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There are some food questions that have plagued society for decades, and if we’re being honest, there are no easy answers. Like, is pineapple on pizza the greatest thing to ever exist, or is it an abomination? Are chocolate chip cookies better when sprinkled with sea salt, or should they be left alone? Well, Martha Stewart isn’t afraid to answer the tough questions, as the author of 100 cookbooks (pre-order her 100th book, Martha: The Cookbook, on Amazon) and an undeniable expert on pretty much all things food, home, and gardening, recently proved. She took to social media to share her opinion on which summer staple, burgers or hot dogs, wins the BBQ battle, and she wasn’t afraid to share her controversial opinion on the best toppings, either.
So, hamburgers or hot dogs? “Definitely hot dogs,” Stewart shared on Instagram, “with the works.” But what does “the works” mean to Martha? There are so many different way to serve up dogs, and dozens of regional variations, from the bright green relish and pickle spear of a Chicago dog to the bacon-wrapped, onion and pepper-topped street hot dogs of Los Angeles. But Stewart’s idea of “the works” features an unconventional blend of ingredients.
According to Stewart, the perfect hot dog with the works includes “bacon, ketchup, relish, sauerkraut, mustard…toasted bun!” Now, this isn’t a combination of ingredients that’s specific to any regional style we’ve heard of, but we’re all about people feeling free to let their freak flags fly when it comes to their favorite foods. But commenters on Stewart’s post weren’t so understanding.
“Sorry, I tuned out after she said ketchup,” shared one commenter. “Martha, I love you, but ketchup on a hotdog?” asked one incredulous viewer. Even Chicago’s famous Portillo’s hot dogs chimed in. “You know we love the works, but in Chicago, it’s more like tomato, pickle spear, sport peppers, chopped onions, yellow mustard, bright green relish, and celery salt!” “Bacon is a new one for me,” shared a different commenter, and a few others disagreed with the idea that hot dogs were better than burgers.
But you know what we think? We’re always down to try something new, and if Stewart stands by her hot dog with the works, we know what we’ll be grilling up this weekend! And if you’re interested in experimenting beyond your usual hot dog fixin’s, you can check out these 30 creative hot dog toppings for a next-level cookout.
Before you go, check out our slideshow below:
Watch: A 5-Ingredient Grilled Pizza That’s Easier Than Ordering Takeout