Ode to the Icelandic Hotdog

Before coming to Iceland, I had never finished an entire hotdog (at least that I can remember). I really wanted to be able to, truly. After all, nothing quite completes the crisp air of a football game like a warm hotdog slathered in all the fix'ins, right? I would even enthusiastically try any suggestions for the ultimate hotdog (yes, Utahns, I've tried J-Dawgs). Sometimes the first bite would make me believe my taste buds had matured enough to enjoy the taste of hotdogs, but alas, I would always end up tossing the hotdog after another bite and eat the bun. No matter what I did, hotdogs were just... gross.

Then I came to Iceland.

It was at a dinner at the church that I had my first experience with a Icelandic hotdog. I was starving that evening, and felt obligated to just TRY one of the hotdogs. I was slightly intrigued since there were new toppings I'd never seen or considered before: french fried onions and a interesting brown mustard-but-not-quite-mustard sauce. I prepared my hotdog in the most Icelandic-y way I could.

Life. Changed.

First of all, the hot dogs themselves aren't as strong in flavor as the ones in America. They are mild and salty and don't overpower you with feelings of death and regret. Secondly, french fried onions on your hotdog is the shiz. Throw in some regular onions, some mayo, a little ketchup perhaps, a healthy portion of Pylsusinnep (which I can only describe as a very mild and sort of sweet tannish-brown mustardy sauce), perhaps panini-sytle grill the hotdog bun a bit and... oh my darling clementine.

Source, because I eat hotdogs too quickly before photographing them

PROTIP!
If you're visiting Iceland, hotdogs are found all over, especially downtown Reykjavik. Though the Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur stand near the harbor and Kolaportið flea market is probably the most famous, I would submit that it is one of the more boring hotdogs I've had in Iceland. Find a place that grills the bun (most other places do). The best hotdog I've ever had in Iceland was at the hotdog shack next to the Harbor in downtown Hafnarfjörður. Mmmm.