What is a Philadelphia Texas Tommy?
There are many variations of the recipe; however, they generally involve a slit in the Hot Dog to allow the cheese to be placed within, and then it's wrapped in bacon with toothpicks. The sausages are topped with mustard, ketchup, or relish and served on a toasted bun.
Three of our favorite spots for a Texas Tommy are:
- Little Pete's in Philadelphia is known for its Texas Tommy, a hot dog split down the middle and topped with cheddar and bacon. They serve it on either a grill or under the broiler to accompany it.
- Johnny's Hots (on a Liscio roll) and Back in the Day with smashed fish cake are other popular items at this Delaware Avenue standby, which opens at 5 a.m. and closes at 3 p.m.
- Lucky's Last Chance offers several varieties of Texas Tommy and an impressive menu of other wursts. One standout item is the Street Dog - a bacon-wrapped wurst with pico de gallo and jalapeno.
The original Texas Tommy was made with sausages wrapped in bacon before grilling. It gained popularity during the 1950s, particularly among housewives, as recipes for bacon-wrapped hot dogs appeared regularly in ladies' magazines. Since then, diners and greasy spoons around Philadelphia, eastern Pennsylvania, and southern New York State have served this delectable treat.
