Hot wiener

The hot wiener or New York System wiener is a staple of the food culture of Rhode Island where it is primarily sold at "New York System" restaurants.

Preparation

The traditional wiener is made with a small, thin hot dog made of veal and pork, giving it a different taste from a traditional beef hot dog, served in a steamed bun, and topped with celery salt, yellow mustard, chopped onions, and a seasoned meat sauce (the spices vary by vendor but commonly include cumin, paprika, chili powder, and allspice). A preparation including all of the above is often ordered by patrons as "all the way."

New York System restaurants

According to Johnson & Wales University professor Jack Chiaro, the name New York System (and less commonly Coney Island System) appeared in Rhode Island in the early 1900s as a marketing strategy when hot dogs were closely associated with New York's Coney Island. By the early 1940s a distinctly Rhode Island product and preparation had evolved among Providence's Greek community, popularized within the state such that the "wieners" served by New York Systems today bear little resemblance to the traditional Coney Island hot dog. Restaurateurs continue to use the name as a way to advertise this particular local cuisine.