The “Rivera” Dog

Out of all the hot dog combinations we’ve seen out of the DOTW program so far, the Rivera dog is definitely the one that screams “special dog of the week” most. Its combination of 6 different toppings gives it that unique aspect because it’s not very often you see a hot dog with more than even two toppings— something Aranxta Rivera was not shy about. But, as someone who usually doesn’t add too many toppings to my hot dogs, it was impressive to see how the combination could still taste great with so much going on. It had all of the needed parts of a good hot dog like ketchup, mustard and pickles, but the addition of the grilled onions for more savory notes and the jalapeno for a little kick knocked it out of the park.

Toppings: Hot dog, ketchup, mustard, tomato, pickle, grilled onions, jalapeños

Combo Rating: 4.5/5               Creativity: 4/5

The “Mason” Dog

You can never go wrong with a classic hot dog, and Cece Mason’s “Mason” dog takes that to heart. The combination of ketchup and mustard is great, but they are the two most common hot dog toppings that are readily available when you purchase a hot dog at a stand or even just quickly at home. That fact is what makes this hot dog not as creative, but it will always taste great no matter where you go. My only real complaint is that as it is supposed to be a special hot dog being DOTW, it doesn’t really serve its purpose because it is on the more plain side.

Toppings: Hot dog, ketchup, mustard

Combo Rating: 3/5                   Creativity: 1/5

The “Fuller” Dog

If you are looking for another good-tasting hot dog, Tyler Fuller’s “Fuller” dog is a great example. It has simple toppings, but they work together successfully in combination. Bringing in the sweet peppers for the hot dog was definitely the way to go for a different taste from the usual. And although not the most creative type of hot dog, the flavor overall raises its score. My only slight complaint on the Fuller dog would be that the amount of a “pickled” aspect with pickles and sweet peppers might be a little too much if there isn’t another topping to balance it out. Overall its great and can definitely be given the title of DOTW.

Toppings: Hot dog, ketchup, pickle, sweet peppers

Combo Rating: 4/5                Creativity: 2/5

The “Sanchez” Dog

Nico Sanchez’s “Sanchez” dog puts that little twist on your average frank, as you would expect to see from a signature hot dog. This addition was the use of BBQ sauce as a topping, which is something you won’t find on a hot dog often. While I am not a fan of BBQ sauce in general, I’m sure this hot dog would be much more enjoyed by someone who does. The combination somehow blends together with the cheese and the pickle even with my worry about adding BBQ to a hot dog. I might still never go out of my way to put such a sauce on my hot dog, but either way, this creation is one that can be approved as a signature and gets points for thinking outside the norms.

Toppings: Hot dog, BBQ, cheese, pickle

Combo Rating: 2/5                  Creativity: 3/5