Not just any old dog.
Civil disputes over food are not uncommon worldwide. Whether it’s the rasgulla wars or the endless pizza debates, food can be a sensitive topic that can provoke the same table-flipping passion as politics and sport.
For Brazilians, specifically Cariocas and Paulistas (Rio De Janeiro and São Paulo natives respectively), it’s the cachorro quente or the humble hot dog that gets both sides riled up and antagonistic. In the Australian context, this rumble takes place most prominently in the Brazilians in Sydney Facebook group. With 115,000 members, it is a lively space for struggles, victories and funny stories to be shared within a highly dynamic and ever growing community.
Photo 1. The typical toppings of a São Paulo hot dog.
The cachorro quente is considered a reliable cheap eat across Brazil, sold commonly out of food trucks and costing 10-15 Brazilian reais ($3-$6). Affectionately called a dogão (big dog) in Portuguese slang, it’s a handy option as a brisk lunch or a post night out feed. It typically starts with the frankfurt cooked in a tomato based sauce, plus peas, olives, corn topped with crispy potato sprinkles, mustard and ketchup. All laid within a bog standard bun.
In São Paulo, mashed potato lines the inner bun before all the toppings are added. It is also sealed with the mash to keep everything enclosed. In Rio De Janeiro, there is no mashed potato but instead the hot dogs are topped with boiled quail eggs and often minced meat or bacon.
Photo 2. The "batata palha" or fine potato sticks provide a textural contrast to the heavy mashed potato.
Back to the Facebook group. Every now and again, a proud Paulista or Carioca will post photos of their cachorro quente and that’s where the games begin. Inflammatory insults start flying and the comments section becomes a trash talk bazaar. The Cariocas compare the mashed potato to vomit and the Paulistas pay out the overly loaded Rio hot dog, describing it as a buffet. Both sides take moral offence at their cross-state compatriots’ versions and demand boldly that their dog is top.
Whether this fire for defending a hot dog is amplified by homesickness or not, this vignette of Brazilians in Sydney reminds us of the deep sentiments that food stirs in us all.
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