FROM THE ARCHIVES:Unlikely as it seems, hotdogs took pubs by storm in 1956, becoming the pub food of choice, at least among publicans, according to this report. – JOE JOYCE
FOR BUSINESSMEN whose interests demand a quickly-served snack in place of a lunch, publicans throughout Ireland have recently begun to make strong efforts to ensure that such snacks are more attractive and appetising.
In the licensed trade it is believed that the day of the “bottle of stout and a sandwich” is almost over. Higher standards are demanded and are being provided in licensed premises For many years, some publichouses have specialised in meals, but these have been few, and the recent demand for appetising snacks has turned the attention of publicans from sandwiches (which normally involves plates, knives and other utensils to be washed) to a speedier and more palatable snack.
Easily the most popular of these is the hot dog – a snack which has grown in popularity since its introduction in one Dublin publichouse last year to a stage at which it is now being served through the country.
The success of the hot-dog machine in publichouses – popularly known as the “Poppdog“ – has inspired further efforts to provide machines for supplying quick, tasty snacks, and it is expected that many licensed premises will shortly instal [sic] new machines which will enable assistants to give a quick service in hamburgers.
Although hot dogs were being served in some restaurants, it was not until last August that they made their appearance in publichouses. The publichouse owned by Messrs. J and C Grace in Townsend street installed the machine for the production of this snack, and since that time the “Poppdog” has spread to many parts of the provinces. By the use of these machines a hot dog can be served in 30 seconds. And publicans favour them, because they do not involve the use of plates, knives or other utensils.
They are quicker to serve and more appetising than a sandwich, said Mr Joseph Grace yesterday. He added that in his own house the popularity of the hot dog was still increasing, and he believed that a new trend in public house snacks was on the way.
Mr Desmond Dobson, manager, Messrs T R Scott Ltd, who import the machines said that there was a growing demand from publicans and caterers all over the country for machines which could supply hot snacks easily, and without trouble, and they would be offering machines for making hamburgers.
“Because of the fact that there is no washing up – the hot dogs are served in serviettes – they are a great boon to publicans,” he said . . . He added that publicans complained about the amount of time that was spent cutting sandwiches and said that a hot dog could be served between 30 seconds and one minute.
Hot dogs are prepared by steaming the sausages electrically, and the rolls used are pierced and heated on spikes on which the rolls are impaled and which heat the inside of the roll.