NYC's Gray's Papaya: The ultimate hot dog
Kaitlyn Thornton
Issue date: 4/1/08 Section: Lifestyle
New York City has its perks.
There's the art scene, the fashion scene, the Wall Street scene, the food scene … hell, it's America's mecca of culture, the Sadie Hawkins of multicultural arts, sciences, academia and socialites.
It is the Big Apple of experience.
New Yorkers love to eat. Actually, most Americans love to eat, and few things are quintessentially more American than the hot dog.
From Le Cirque to the kabob vendors lining the streets, Manhattan is home to the best eateries in the world.
It is the stomping ground of meat enthusiast Anthony Bourdain and home to dozens of couture French restaurants (with equally haute prices).
Incidentally, NYC is also home to the greatest hot dog on the planet.
I am, of course, talking about Gray's Papaya.
Boasting Depression era prices and 'round the clock hours of operation, Gray's Papaya is distinctively New York.
Standing room only, customer service that waits for no man and a delicious fruity beverage are some of its hallmarks, in addition to the hot dogs.
There is a reason the 72nd Street and Broadway location is featured on television shows, travel programs and feature films.
To borrow a phrase from Tina Turner, "It's simply the best."
The buns are kept warm in a steaming basket and the hot dogs are savory and cooked to perfection.
But a recent price increase has made the "recession special" (two dogs and a drink) $3.50 instead of the previous $2.75.
I always order two with mustard and kraut.
I delicately tote my hot dogs wrapped in wax paper to the counter and sip on the orange fruit drink in a paper cup.
I savor every bite, trying my hardest to sear the dining experience into my memory.
This never works. I inevitably forget the precise smell of the restaurant and the tingly buzz of the orange fizz.
This year, however, I have a plan.
I'm going to smuggle two hot dogs into my carry-on and onto the Los Angeles-bound plane.
There's the art scene, the fashion scene, the Wall Street scene, the food scene … hell, it's America's mecca of culture, the Sadie Hawkins of multicultural arts, sciences, academia and socialites.
It is the Big Apple of experience.
New Yorkers love to eat. Actually, most Americans love to eat, and few things are quintessentially more American than the hot dog.
From Le Cirque to the kabob vendors lining the streets, Manhattan is home to the best eateries in the world.
It is the stomping ground of meat enthusiast Anthony Bourdain and home to dozens of couture French restaurants (with equally haute prices).
Incidentally, NYC is also home to the greatest hot dog on the planet.
I am, of course, talking about Gray's Papaya.
Boasting Depression era prices and 'round the clock hours of operation, Gray's Papaya is distinctively New York.
Standing room only, customer service that waits for no man and a delicious fruity beverage are some of its hallmarks, in addition to the hot dogs.
There is a reason the 72nd Street and Broadway location is featured on television shows, travel programs and feature films.
To borrow a phrase from Tina Turner, "It's simply the best."
The buns are kept warm in a steaming basket and the hot dogs are savory and cooked to perfection.
But a recent price increase has made the "recession special" (two dogs and a drink) $3.50 instead of the previous $2.75.
I always order two with mustard and kraut.
I delicately tote my hot dogs wrapped in wax paper to the counter and sip on the orange fruit drink in a paper cup.
I savor every bite, trying my hardest to sear the dining experience into my memory.
This never works. I inevitably forget the precise smell of the restaurant and the tingly buzz of the orange fizz.
This year, however, I have a plan.
I'm going to smuggle two hot dogs into my carry-on and onto the Los Angeles-bound plane.
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