Released in 2009, Susan Sarandon’s Favourite Hot Dogs was met with much confusion. However, while the topic was derided, the writing was lauded as THE finest words about hot dogs ever committed to paper.

Sarandon’s love of the versatile meal shines through, and her knowledge of its origins in the royal court of Vienna during the 13^th century shows a deep understanding of its impact on world cuisine.

While the critics lauded this fresh look at one of America’s most popular boiled meats, sales were sluggish, leaving Sarandon with a garage full of unsold copies. The lack of space in her garage led to the break-up of her relationship with fellow actor Tim Robins in 2009.

SYNOPSIS

My Favourite Hot Dogs is an intriguing and insightful look into the world of cheap processed meat in stale bread through the eyes of esteemed Hollywood actress Susan Sarandon.

Learn all about how Sarandon’s deep love of hot dogs began during a lunch break while on set for her Oscar-nominated performance in Thelma and Louise. Discover how that love developed into a blinding devotion while filming the classic Little Women adaptation.

Discover all about her favourite ever hot dog experience in January 2007, when she appeared with Jane Fonda at an anti-war rally in Washington, D.C. in support of a Congressional measure to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq.

Follow along as Sarandon takes the reader on a journey through her favourite boiled sausage and deep dives into her favourite toppings, including one hot dog that incorporated raw onions as well as fried ones! 

Whether you’re a lifelong fan of hot dogs or Sarandon, this book is sure to have something for everyone!

Keep Reading For An Exclusive Extract!

Diced onions, jalapeños, chilli, grated cheese, and toothpaste are just some of the popular toppings found at any hot dog vendor in the United States. However, these toppings were only added fairly recently in the hot dog’s grand history.

During the height of the Austro-Hungarian empire, hot dogs became the most popular meal amongst the well-heeled and educated class. The choice of toppings for the hot dogs mirrored their extravagant tastes. Toppings such as salmon, duck testicles and finely chopped camel toes were the order of the day.

While two on that list sound utterly delicious, the idea of salmon on a hot dog made me gag for many years. That was until 1988, while on the set of the movie Bill Durham. The movie was all about minor-league baseball.

As hot dogs are a significant part of the sport, I decided to throw myself into the part by undertaking what is known in the acting business as ‘Method’ acting. This required me to live and breathe as if I were interested in baseball.

As hot dogs and baseball go together like gin and the water you put with it when drinking it (tonic?), I decided to eat as many hot dogs as possible during the film shoot.

My partner, Tim Robins, who was also in the film, came to the set one day carrying a salmon. During some flirting between us, he threw the salmon towards me. The salmon landed slap onto the hot dog I was eating at the time, and, not wanting to waste any food due to my deep environmental concerns, I took a huge bite. Delicious!

Let me tell you, that wasn’t the first time I ate cheap boiled meat with raw, uncooked salmon! It may occasionally cause me to vomit violently, but it sure tastes succulent!