at The Ranch a few days ago. The new owners have really done a great job renovating the interior. They separated the space with 3/4 walls into a bar room, a dining room, and the kitchen.I hesitate to call the dogs "chili dogs" but I guess that is as close to a description as there is. And it their hot dog that has has kept the doors open since the 1920's. I personally have been eating their hot dogs since I was old enough to be out and about town on my own, roughly since 1956. Here's an order of four.
As a teenager my friends and I would eat six each and would go a few more if we had the money. Back then the dogs were $0.25 each. Now $1.15 - and still worth every penny! I wonder how many The Travel Channel's "Man Verses Food" Adam Richmond could eat? I am going to bring The Hot Dog Ranch to his attention in an email.
These little pups are roughly one half the size of a regular hot dog. "Wit Everything" get you mustard, onions, and the sauce - and I will stop calling it "chili" because that undoubtedly leaves you imagining the wrong taste. Words fail me in trying to describe the taste. It's like... what does a banana taste like? Well.. it tastes like a banana! Their sauce has been a guarded secret since day one, and through what I suspect has been four different owners, it remains a secret. Becky is pretty good at dissecting ingredients from a recipe but so far hasn't figured it out. She did detect one of the spices in there. As always I will describe it as "the taste of my hometown".
Hi, Johnnie!
ReplyDeleteGuess what? I have the secret recipe for the hotdogs. My sister-in-law got it from the original owner and she promised she wouldn't reveal it until after he died. Well, he and she are both gone and her son, Peter, shared it with Bruce and moi. I'll trade for a recipe from the Rainbow book. Do you have the bread pudding one around?
Whoever has the books you shared better come up with it, if you can't! I guess I could be coerced into giving it to you just because you had to wash all of those pots. Do you want it via e-mail since you're homeless(sort of)? I only named myself anonymous because I don't know what profile I fit into. Duh, duh, and big DUH!
Hugs,
Cousin Carol, an illiterate computer user
Hi Cous....
ReplyDeleteI remember making numerous copies of the recipe book. Some one must have it. When we went "homeless" we had to part with many things. I promise you that I will look in our "basement" (yes we have a basement in the trailer) and see if I can't find it. If not, I remember giving the recipe to John Sinapoli if he is still around. No wait... that was Grape Nut Pudding. Hummmmm..... for some reason I am not remembering a bread pudding recipe. I will investigate.
As for the hot dog ranch recipe... yes, if you have it In electronic form... do send it via email. Nothing melts the years as do the tastes of my youth.
I sent this reply via email but I'll bet it ended up in your SPAM mailbox.....
I would love the recipe I will pay money for it
ReplyDeleteI would love the recipe I will pay money for it
ReplyDeletei would love the recipe and willing to pay for it
ReplyDeleteI found your blog while looking up the hot dog ranch. I know this is a long shot as there are no recent posts. I too was born in Pittsfield as were my parents and we now all live in Texas. My parents are 80 & 81. My dad is soon to turn 82 and was not able to go home last year when we went. I would love to have the recipe for the sauce so I could make some of these wonderful hot dogs for him. Any help with this would be appreciated so much! Thx!
ReplyDelete