Restaurant Wars, August 18th

When my parents lived in Ft. Lee, New Jersey, there were two amazing hot dog places right across the street from one another. One was called Callahan’s and the other was called Hiram’s. And nobody that we knew frequented both– it simply wasn’t done. You were either a Callahan’s gal like me, or a Hiram’s girl like “them”– you picked a team and stuck with ’em.

Both were Mom and Pop super casual places that specialized in crunchy, deep fried hot dogs. Some Jersey fans even affectionately called them “rippers” since they tended to rip open from the heat of the oil. Callahan’s offered private label birch beer that was sweet and bubbly and golden-brown onion rings that my Mother went crazy for. (Dad and I were the hot dog fans in the family. My sister said no to all of the above– just wasn’t her thing.) And then sadly Callahan’s closed and a bank appeared not too long after where my favorite foodie paradise once stood. I was sincerely crushed!

So what was a Callahan’s girl like me supposed to do after they paved paradise and put up a banking spot? Yep, I begrudgingly went to Hiram’s. I sort of harumphed my way to the counter that first time, feeling like a complete traitor to my first choice that was no longer. I ordered a hot dog and added spicy mustard and a generous helping of sauerkraut. I even splurged on an order of fries. And much to my disappointment, my food was amazingly delicious. The dog was plump and juicy with just the right amount of snap and a crisp bite. The fries were hot, salty, and addictive. I instantly become a fan.

So I’m wondering about all my Philly friends that are still at war over the best cheesesteak in town. The Pat’s vs. Geno’s rivalry is still going strong! And just like their northern neighbors, everyone has a die-hard preference. In the case of this squishy sammie, it all comes down to the steak, because the bread, Cheese Whiz, and toppings, are all identical. Pat’s is famous for chopping their steak, while Geno’s favors a sliced version. My bff’s hubby Jon is actually partial to Tony Luke’s or Steve’s, so this blows the whole two-man competition out of the water completely.

After my defection by default to Hiram’s, I realize that the words “war” and “restaurant” should never appear in the same sentence. Isn’t there room for everybody to order what they like from whomever they choose? And some friendly foodie competition keeps everyone on their toes. Regardless of what you order or from where it comes, I hope you enjoy the rest of the summer! I’ll be hanging at Hiram’s.