I’ve been missing Maine a lot recently. Now there’s a statement my twenty-five-year-old self never thought I’d utter out loud a mere five years ago, practically to the day, that I “escaped” to Boston. But here I am. These feelings became even more prevalent after a whirlwind Saturday a few weeks ago when I met my mother, sister, and grandmother for a joint birthday celebration lunch at the Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster Company. Harraseeket Lunch is a cozy little place on the water located a few miles away from the shop-till-you drop insanity of the outlet shoppers who stalk the main streets of Freeport.
CK and I munched on fried clams and I doled out pretty baubles from Tis-Tik to my fellow June babies. Of course when I lived in Maine I still retained a lot of my picky eating habits so I wouldn’t have touched a clam with a ten foot poll, and would never have willingly chosen to eat one for lunch. As I sat with my family I recalled that until that day I had exclusively consumed hot dogs while sitting on the restaurant’s weathered red picnic tables.
After having lunch, CK and I drove back to Portland to see my friend Anna. Anna recently moved back to Portland from Boston and now resides in the same building in an apartment with an eerily similar layout to the one she lived in while we were both living there after college. Talk about being hit over the head with nostalgia…
Then we topped off my little trip down memory lane by going out for drinks at our favorite neighborhood bar The Downtown Lounge where a friend of mine from high school is a bartender. Leon made me many martinis which of course led to some ridiculous shenanigans but eventually CK and I had to go. Before we left I insisted that CK drive me to the supermarket so I could buy the pièce de résistance of a Maine summer: red hot dogs.
I very tipsily skipped through the local Hannaford to the meat counter and scooped up two enormous packages of red hot dogs. The traditional brand that I grew up with, Jordan’s, went out of business years ago so I ended up with six pounds of Kayem Old Tyme Reds.
What’s so special about red hot dogs other than their bright red casings? Well, honestly unless you’ve tried one before it’s hard to explain. Simply put they just taste like summer. I like mine lightly browned on the grill and then topped with French’s yellow mustard. My mom likes her red hot dogs burned to a crisp. CK has been putting relish on the ones we’ve been grilling at home but I suspect he does that because he doesn’t like them. Obviously as I have 5 billion of these little red dogs in our freezer he has become less and less enthused when I pull them out to put on our new grill, but I still get excited every time. It’s comforting to have a little piece of home on your plate when you’re feeling a bit displaced. So I’ll keep eating my snappy little hot dogs until I can return to Maine again in person.
Have you ever had a red hot dog? Did you like it or were you completely freaked out by the fact that they’re the same shade as red velvet cake?
{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
Whoa! Those are really red! Definitely looks like summer.
Love it.
Not for the first time, you have me salivating and reminiscing at the same time. I grew up on red hot dogs [Jordan's. *sniff*] and nothing compares to the snap! of biting into them.
I think they sell the Kayem’s at Shaw’s. Despite having grocery shopped sufficiently last night, guess where I’m stopping after work!
Red hot dogs FTW! I thought they were a Maine only thing but I’ve been told you can also find them at the Porter Square Shaw’s. I ate an obscene amount of these babies over the 4th up at my parents’ house, but the leftovers are in my fridge ready to be grilled.
Wow, those look radioactive! When I lived in Rochester, NY, we had “red hots” – but those were really just regular old brownish-red hot dogs. The “red” differentiated them from “white hots,” a creepy-looking white hot dog that I haven’t seen anywhere outside of Rochester.
Whoa these are crazy! I’ve never tried a red hot dog before, but I totally would… And would only be mildly freaked out. Perfect party food, especially with that bright yellow mustard
Yeah, DTL! Too bad you weren’t here for longer, I would have loved to have a drink with you. Next time! And those red dogs sure are snappy- but it’s better than a steamed dog, which they sell down by the waterfront… and they’re a little mooshy.
I’m writing to you from Rockport in the midst of my very first trip to Maine. I appreciate being clued in to the very red, red dogs. I had been frightened off and sticking with the fried clams.
