As Americans come together to celebrate our nation’s independence, there is one food that unites us all: the hot dog. July is National Hot Dog Month, and for good reason--Americans were expected to eat 150 million hot dogs on July 4th alone, enough to feed nearly half the US population.

American hot dog passion runs deep, and the top dogs at the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC) have decided that our hot dog loving nation needs official ambassadors, so this July the NHDSC will crown five regional ambassadors to help lead hot dog celebrations around the country.

“In order to become a hot dog ambassador, aspirants must submit their hot dog resume,” said NHDSC President Eric Mittenthal. “Competition for these five coveted positions will be fierce, so the NHDSC judges are seeking those with a strong background in preparing, eating, enjoying, debating and celebrating hot dogs.”

Resumes should be submitted to contest@hot-dog.org through Wednesday, July 11 and the five regional ambassadors in the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest and West will be named on National Hot Dog Day, July 18.

Ambassadors won’t simply gain the status associated with the lofty title, but will also receive several prizes. Each winner will receive a Hot Dog Ambassador business card which can also be used for deals at NHDSC partner restaurants. In addition, winners will take home a gift card for their favorite hot dogs, a NHDSC Wiener Warrior t-shirt and other fun prizes. Runners-up for each region will be named Wiener Warriors and receive NHDSC t-shirts, “I Love Hot Dogs” wristbands and other prizes. Full contest details and rules are available at www.hot-dog.org.

The NHDSC has partnered with several iconic hot dog restaurants around the country who will offer deals to Ambassadors including Papaya King and Gray's Papaya in New York, Ben's Chili Bowl in Washington, DC and Superdawg in Chicago. A full list of partners can be found at www.hot-dog.org. 

Throughout National Hot Dog Month, the NHDSC will also feature new videos with facts about hot dogs developed in partnership with the Beef Checkoff and many other resources about hot dogs including the official hot dog etiquette guide and the NHDSC’s take on the hot dog/sandwich debate.  

Source: NHDSC