Hot dogs learn new tricks

BOCA RATON, Fla., June 30 (UPI) -- Hot dog makers in Florida and across the United States have been introducing new sausage creations ahead of the traditionally dog-heavy July Fourth weekend.

Burt Rapoport, owner of the Opus 5 bistro in Boca Raton, Fla., said his $14 Kobe beef hot dog, which is topped with chef-created sauerkraut, has turned curious customers into frequent consumers, the Palm Beach (Fla.) Post reported Monday.

Meanwhile, gourmet brand D'Artagnan has begun selling "Duck Dogs," made from the meat of water fowl, at $8 for a pack of four.

Big name hot dog manufacturer Oscar Mayer has introduced Premium Beef Franks, which it says are made from "high quality cuts of beef and a flavorful blend of unique spices," while competitor Ball Park Franks is marketing Angus Beef Franks that it describes as "a fresh new twist on the classic."

Experts said the trend of offering new twists on the classic hot dog is tied to the approaching July Fourth holiday weekend, during which an estimated 150 million hot dogs will be consumed in the United States, and the Washington-based National Hot Dog & Sausage Council's recent announcement that wiener sales slumped by 4 percent in 2006.