The Sad State of the Dodger Dog

 

Ah, the memories.  And a reminder that good things don't last forever.

For years and seasons, the Dodger Dog was a delicious staple of going to a baseball game at Chavez Ravine.  With the meat supplied by longtime staple Farmer John, it is as part of Dodger baseball as the late Tommy Lasorda and the still-with-us Vin Scully.   The latter did the commercials for Farmer John, to boot.

Now, there were two versions of the Dodger Dog.   One was the regular, made with a combination of pork, beef, and the usual by-products.   It tended to the salty side. Who am I kidding?   It was the food equivalent of Lot's wife.

But the Super Dodger Dog was all beef and pure heaven.   You would go over to the condiment station and apply your favorite kind of mustard, ketchup (yes..if you mix it with the mustard for a tangy barbecue sauce), relish, and chopped onions.

All through the fan-less 2020 season, I craved the 2021 return to the Stadium and knew that my first Dodger Dog was going to taste so freakin' good.

Not so fast.

Somewhere between 2019 and April 2021, the Dodgers had dropped Farmer John as their hot dog supplier.   They were replaced by a local company named Cantella's and my first bite on Opening Day immediately told me this was something different...and not good.

The all-beef version had a peculiar aftertaste.   Almost bitter.   Over the course of the season, friends would also sample with similar reactions.    

"Metallic."

"Tastes like aluminum."

"This is beef???"

The other problem is that the horrible meat experience can no longer be drowned out by slathering on condiments.   In our COVID world, the condiment stations have been replaced by those annoying little packets you can only rip apart with your teeth and invariably drip onto your clothing.

I gave it one final try last Sunday.

I'm done.

Now I did a little research on Cantella's.   I had mistakenly been told it was Hispanic-owned.   But, apparently, they are Italian and have been around for years.   They are allegedly famous for their Italian sausage.   But, for frankfurters....apparently not.   

When it comes to hot dogs, I think of Wisconsin or Germany or Poland or even the Bronx.   I don't think of Italy.

Farmer John, you are now missed as much as Vin Scully.

Dinner last night:  Salad.