Las Vegas Weekly

Dear Mr. Black:

Once again you have demonstrated that one can be insincere and indolent and still hold a job. The piece you did on hot dogs said notthing about h.d. content; about excessive sodium; about extreme greasiness. The only accurate statement in the entire writing was the :"surliness" of the operator of Hot Dog Heaven.

The hot dogs you lauded are popular simply because the operators used a "circus" approach relative to their toppings and that, for many people, make them tasty. I have no argument with that.

Still a true quality hotdog is not overly salty or greasy, is natural casing, is served at about 180 degrees to enhance flavor (health department requires only 165 degrees) and is placed inside a bun that has some density so it doesn't fall apart. A bun like that will cost the operator another ten cents so you won't get it.

Now if your employer required you to have sincerity of purpose, none of your hot dog locations would have qualified. Fact is, many of them are disingenuous, careless and only concerned with their food cost (they love a multiple of 6 or more) and the indifferent and/or naive public grabs them up because they know no better and their standards are very low.

These same people have been weaned on "CHEMICAL PICKLES"-pickles containing vinegar and sodium benzoate. They've grown up learning to enjoy that chemical taste. Another sad commentary of unenlightened Americans.

While to each his own is operatative here, buy a vacuum pack of Boars Head NATURAL CASING dogs at Smith's -a mere 7 bucks a pound- and cook them for a full 5 minutes. Put it in a bun with mustard of your choice (quick, before it cools off!) and take a bite. A new hot dog world will open up to you and you will begin moaning uncontrollably.