Providence, Rhode Island's Best Kept Secret: New York System Wieners

If you have been to Rhode Island you most likely have been to New York System for their famous wieners, which have become a Rhode Island tradition! In the 1920's, Nick Stevens and his father Anthony relocated to the United States from Greece. The family decided that they would settle down in Brooklyn, New York where they ran a candy shop. In the late 1930's, they moved the whole family once again but this time to Rhode Island and started a new business at Olneyville Square in Providence that offered hot wieners and a small array of other foods. In 1953, they moved to its current location at 20 Plainfield Street and remained open 24 hours a day until 1968. In 1981, a second business opened on Reservoir Avenue in Cranston and to this day, the same family continues to operate the two restaurants.

Many Rhode Islander's who have moved to other states or to warmer climates have had a craving for the famous hot dogs but were unable to buy them due to the fact that most places do not sell them. So many people wanted to the recipe for this delicious treat. It remained a secret in some senses of the word it still does because we aren't all that sure of what the contents of the mix are.

The good news is that as of recently New York System began selling their famous mix in little packets to the public and also gives a pretty in depth description of what they do on their website.

The Ingredients:

First you need to purchase the mix. You can buy them directly from their locations, Shaw's Supermarkets or from Dave's Marketplace all throughout Rhode Island and in a few stores in Massachusetts. If you aren't from Rhode Island but are interested in making your own you could either have someone mail the mix to you or visit www.onlyinrhodeisland.com and check out their unique Rhode Island gift baskets.

Wieners or hot dogs

They use special wieners that are not sold in stores but if you go to the Rhode Island Provision store on Day street in Johnston, RI you can purchase the same type of wieners that they use which are natural-casing that come in a rope that you would need to cut. You could also use all-beef hot dogs if you want a similar effect.

Rolls

Regular side-cut hot dog rolls will do the trick.

Mustard

Yellow bran mustard which is kind of like mild deli mustard

Onions

Yellow or Spanish onions will be fine for this recipe.

Celery Salt

80% lean (or less) ground beef

If you make it any leaner the sauce will end up dry

Crisco - No substitutes

Preparation:

Melt the Crisco in a 2 Qu. saucepan

Add the onions and simmer until they brown.

Stir in the mix you purchased and crumble the ground beef in.

Simmer, (covered) for 1 hour and stir occasionally and mash the contents with a potato masher to make the consistency finer. If the sauce is too dry after a half hour, add some more Crisco shortening to the pan.

They steam their rolls. They recommend that right before dishing them out you put the rolls in the microwave for a few seconds and you are ready to eat.

Manga!

I have spoken with people who continue to feel that it is not the same experience or that the sauce packets taste different then the original recipe that you can purchase in the small restaurants. This is another reason most Rhode Islanders who have moved away make sure to get their fill of New York System wieners when they come to visit our tiny state. Besides if you are a true Rhode Islander, you know how entertaining it is to watch the employees line the wieners up on their forearms while preparing them. The recipe is out but the mix contents still remain a mystery. If you happen to visit Rhode Island at any point in your life, you should o see what all the fuss is about. Though make sure to proceed with caution. They are addicting!