What really makes the hot dogs at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur in Reykjavik, Iceland to be Europe’s best? Some people whisper that they’re cooked in beer. Others shrug that they’re exactly the same as all the other hot dog stands, that it’s just marketing. Cab drivers, city employees, everybody in town laughs about how the guy who owns the stand is making money hand over fist. Notables like Anthony Bourdain, Madonna and even Bill Clinton have eaten there. Clinton, presumably, before adopting a vegan diet . . . but these hot dogs are so tasty, who really knows?
They’ve got a heartier flavor than American hot dogs, as they’re made from the more prevalent lamb. Condiments include ketchup, honey mustard, fried onions on the bottom of the bun, sometimes raw onion and remoulade, a mayonnaise-based sauce with sweet relish. I don’t know if they’re actual “foot longs,” but they’re very long.
At about $2.25, they’re a great deal in a city where food can be quite pricey. I ate many of the hot dogs when I first visited Iceland about 10 years ago and tried them again recently. Still hits the spot!
The Reykjavik duty-free shop sells the remoulade — which was past the expiration date 10 years ago and sonofabitch, is past it again now, grrr!
Luxe & Down-Home Cuisine/Culture/Travel/Style 