Introducing The Half-Smoke: DC's Hot Dog Twist

The famed, mouthwatering half-smoke is exclusive to the DMV area. It’s similar to a hot dog, yet completely different. The sausage is larger, spicier, and more flavorful, usually comprised of half pork and half beef – but it can be any combination of ground meats that are smoked and spiced.
If you’re out and about in downtown D.C, perhaps strolling around The National Mall, or enjoying a walking tour of the monuments, you’ll be enticed by the appetizing, pervasive smells of street vendors. With hotdog carts lined along Constitution and Pennsylvania Avenue, this is a good place to begin your half-smoke sampling of the District. The freshly made, sizzling scents are ready to grab and go. But where did this greasy delicacy originate?

The history of the half-smoke dates back to the 1930s, when Washington native Raymond Briggs spiced and ground his sausages. Briggs then acquired a meatpacking company, aptly called D.C. Briggs, in the 1940s and began producing the peculiar sausage on a commercial scale. After he sold the company to another meat distributor, the supposed impeccable quality of the sausage declined, and other vendors created their own interpretations to give homage to the original – leading to a debate of what actually entails a half-smoke.

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Presently, half-smokes are the ‘official dog’ of the Washington Nationals. Nothing says ‘Murica like dining on American meat ingenuity while a spectator at a baseball game. Nats Park offers their own interpretation on the half-smoke, topping a traditional half-smoke with Maryland crab dip and Virginia ham; this creates a trifecta of local ingredients to represent each letter in the DMV.

Ben’s Chili Bowl began marketing the half-smoke in 1958, and is credited with the sausage’s rise to fame. Cosby began dining on the meaty delicacy in the 1960s, and the franchise enjoyed celebrity demand. Their recipe entails smoking the 1/4lb beef and pork sausage, steaming the bun, and finishing the colossal meal with mustard, onions, and chili. A heart attack waiting to happen? Probably. But worth it? Absolutely.

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Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

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