Hot Dog Cook-off Rules

There are several categories of awards: BEST IN SHOW, BEST OF BREED: VEGGIE DOG, BEST OF GROUP: WORKING DOG, BEST OF GROUP: TOY DOG, AND CROWD FAVORITE.  After several years of of competition we decided to separate the best of group into two categories in order to recognize dogs that may not be so flashy, but taste great and are the kind of dog you can eat the whole thing of. This is the Working Dog. The Toy Dog award is for dogs that are generally very rich, and while they taste great, you might not be able to imagine eating a whole dog's worth.

The 8 judges will be picked randomly from the crowd at the start of the cookoff event. Dogs will be judged on taste and presentation. All guests will be able to cast one vote in the Crowd Favorite category.

Chefs are to prepare 8 'chef ready' full hot dogs and appetizer size bites for the crowd. (These could be a dog cut into 2 or 3 pieces.) There will be 200 hundred guests. Chefs don't have to prepare 200 bites/servings, but they can. We recommend 150+ bites. The more you serve, the better chance you have at pleasing the crowd and winning the Crowd Favorite Award.

The chefs will have access to a grill and a work station table. Four chefs will compete every 35 minutes. So chefs only have 35 minutes on the grill. There will be two 6 ft long charcoal grills and each will be shared by two chefs during competition. There will be charcoal and grill utensils, and serving trays, but if you think you need something special, bring it.

Chefs can do any amount of prep work ahead of time. We recommend that chefs have a sous chef, so a team of two. This will help in being able to deliver the dogs on time.

Each chef will have a minute or two to introduce their dog over the mic to the crowd. The hot dogs will be passed around on trays and served from the chef stations.

In the past we allowed for sausages and chorizo. But this year it's just hot dogs and veggie dogs. Veggie dogs must be vegetarian dogs topped with veggie-friendly toppings, any buns can be used for all three categories. Or buns can be not used at all!

For inspiration, check out photos and reviews (Serious Eats, Not Eating Out in NY) of past events.