FOOD: Why I like The Rock Dog (hot-dog stand) here in Changsha

BY DANIEL OTERO

Introduction & childhood memories:

For a kid from the streets of Brooklyn, New York, there was these things of pleasure which I always basked-in. These three cuisines were the staple of New York City culture in my day. The first one was a New York styled Pizza (Grimaldi’s, of course), then cheesecake at Junior’s, and the third was a delicious hot-dog. For me, a hot-dog isn’t just a hot-dog! It’s the most important item to consume and it had/has to be perfect.

This article is about the hot-dog and its short history in the United States (it only came to our shores in the 1800s), and its long history back in Europe. It is also about my love for this simple, but awesome cuisine/dish and how I discovered the Rock Dog (thank goodness) here in Changsha (Hunan).

As a kid, I remembered our trips to Coney Island (Brooklyn, New York) and walking down the boardwalk in search for the delicious Famous Nathan’s. This was a trip I always wanted to make, and knew that I’d be enjoying this amazing hot-dog with gusto. I can hear the music playing even now, “Under the boardwalk” (The Drifters, 1964) and those sensations come to life when thinking about what I was about to enjoy. Ah, memory lane! 

When there wasn’t enough time for Coney Island or a Nathan’s, then we would take a short (10-minute) trip/drive across the Manhattan or Brooklyn Bridges to find a Sabrett’s Hot-Dog stand. This was the part which I enjoyed the most in my childhood, and the memories do resurface and take me back to those wonderful days/years. Both Nathan’s and Sabrett’s have been a part of the New York City cultural-scene for over 100-years. I tasted what I thought was the best, and yes, these hot-dogs are great, but I didn’t know where the hot-dog was originally from and realizing (years later) that there were hot-dogs out-there which could easily match or outmatch those from the City of New York. 

Therefore, not knowing any better as a child, or not realizing where the hot-dog was originally from or its invention for that matter, I thought that New York City was the “Center of the Universe” when it came to hot-dogs. It wasn’t until years later, when I was a teen and learned that the culinary idea had been invented back in Germany, and that it went as far back as the Thirteenth-Century.

Then, as I joined the service and travelled the world over, I tasted the greatness of hot dogs in Germany and Austria. In Germany, it always went down perfectly with a beer, sauerkraut, mustard and pretzels. The best part of this was when I tasted something gorgeously made in Munich (Bavaria, Southeastern Germany), and it certainly blew my mind with the richness in flavors. Or recalling my experiences in Vienna (Austria), when I had a delicious weiner to match in deliciousness its German neighbors. 

Why The Rock Dog is the best here in Changsha and the whole of China?

The last time I had tasted a great hot-dog or sausage which took me back to my days in New York, Austria or Germany (for that matter) was back in 2015; when I visited the Paulaner Brauhaus Restaurant in the city of Nanjing, Jiangsu. After that, nothing seemed to come close or outmatch what the Restaurant prepared for me that night. I did search high and low to capture that essence and those memories from long ago. But I could only capture these when I went back on holiday to the United States. Then, I would return back to China and continue my search for the perfect hot-dog. And still, there was zilch, nothing, nada to be found!

There was nothing, absolutely nothing, until I reached the city of Changsha. Then, as I was one day touring the City Center and Wuyi Square back in 2022, I found this magical-stand which specialized in hot-dogs and tacos. There was this moment of temptation, should I try it or not? 

But I didn’t want my memories of the hot-dog to be let down once again. It was when, I decided to go for the taste, and it certainly blew my mind! I was shocked and beautifully surprised. Everything was perfect, and all in a good way. The Rock Dog took back down memory lane once again, it didn’t only take me to my childhood back in New York, but it took to the time--long before--when I either visited Austria or I was stationed in Germany. I fell in love with this place, and knew I had to repeat once again!

I ended-up visiting The Rock Dog four more times before writing-up this article. I was afraid the taste might change; however, it never did, it just got better and better with each visit. This last time, I visited the hot-dog stand, I had to try their tacos, and these were also delicious. My daughter, Mia and I had a blast enjoying both concepts of hot-dogs and tacos. 

A little bit about Hao Zhang (张昊), owner of The Rock Dog. He believes food can always transcend cultures. But, where did he get his experience? It was when he became an experienced Chef while living in the Vancouver, B.C. (British Columbia) area. While he lived in Canada for 12-years, he worked in hotels and bistros; particularly playing with the French-elements in cooking. He had an idea and wanted to bring something back to his native China and establish a hot dog-business stand like those in Vancouver City. 

However, if you observe carefully, Hao Zhang’s concepts are unique: in fusion with the French, Italian and Japanese cuisines. An experience he certainly built while working and studying in Canada. He also got his creative muse and inspiration by enjoying, and also observing how the Japadog franchise put a hot-dog deliciously together. With a twinkle in his eye and a dream, he decided to take further action to create something all his own. Here was when The Rock Dog was established!

 Please enjoy!