The Pfizer building isn’t open to the public, but on Saturday, July 21, its parking lot will draw a mob for the Great Hot Dog Cookoff. The weenie-fest was born seven years ago in Kara Masi’s Fort Greene backyard, where friends rolled dogs in croissant dough; deep-fried chile-spiked franks and tucked tube steaks into bánh mì. It’s since blown up, so Masi scored this prodigious parking spot, which can accommodate 1,000 frankophiles. Tickets, $45, get you unlimited eats and Kelso, plus there’ll be bands and whatnot. Wanna compete? Just remember Masi’s mandate: You can do anything you want, including make your own wiener or employ vegan alternatives—“but it must be a hot dog, not a sausage.”
The Great Hot Dog Cookoff
