Coney Detroit

Coming: The Coney Detroit Book and a Whole New Look

We have some exciting news to report at Coney Detroit.

First, we're just putting the finishing toppings on a beautiful book about the Coney Detroit story.

You can count on 160 color photos by a dozen photographers shooting in an even larger number of cities. We think we have also caputure the true coney story as it has never been told. We wrote thousands of words, drove hundreds of miles and ate scores of coneys. It's a tough job, but, hey ...

You'll meet the families behind some iconic coney islands, you'll explore the differences between Detroit-style coneys and Flint-style, you'll see where they do the dogs and bake the buns. Find out about coney traditions in some other places -- some of them transplanted from Detroit -- and how Detroit became capital of the Coney Nation.

The book is being published by Wayne State University Press and we love what we see! It should be available in April. You can read more about it and even pre-order on this page.

This site, incidentally, is due for a major facelift. It will have more news, more features, better photos -- some of them from the book -- and, we hope, more comments from you.

In a word, this site will be like a good coney -- loaded.

While we're getting ready, please stop in at our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Coney.Detroit. Like us!    

A Quick Trick with Qwiki

Check this out. It is here not so much to tell you about coney islands (Coney Detroit can do that better), but to show you how a cool tool called Qwiki.com can build you a mini report on almost any subject.

Try it.

What Up Dawg? wants your advice

We see that East Lansing's What Up Dawg is thinking of adding more Michigan items to the menu and is seeking advice.

Go the the What Up Dawg? Facebook page to weigh in. (Not literally.)

Dearborn brand hotdogs and sausages, check.

Kowalski sausages, check.

What else?

If you haven't stopped by the Dawg, at 317 M.A.C. Ave., you're missing something.

I tool a friend there not long ago. I had a Flint-style coney and a Detroit-sytle. He did those PLUS the Chicago Dawg.

Other options: the Consigliare (Koegel Italian sausage with grilled onions and peppers); the Meister (Koegel brat with sauerkraut, hot mustard and grilled onions); Smokey Daw (Koegel smokes sausage with barbecue sauce, bacon, grilled onions and cheddar cheese sauce); plus more.

 

 

 

Nashville tries to capture the Detroit coney island experience

Jim's Coney Island in Nashville is going for a Detroit experience, right down to Koegel's hot dogs imported from Flint and Faygo pop.

Cumin? It's in the beanless sauce. Beef heart? In there, too.

I doubt they take reservations, but as the Nashville Scene describes this Nashville coney  as having just eight or nine seats, you might face a wait.

25-cent coney dogs at Oakland Mall

Oakland Mall reports that this season, every time Tigers slugger Ryan Raburn, jersey #25, hits a home run, you can buy coneys for 25 cents each at the Oakland Mall A&W. Limit five. A&W is next to the Sears store.

Things were getting ugly in late May as Raburn's batting slump deprived people of their quarter coneys.

Coney island hot dog with bacon -- insanity in a bun

I saw this step-by-step from Pepperika for a foot-long coney island hot dog with bacon.

I'm pretty sure this violates somenody's sensibilities about whatis and is not a coney dog.

Just think what it must do to the cardiovascular system!

Pepperika is a Linden, Mich., company that seels this seven-pepper hot sauce.

 

Coneys define Detroiters -- even in Ferndale

I enjoyed the profile of art gallery owner Monica Bowman by Jeff Milo.

In his Ferndale Patch article, Milo quoted her: "“I’m so proud to live in Ferndale. It’s an enchanting place; you can have an elegant time, or you can just have a coney dog; fine art to friendship bracelets."

That's a nice way to be bracketed.

East Lansing loses National Coney Island franchise

It didn't make it to two years, and the National Coney Island franchise in East Lansing closed this month.

National Business Developmengt Director Bradford Egan told The State News that it just became too tough to run the business as a seasonal proposition with so many students leaving for the summer. The business had opened in September, 2009.

 

Lafayette now uses American hot dog supplier

This won't end the rivalry. If anything, it will increase it. This month, Lafayette Coney Island announced it is dropping Eastpointe hot dog maker Winter Sausage's brand for Dearborn Sausage, the same brand used by next-door copmpetitor American Coney Island.

Ali Alhalmi of Lafayette Coney Island told The Detroit News there will be no big change. The difference is all in the chili, he said.

Zoo has lions and tigers -- and coney dogs

American Coney Island has announced it is opening a free-standing coney cafe at the Detroit Zoo.

It is American's first location away from its home nade on Lafayette Boulevard downtown. Detroit Free Press Restaurant Critic Sylvia Rector reports that the concession will use American's recipe and ingredients, and will be run by the zoo's retail and concession providr, Service Systems Associates.

The zoo coney will be next to the zoo's Dinosauria exhibit on the north mall.