A craving deferred

I went to Broome Doggs for one reason: curry wurst.  When I was in Berlin - what, 8 years ago? - my friend, former roommate, and Essen native JP would not allow me to have one, even though curry wurst stands dotted the streets.  I think she found it disgusting, but JP was never much of a junk food eater like myself.  In any case, when I read that Broome Doggs featured this item on its short menu, I knew I had to go, and the timing was good last Friday - John M., Chicago hot dog aficionado mentioned in previous postings, was in town for co-worker Joel's going away party.  He joined me and Hester (after I called to see if veggie hot dogs were an option - tofu only at this point) for a quick bite.

The curry wurst was not what I'd expected at all, although if I'd done my homework, I wouldn't have anticipated a sausage smothered in a thick Japanese-style curry sauce.  The sauce was thin, slightly peppery and vinegary, a little tomatoe-y and didn't have much curry flavor - the proprietor described it as "Tandoori style."  It tasted pretty good, but the hot dog, sliced up and piled up on a bun, was of the spongy/scary variety you'd find in franks-n-beans.  I added a little bit of spicy mustard from the condiment bar (excellent, with fixins like "potato chip dust," sriracha hot sauce, and enough items, including celery salt, to almost manufacture a Chicago hot dog), and that gave the curry wurst a little more zing.

So, is it worth trying out Broome Doggs?  Yes, if you've never had curry wurst, check it out.  Otherwise, I wouldn't call it a destination, but if you're in the neighborhood (Lower East Side, 250 Broome Street between Orchard and Ludlow, (917) 453-6013) and feel like slathering a hot dog with all kinds of stuff, there's no reason not to drop in.  The owner's a friendly dude who'll talk to you about buying a used commercial-grade refrigerator off craigs list.  While you're there, get a bottle of Ting, a tasty, snappy Jamaican grapefruit soda.

For more on curry wurst and a picture of the condiment bar, see the entry at the Hedonista blog.

Comments

[John M]

Having been pegged a Chicago hot dog aficionado by Tina, I feel compelled to post. Broome Doggs might be graciously described as unpretentious -- or just as a hole in the wall. Ambience doesn’t count for much in my book; often I see it as a distraction. Unfortunately, I can’t say the BD makes up in food for what it lacks in décor. For those who don’t favor the several variations of wieners wed in an unholy matrimony to bacon, the selections are pretty mundane, not much different from what you could unimaginatively conger up in your own kitchen in seven to ten minutes. Frankly, you could do just about as well in a bus terminal vending area equipped with a microwave. Tina’s curry sausage seemed more like wienies and beans without the beans.

My choice was a beef kielbasa, which sadly turned out to be a half kielbasa, sliced lengthwise, on a nondescript bun. That’s it! I had to augment that with a regular dog and still left hungry. The saving grace of the place was its rather make-shift, albeit more than adequate, condiment bar that allows one to stretch the (un)fairly meager portions with pickle slices, kraut, and potato chip dust. I was impressed that they included celery salt. Having cut my teeth of Chicago-style hot dogs with all the fixins and served on a Maryann’s poppy seed bun (http://www.redhotchicago.com/); I admit my standards for condimentation are quite high. I concur with Tina. Perhaps a bit more harshly, I say the place is just barely OK if you happen be in the area, are jonesing for a hot dog, and don’t have the energy to seek out the tastier and more amble alternatives not too far away. Not the worst wurst, but certainly not even coming close to a good NY-style push cart dog.

[Rob]

Someday I'd like to do some research into the history of curry wurst and its adoption by German culture. I tried it in Bavaria, years ago, and I distinctly remember being underwhelmed by what amounted to a pepperidge farm kielbasa with curry sauce.

Potato chip dust?!