Third Annual Mike McLafferty Dog-Off
April 14, 2007


Since the dawn of time, or at least since the 1960s, the question has plagued the gourmet and the Great Unwashed alike: Who has the better Italian hot dog in Essex County? Is it Jimmy Buff, sometimes credited with inventing it, or Dickie Dee, long the chosen purveyor of the delectable dog? 
Not content to let the debate rage on, the men and women of the Bodholt's Diner message board answer the call!  For the third year in a row, these dedicated gourmands met and accepted the challenge to determine the better dog, via a comprehensive taste test, followed by an official vote.  So it was on April 14, 2007, a dedicated group of discriminating judges descended on both establishments to confirm, once and for all (or at least until next year), who has the better dog.
Comprising the expert panel this year were your webmaster, John F. Crowley; champion bugler Bobby Davis Jr.; Weequahic refugee Don Scher; Barringer alumna Lucia Bevilacqua, and Somerset mystery man Fred Gillen.  Also on hand were U.N. observers Doris Flatley and Rico Roman.

We were on a mission.

 
Our first stop was the Jimmy Buff's restaurant on Washington Avenue, West Orange, chosen for its convenient location.  When we arrived at 11:30 a.m. the place was deserted -- bereft of paying cutomers.  We were not deterred.

 
Doris, Don, Fred and Lucia arrive. 
It was a beautiful Saturday morning, but there was work to be done.

 

With the arrival of your webmaster, the team was complete. 
We steeled ourselves and headed inside.

 
We all agreed to sample the basic Italian hot dog in both establishments: a frankfurter on pizza bread with potatoes, peppers and onions.  Here Don orders his and also a sandwich for non-voting team member Doris: a cheese steak, hold the cheese.  At the counter this day were Maria (whom we serenaded with her song from West Side Story), and chef Ishmael.

 
Onward to Part Two