I haven’t heard of or seen a red hot dog. New England seems very different (I was in Boston 2 weeks ago). I’m from the Philly area and I like my Dietz and Watson hot dogs, but I’d try a red one if I had the chance.
I must admit that I have never even heard of red hot dogs. But now I kind of want to try them. Not to mention I love Kayem (not just because they are the official Fenway Frank) because they are made in Chelsea (go Chelsea!!).
I haven’t seen these before but would definitely give one a try – hot dogs remind me of the 4th of July because that’s the one time I go out of my way to have them!
I’ve always wondered where the red dog tradition at bean suppers started. I still haven’t found the definitive answer.
Harraseeket s a family favourite for dining on the water. Now that Mom and SD live in ME year round it has begun to feel more like home and less like the summah place.
Why do Mainer’s have bean suppers at all? Why would you want a room filled with people that just ate a ton of beans for dinner? That is what I desperatly want to know.
This was wonderfully written. I live in Maine now for the past nine years & have yet to eat a red hot dog. I just can’t get past the blood red color. I’m from NY where we specialize in white hot dogs – which have a lovely taste all their own. I may have to try one now.
Can’t wait to see what you write next time.
Oh my goodness. Red Hot Dogs. The stuff of summer for us too, except now they go by RHDs for short. My dad cooks these up every weekend we are up in Maine, all summer long. He usually cannot wait until noon to do so, so we often have them as a really healthy “second breakfast” around 11. Something about that crunch when you bite through the red casings really makes these things special. I never eat hot dogs unless I am up at our lake house and my dad is grilling them up. He won’t let us use ketchup on them, only yellow mustard. And they must be cradled in JJ Nissen buns. YUM.
completely freaked out
I have never heard of a red dog. Can you find them in San Francisco CA?
Don’t forget the “snap” they make when you bite ‘em!
And you must have seen the big hole on Middle street where Jordan’s used to be.
There’s no place like Maine in the summer!
I grew up in upstate NY and LOVED these red hot dogs! I can’t find them anywhere here in Louisville and when I talk about them to friends and co-workers they just seem weirded out. lol But they don’t know what they’re missing!
I have never had a red hot dog. I believe this is the first picture I have seen of one.! I think the color might freek me out a bit.
Don’t know if I could eat one or not.
Freaky looking!
I lived in Bangor for a year right after college and LOVED the red hot dogs! Possibly better than the red hot dogs are the buns cut on top and steamed. For years after moving back to Indiana I missed the dogs but recently have been able to find them in our grocery store. My son is allergic to artificial colors… and well, there’s no shortage of red40 in those bad boys! So, we don’t eat them often. When we do it’s totally Maine for me!
Hope all is well in Boston Erin. Thanks again for turning me on to the Zoku popsicle maker. I just made some mint lime white tea popsicles today that were quite yummy. Cannot wait to post the recipe and my review of this gadget!
How are you liking the loft? I was looking through your other blog and realized I think I know exactly where you are living (not trying to be a stalker, just walked by some lofts near Davis quite a bit) and if they are the lofts I am thinking of, they are incredibly gorgeous.
Hope all is well.
I LOVE red hotdogs too! The candy apple red color and the “snap” of the all natural casing is imposable to resist! My favorite brand is Old Neighborhood natural casing red franks. () Really Tasty!!!! Now I’m hungry for one!
Great post. These look a lot like the Glaziers hotdogs my dad grew up with. His version is very local to Northern NY. Whenever his travels take him up there, he brings back a cooler full. Kudos for only putting French’s yellow mustard on it. It’s the only condiment you’re allowed to put on it.
Red Hot Dogs rock!
Oh wow, I haven’t had a red hot dog in YEARS!! These are the “normal” hotdogs in the Philippines, where I grew up. I never even bothered looking for them in Boston, I just assumed they weren’t available. I will be sure to make a trip to Shaw’s this weekend to look for them this weekend because now I am craving them!
