KANSAS CITY — The hot dog is fairly disgusting by any measure other than football stadium hot dogs, where it ranks medium to low. There is some colour on the sausage, but biting into it releases an escape of boiling water that frankly tests my gag reflex. The bun, which three seconds ago was dry verging on very dry, is now soggy in large patches.
It’s the size that really makes me laugh. In English stadiums the rollover hotdog has become a thing (rough translation: long frankfurter in a slightly pappy baguette), but this is a “Junior”, aka the rollover’s baby cousin. The entire thing is less than double the length of the small sauce sachet provided. It’s a three-biter, to use a phrase that I’ll probably leave on the shelf in future.
The price is a joke too, even if I sort of knew that was coming. I went “junior” for that reason. I add a reasonable tip (I’m British, it takes two extra steps not to add a tip and I’m medically scared of anyone thinking bad of me, even someone who I’ll never see again). It takes the purchase to $15.56 (£11.78), or £3.93 per bite. The mustard sachet was free, because this World Cup is truly determined to give back to fans.
Prices being overinflated at this tournament is hardly breaking news, but it’s on the stadium food that it really comes into its own. You can argue against lofty ticket costs, but the World Cup is at least a very captive market and an elite sporting environment. Paying 12 quid for a crap, small hotdog is less cool.
