"Hot dog! This takes a bite out of winter; It's opening weekend at Southie foodstand" by Billy Baker, Globe Correspondent | March 1, 2009
Three-year-old Brennah Hynes (left), of South Boston, and her sister Millie, 2, enjoyed their hot dogs yesterday outside Sullivan's. The hot dog and burger shack, an institution in South Boston since 1951, serves its traditional ''snap dogs'' this time of year. (Photos by John Tlumacki/Globe Staff)
Now THAT'S a NICE HEALTHY SNACK for our kids, huh?
They answered that question with this front-page exclusive:
"Winning season and seasoning for local frank maker at Fenway" by Jenn Abelson, Globe Staff | April 1, 2009
CHELSEA - .... It's the first time in nearly two decades that the title of Official Hot Dog of the Boston Red Sox will return to a local company....
That's a SAD STATEMENT right there!
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Oh, yeah, before taking a bite, you better read Fenway Franks, Get Your Fenway Franks Here
Inside the plant, Matt Monkiewicz, Kayem's vice president of marketing and part of the fourth generation running the family business, and his cousin, Peter Monkiewicz, eagerly showed off the new Fenway Frank line. That's where hot dogs begin as large cuts of meat that go through the grinder, get blended with spices such as garlic, onion, and mustard, and then are cooled with a special process so the juiciness is preserved. The meat then gets stuffed into casings, twisted, and hung, and cooked in a smoker, chilled, and dried. The hot dogs are then shot through machines that remove casings, and as the franks move down the production line, inspectors pick off any imperfect ones before the hot dogs make it out of the factory.
This high-tech facility is a far cry from the hot dog empire's humble beginning in 1909, when Kazimierz Monkiewicz opened a meat market shortly after emigrating from Poland with his wife, Helena. Word of the high-quality meats and handmade sausages spread, and soon Monkiewicz began delivering to neighboring communities on a horse-drawn wagon. His four sons joined the business and it grew over the next century to include salads, pizzas, and other products, and more than 500 employees in Chelsea and Woburn.
In 2002, Kayem was struggling to compete after consolidation in the supermarket industry left only a few major chains. So the Chelsea company sold off several food lines to focus solely on its sausage and hot dog business. Over the past five years, Kayem's Al Fresco brand has grown to become the country's top chicken sausage with more than 6 million pounds expected to be sold this year in supermarkets, and Kayem's hot dogs moved into the number one slot in New England. Nationally, Kayem is the 16th largest hot dog brand.
Kayem's swing for the Fenway fences began last fall, when the Red Sox started approaching several hot dog makers after Kahn's, a division of Sara Lee, decided to end its sponsorship as the Official Hot Dog of the Boston Red Sox and Fenway Park.
Kayem had to vie against other rivals, such as Armour and Hillshire Farm, that wanted to make the next Fenway Frank-branded hot dog for the Olde Towne Team. Kayem won over Red Sox executives with its tasty dogs, local flair, long history, and - likely - some serious dough. (Neither the Red Sox nor Kayem would disclose financial details of the three-year deal). Besides the million dogs served at Fenway Park, Kayem is preparing an additional 8 million of its Fenway Franks that will begin arriving this week in supermarkets across New England. Last year's sales of Fenway Franks in supermarkets totaled roughly $2.7 million, according to data from AC Nielsen provided by the company....
I see the Globe is NOTHING but a BUSINESS AGENT for UNHEALTHY and DISGUSTING HOT DOGS!
Related: Boston's Bad Food
Do Not Eat at the Boston Globe
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After locking up the crown jewel, Kayem kept the project under wraps from most employees. A select research and development team began crafting the new Fenway Frank. The members tested about 30 different versions of the hot dog, using leaner cuts of meat than in the old Fenway Frank. Kayem adjusted levels of spices along with different heating and cooling techniques. New Englanders don't like their dogs too spicy or too smoky, according to Matt Monkiewicz, but Kayem wanted to offer a frank with bolder tastes.
Dozens of taste tests with customers, vendors, and Red Sox executives provided feedback to tweak the meaty treat until it ranked consistently as the best in taste, color, bite, and texture compared with the old Fenway Frank and rival hot dog makers.
Greg Gale, manager of Speed's Hot Dog stand in Dorchester, said hot dogs are a key part of the ballpark experience and "Fans notice the difference."
At a test taste sampling at the Globe yesterday, Gale preferred the new Fenway Frank to rival brand Ballpark. But the bold taste was a little too much for hot dog guru and sports radio personality Eddie Andelman, who said he prefers a milder frank because he eats so many.
The franks will be waiting for Sox executives like John Henry, Tom Werner, and Larry Lucchino in their luxury suite on Opening Day, and general manager Theo Epstein will get a chance to taste them in the baseball operations box, according to Kennedy. (The Globe and 17 percent of the Red Sox are owned by The
That EXPLAINS SO MUCH!
It explains the SPORTS CONSTANTLY MAKING the FRONT PAGE and "NEWS" sections, as well as the lack of agenda-pushing protests at sports events!
Also see: Red Sox Run Jet Blue
New York Times Behind in the Count
Kayem is planning to go big with the new hot dog deal, with radio spots and ads plastered on the hawker boxes starting on opening day April 6. In keeping with the bitter rivalry of Sox fans everywhere, the company also plans to take a swipe at the enemies in The Bronx whenever possible. A billboard near Fenway Park will bear the tagline "Also available in grocery stores except in New York."
And Monkiewicz, ever the loyal subject of the Nation, has been telling anyone who'll listen his latest hot dog joke.
"What's difference between a Yankee dog and a Fenway Frank?
"You can get Fenway Franks in October."
Ha, ha, .... ha.
And you know what goes good with a dog?
Yup, FRIES!
"McDonald's aims to limit pesticide use" by Reuters | April 1, 2009
LOS ANGELES - McDonald's Corp. has agreed to take steps toward reducing pesticide use in its domestic potato supply, shareholder groups said yesterday.... --more--"
