Zweigle's White Hot
Photo: DanielPenfield · CC BY-SA 3.0

History

Zweigle's was founded in Rochester in 1880 by the Zweigle family. The white hot, made from pork and veal without the red nitrate dye used in standard beef hot dogs, became the Rochester-specific style. The product is not fully cooked during processing, which means it requires proper grilling. Zweigle's also produces a red hot (natural beef casing), but the white hot is what put Rochester on the hot dog map.

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Common allergens: None

Make it at home

Yield Serves 4Hands-on 15 minTotal 15 minDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 4 Zweigle's white hots (available at Wegmans and Rochester-area grocery stores)
  • 4 New England-style top-split buns
  • Yellow mustard
  • Sweet pickle relish (optional)

Method

  1. Preheat a grill or cast iron pan to high heat.
  2. Grill white hots 4 to 5 minutes, turning once, until char marks appear and skin blisters slightly.
  3. Warm the buns on the grill for 30 seconds.
  4. Serve with yellow mustard; relish is optional but authentic.

Tip from the editors. Do not steam or boil. Grilling is the only acceptable method for white hots; steaming loses the snap.

Where to eat zweigle's white hot

Zweigle's White Hot in Rochester

Nick Tahou Hots ★ 4.4

$ Hot Dogs and PlatesDowntown

Nick Tahou Hots on W. Main St in Rochester serves the original trademarked Garbage Plate for under $10, one of the best cheap meals in Upstate New York.

TipA two-item plate runs $8-$10 depending on protein. White hots, cheeseburgers, or eggs over the top. Cash preferred. Closed Mondays.

Directions

Dogtown ★ 4.0

$ Hot DogsMonroe Avenue

Dogtown on Monroe Ave in Rochester serves 18 gourmet hot dog varieties for under $6 each on locally-baked rolls, with handcut fries for a filling budget meal.

TipMost dogs are under $6. Handcut fries are an additional $3-4. Closed Sundays. The German-style frank with mustard and sauerkraut is the fastest order.

Directions

Genesee Brew House ★ 4.1

$$ BrewpubCraft and pilot batches, core lagersDowntown

Genesee Brew House on Cataract St is the pilot taproom for Genesee Brewing (est. 1878), America's oldest continuously operating brewery, with river views.

TipSecond-floor dining room has the best river view. The pilot batch section of the tap list changes weekly. Museum space covers the brewery's history since 1878.

Directions

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