Ina Garten's Favorite Hot Dog She's Ever Eaten Didn't Come From America

It's tough to beat a great hot dog, isn't it? That being said, I was a bit surprised (and delighted, to be honest) to learn that a chef with seriously highbrow taste — Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa herself — is in total agreement about the fabulousness of a well-made hot dog, although her favorite was served to her in France. In an interview with Today Food, she named it as a pick for her last meal. "It's gonna be a hot dog at Frenchie To Go in Paris. It's unbelievable. Maybe with french fries, since it's the last meal," Garten said.

This wasn't the first time Garten shared her love for hot dogs from the Parisian restaurant. She's also sung its praises on her Instagram, describing a photo of a mustard-drizzled hot dog on a toasty bun next to an absolutely fantastic-looking bowl of fries as the "best lunch ever." Sadly, you won't be able to snag a fancy hot dog just like it today, as Frenchie To Go is no more since Michelin star chef Gregory Marchand, the chef and owner of the joint, transformed it into an Italian spot in 2023. 

That being said, besides the fact that Marchand made the eatery's hot dogs in-house, there's another reason the hot dogs at Frenchie To Go were so special: France does hot dogs a little differently. Let's take a look at how French-style hot dogs differ from those we enjoy in the U.S. so you can bring a little bit of Parisian flair to your next cookout.

What, exactly, makes the French approach so different from American-style hot dogs? The first difference you'll notice is the bun. In France, you won't find fluffy hot dog buns like you do in the States. And no, the French don't dress their hot dogs in croissants, although you can try that at home. Instead, hot dogs are typically served in a toasty baguette (sometimes, some of the interior bread is removed). According to reviews, Frenchie To Go did things a little differently bread-wise, serving its hot dogs on a toasted brioche bun. To fully replicate at home what you'd get ordering a hot dog from a street cart in Paris, you'll want to remove some of the baguette's fluffy interior without actually slicing it in half, creating a space for your hot dog to sit.

Just like in America, hot dog toppings vary in Paris. The dogs at Frenchie To Go were topped with mustard and, based on Ina Garten's Instagram post, either white onions or a sprinkle of white cheese (it's tough to say for sure). French street vendors may also offer onions and peppers (like you would order with a hot sausage), fried onions, cheese, and yes, ketchup. 

If you want to whip up a Parisian-style hot dog at home, grab a baguette at your local bakery and go to town on the toppings (wearing a beret is optional). While these tips won't quite transport you just up the road from the Louvre like Frenchie To Go in Paris, where chef Gregory Marchand made his own hot dogs in-house, they can give you a touch of French decadence that would get the thumbs-up from Garten.