The Michigan Hot Dog From Clare & Carls In New Has A Cult Following, And There's A Reason Why
By John Williams|Published June 01, 2023
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John Williams
Author
John Williams is a writer based in New York City. He's been living in the state for over a decade. He loves nothing more than checking out some great regional cuisine and then taking a long walk in the park.
The Michigan hot dog is a food staple in and around the town of Plattsburgh, New York. It’s a beef hot dog in a steamed bun with meat sauce on top, and you know what? It is as delicious as it sounds. The oldest and most reliable Michigan stand in the area—which is located near the northern tip of the state—has to be Clare & Carls. It even made The Daily Meal’s list of the best 35 hot dogs in America. It’s the best hot dog in Plattsburgh, New York.
The building for Claire & Carls was built in the 1940s by Clare and Carl Warne. Though the building's sign spotlights Texas Red Hots, the place specializes in Michigans.
In a Michigan dog, the contents of the sauces can change from one stand to the next, with some being tomato-based and others simply filled with seasoning. Though the dogs can be topped with onions and mustard, there is no cheese on the Plattsburgh-style Michigan.
The origin of the name "Michigan hot dog" seems to be disputed. Michigan itself has a history of producing hot dogs known as Coney Islands, though some have noted that the sauces used in Plattsburgh-style Michigans have little in common with the the famous Detroit-style dogs.
The sauces used at this establishment are strictly secret, as are the providers of the buns and the hot dogs, so good luck recreating the Claire and Carls magic at home. You got to go taste it for yourself.
If you are in the the Plattsburgh area and are hungry for a great regional take on an American classic, then Claire & Carls is exactly where you need to be. While you are in town, why not check out Champlain Valley Transportation Museum? It’s an amazing archives of all modes of transportation, from cars to trains to bicycles.
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