I’m not sure what you mean by Jordan’s went out of business years ago. Jordan’s are available in Maine in Walmart, and… you can ever order them online from a shop in Maine and have them shipped to you. Here’s the link:
http://exiles.stores.yahoo.net/redhotdogs.html
I love red dogs; but where can I buy less the 30Lbs
We are from Phoenix, AZ. We discovered red hot dogs in 2001 when we traveled to Brookton for a few weeks on Jacksonbrook and Drake Lakes. They are the best, split open and fried dry in a hot pan. Then butter and fry, in the same pan, the buns. Add Aunt Bert’s homemade relish and mustard and you have an amazing feast!
I had red dogs years ago and thought they were the best HD I’d ever had. I guy I worked with had them shipped from a deli in Boston. since then I’ve aways wanted to find a place I can buy them and have them ship. Its got to be the best. I’m a California boy if your wondering; nothing out here like red hots. PLEASE HELP ME OUT
Was introduced to Maine Red hot dogs, while visiting over Christmas…pretty interesting. The “snap” when you take a bite I beleive is a result of using the skin, or intestines. or something natural….different from common dogs found every where else. Everyone should try one…we do not have them in VA. I can see where someone that grew up on them would really reminisce when again they are found. RBA
I thought they were referred to as Johnson Reds……
One of the best kept secrets of Upstate New York is the red hot dog made by Glaziers. This is the best red hot dog I have tasted. They can be purchased online through http://www.glazierhotdog.com.
I found Jordens in my local grocery store here in Ct. Best dogs by far. O.ly they don’t. Advertise them you just ask. The store is gnazzos in Plainville,ct.
Hello Erin,
just came upon your blog for the first time…the red hot dog subject caught my attention. Being born and brought up in Maine, I think I was about 15 yrs old when I first realized that not all hot dogs of the world were red! I had never ate a “brown” hot dog until then, and quickly determined that I would probably try to avoid the brown ones at all costs (yuck!). Red is the only way to go! Unfortunately, having lived outside of Maine since my early twenties, red hot dogs cannot be found anywhere! I have made it a priority that during my 2 visits per year back home to Maine, I always stock up with Jordans red hot dogs to bring back to New York to bag and freeze those priceless little gems until the next trip to Maine when my supply has all but diminished. And yes…I said Jordans. I am not sure why you thought they went out of business? I just bought my most recent supply 2 days ago while on a trip to Maine for my nephew’s wedding. I am from northern Maine (Aroostook County). Maybe Jordans red hot dogs are not sold in the southern area? Anyway, just thought you would like to know they still exist. Here’s to yummy red hot dogs!
I too am from “the county” and there is a store in ellsworth maine called friends and family. RON the owner can and will ship out jordans as well as humpty dumpty chips….country kitchen donuts mine should b here Friday!
My Grandparents (we called them Memere and Pepere)are from Lewiston(sp?), Maine. As a special treat they would order them and have them shipped all the way to CA once a year. My Pepere just passed this July and yesterday would have been his 90th… so I am on a mission to find these amazing special treats.. thank so much for this blog… Very happy tears
Terribly sorry to hear about your recent loss, but thank you for sharing your happy memories with me
I certainly hope you can still have the hot dogs shipped. If you’re successful please let me know. I just moved to San Francisco and miss so many New England specific things now.
Found them… and the company is great I sent an email— the one on their Facebook not on the website– and they will be happy to ship! http://www.beansmeats.com/
Now to find the special buns!
Ellsworth maine…has a store called frends and family they will ship them. The buns can also b shipped they r by country kitchen
Ron and his wife are wonderful and mine should be here in tx this Friday!
I lived in Maine for 10 years and miss the street vendors that served Red Hot Dogs on steamed buns the most! Now I’m living in the Mid-West and I’m trying desperately to find out how to get some. You’re website has brought back some wonderful memories. Thank you.
We miss these red hot dogs, moved down to south Carolina, does anyone no where I can oder them online…
{ 3 trackbacks }